Truck floods out when starting

My truck truck is almost impossible to start after setting awhile. the only way to get it to crank is to hold the pedal all the way down. it will then crank if battery does not drain first. it smokes when first cranked and smells of gas strong, after that it idles fine. but when you put in drive and pull off it ducks if you give it gas pedal. When driving speed is reached and see going up steep hill when transmission kick back to third gear it has no throttle control it just ducks until it kicks back to second or first then motor revs up to red line with full power. but have to let off gas as it changed gears or it will duck again . I have checked coils, ICM, I am finding this is common but no answer as to what fixes it . also, have checked fuel pressure regulator by pulling off vacuum line but no fuel in line. can it still be the problem? If not what is? please help I am pretty car savvy but stumped here. Please help!