Picked one of these wee beasties up the other day from a junk shop. Its a 3 1/2" centre pin, good runner, nice condition, but was it ever seriously considered a match reel? Any of you senior AN members remember them? Any idea what one is worth? Its in used condition, good to reasonable paint work, runs as you'd expect. Complete with a protective plastic box. Exposed rim, cage body. Probably little used. Would have thought it was good quality first centre pin, rather than a match reel. Any ideas?

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it was called a match reel to sell it (remember it was at the end of centerpins as a mass seller),compared to the new popular it was 100% better and all metal construction rather than the plastic spool(and easily warped )new popular ,boxed and mint (most seemed to be found in good condition) about £15 tops ,it was also the clone of the 31/2" fly reel bar an extra handle and a selectable "clicker"
it comes in a plastic clamshell box but that came within a cardboard outer (only seen 1 and dont have 1 yet ) what colours your plastic box i have only seen "white" ones?

[ 26. January 2005, 09:34 PM: Message edited by: chesters1 ]

Tis a white box Chesters. The box is scruffed, guess it was carried around as a spare. I did actually pay £15.00, thought it might be worth more. Oh well, sounds like I won't make anything !

I also picked up a less well built centre pin, Matthew, but it far out performs the Intrepid. Its a GeeBee 4 1/2" job. It appears to be made of a plastic, might be graphite reinforced plastic, runs a dream, very light and looks like a much better reel than it is. It is a centre pin proper and is remarkable for its performance, if not its build quality. Complete with line guard, near new condition. I bought it with a rod that I wanted at an auction. To me it proves that a good reel needn't cost the earth. £20.00 including postage. The Intrepid is built like a little tank, and I'm open to offers, like £17.50 including postage! But I really do think the GeeBee is the better performer

The Intrepid is a collectors reel Matthew. I certainly wouldn't part with the GeeBee if I didn't already have an Aerial and a Stanton. I mean, just how many reels can a fellow use at the same time. I'VE PMed my address. I'm certain that you will be pleased.

Matt, should be over this weekend to see you about the ssshhhhhhhhhhhhh you know what.

I can tell you what I have always done Mat but if you take time to read through all the Centrepin posts on here you will see that opinions vary! A lot seems to revolve (er no pun intended!) around wether you use the Wallis style of casting or not.Ah well for what its worth-

I never load more than 50m maximum of line.More often more like 30 for the general trotting work you want.

2.5- 3lb mono (I havnt tried braid for this yet) and make sure it is one that floats eg Drennan Floatfish,Maxima sinks like a stone!

I prefer to wind it on so that the line comes off the top of the reel.I feel this is better for trotting for two reasons,firstly it comes off directly in line with the rod rings and secondly I think it avoids tangles.Only draw back is that you have to wind the reel backwards to recover the line.

I remove the handles from my trotting pins.To recover at the end of the trot I use a technique called "batting" you simpley strike the reel in an upwards motion with the palm of your hand.To play a fish I just stick my finger in one of the holes in the reel.

To cast I use the loop(s) of line pulled from between the rod rings method and when requiring extra distanc (up to 30m) I pull on this loop(s) to set the reel revolving.

To play a fish simple pressure aplied to the turning spool with the thumb is all that is required.

They really aint that hard to use and in fact make correct presentation when trotting a lot easier.

I learned my way from old match anglers.These guys are the real masters of presentation.

The Wallis cast users do things differently due to their particular style of casting.There is plenty about it on this site even a vidio showing you how.If you are going to the Itchen you will have a great chance to see several different ways of using the pin as unlike a lot of pin advocators the guys on this site do actually use them!

Hi Mathew, cheque received today, big thanks. Can now retire and do a runner!!

Re my address, yes, good piking. End up with people like John Watson & John wilson fishing at the end of the garden after my pets. So I have to go elsewhere for peace & quiet!

[ 29. January 2005, 11:39 PM: Message edited by: Peter Waller ]

they let your pets fish first ,good on them its nice to see fame hasent gone to their heads ,if you want piece and quiet just tell wilson to stop shreiking like a girly evertime he has one on

He recently fished my local Broad for a well known 30 infront of the cameras. He caught it, people who were watching reckon it was out of the water atleast 40 minutes. Don't know if it developed lungs or he has a holding tank in his boat, but I haven't heard whether it has been caught since. It also looked as if though part of the production crew caught a pike up river and brought it down onto the Broad, in another boat, to be re-caught for the cameras! No sign of the girly laugh though. John comes down this way once or twice a year, often with his wife, he normally fishes quite quietly!

[ 30. January 2005, 12:18 AM: Message edited by: Peter Waller ]