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I just bought a chien caille call , I can make "goose" sounds, but not exactly "the" speck sound. Does anyone have any tips or pointers on using the call. I know it takes practice and I know that backpressure is critical. I have been practicing for a week now, but I hate to be practicing the wrong thing. When you are doing a yodel what are you saying into the call, and do you move your hand to get the sound to change or does the reed "break" for the change in sound? Any help is appreciated.

where is that call that your talking about made?

Best way I can try and help you is this. First thing I would try and master is a speck cluck. To generate back pressure start making your cluck with an open hand at the end of the barrell. Now keep clucking and slowly start to close your hand on the barrell. As you close your hand the sound will stay the same, much like a party favor sound. Then as you hand get close to being closed, you will just suddenly go from a party favor sound to an actual goose sound. When you get this sound you have the back pressure solved.

For me the I make it happen by closing my right hand over the end of the barrel and kind of angling it at the same time so that some of the air coming out of the call is blown directly into my hand. If that makes any sense. Once you get the right cluck, you just "feel" your way to a speck laugh. Check your pms, I'll send you my cell # and I'll listen to what you have now and see if I can't give you some pointers.

Another option call Mr. Mervis (who made the call) he is VERY VERY good about working with you over the phone. He has done this longer than most on here have been alive, much less duck hunted.

It's all in the hand. If you don't get it choked down right, it'll never yodel for you.

I don't "say" anything into it. Just blow into the call and find that proper hand position.

And sometimes it takes me a minute or two to find the right spot before I "get in my groove".

And, yes, you will be worn out when the hunt is over.

Had (lost insert) limited experience with Haydel's Speck Compensator that has the rubber to pinch for back pressure. Maybe you call inovators could use sumthin like that on the chien calle? Anyway, the site's got some great sound bites. $.02
http://www.haydels.com/pages/goosecalls.html

You've bought the best call for specks in my opinion. all previous are right.............it's all in the hand position and back pressure, but not too hard to learn. Try to re-position your finger just a little at a time and that can make all the differebce in the world. I bought one of the original calls outside of Lake Author, LA with a guy named Rocki Russio (spelling). He took me over to the guys garage that hand makes them. I have been killing specks ever since. Good Luck.

go to www.redbonecalls.com for some sound bites that will help you.

Work with the back pressure and find that sweet spot when you hold it...That spot where back pressure makes it crack...I am by far no expert but Gordon showed me the basics and I had it sounding aight in about 10 min

I've got a couple of the older models - one of'em that Jeff tuned for me years ago. I think I create the back pressure by partially covering the end of the call with the middle finger (upper joint) and using last 2 fingers (also upper joint) to open/close hand to vary the pitch.

For what it's worth - I really don't know what I'm doing with a speck call - just kinda stumbled on a technique that works for me. When I go with Wingman, I am perfectly content with him doing all the calling - mine sucks, by comparison. Like he said, it's work. I heard Jeff blow one 10 years ago and he knows what he's doing and talking about, I guarantee.

Like others have said, once you find the sweet spot (where the call breaks to the upper pitch), you've got half the battle won on the back-pressure thang.

Try this at Mack's

http://www.mackspw.com/Item--i-CHN100

rob,u still got the chien caille call I sold u a few yrs back in marks?I got the haydel speck compensator and the birds do not seem to really like it.
the chien really took alot of practice and I just could not get it right.not enough patience or the right coaching i guess. might take a look at the redbone calls.

Yep, still have it, Mark. Blew it last Monday.

Randy, you are too kind. I've never heard you blow a bad note on a call.

P.S. Olt Ciyote Call will get em in if you can find one. Ask some old connasses.