PeterNE1

Yeah - I'd always been aware of casting this way, though never tried it ... it was just so impressive to watch as he made it look effortless - though I guess from the age of the guy he had been doing it for some time ... practice and familiarity making such things seem so much easier There again ... he could NOT get his hands to co-ordinate with my fixed spool reel - or get his head around why anyone would want to use such a complicated contraption (the nearest I can get to translating what he said, on a public forum ), when a simple centre pin would do the job just as easiliy!

Over 1100 comments on the article too!

Just to muddy the waters a little A couple of years back I was fishing on the Poland / Ukraine border, and was offered a days 'guidance' by a friend of a friend in the equivalent of the local pub :-) ... I assumed that it would be very much more of a nudge in the right direction for locations rather than anything else - I was lure fishing wherever possible. A couple of days later we met up, and this guy showed me some incredible sport with both pike and catfish up to low doubles - we were both lure fishing ... but this guy was casting straight off a centre pin reel (of Russian origin!), with an action very similar to that used with a baitcaster, even with light lures. What was even more impressive was that he could cast to anywhere that I could, and I was using a fixed spool reel! ... apparently, this method of casting / fishing is quite normal across Eastern Europe and into what was Russia! I'm STILL trying to get my hands on one of the reels, which are unfortunately no longer manufactured - they were beautifully made, and extremely lightweight too, which came as quite a surprise, as I always associated Russian manufacture with being just a little rustic / industrial

I wouldn't disagree with the 'physics' of that explanation - it's how the laws of science explain that something should occur, all things being equal ... but it holds true only if both ends of the line are actually 'fixed' to something and unable to rotate along their axis ... and trotting a float down a river definitely doesn't fall into that category I suspect that fine mono line 'slips' rather than twists as expected as it leaves the reel, hence the lack of actual twist in lines during use, rather than the theoretical twist that 'should' be present, but simply isn't in most cases ... any slight twist imparted as the line leaves the reel in such a fashion is likely unravelled by the flow of water along it, I'm guessing?

We seem to have almost entirely contradictory experiences here, of line twist caused (or not!) by this kind of reel. Perhaps it simply comes down to the way we are using the reels. I'm using mine for fishing, over water, without problems. You're experiencing problems using what is in comparison a massive reel and very heavy line, launching lead at the horizon, presumably over land, and retrieving said lead / weight across a solid (land) surface too, which has little or no relevence to actually fishing. I'm guessing that these factors are perhaps contributing to your problems - it's only speculation on my part, but as I seem to be able to fish for many years without problems, it would seem logical that (your) line twist issues are being caused by the way you are using the rod and reel, no? ... as it's clearly possible to be able to fish using such a reel without incurring a problem with line twist. However, let's put this into perspective. IF line twist has been happening to the degree that it becomes problematic, it's normally a very simple issue to resolve, by simply letting line flow with the current (without end tackle attached) and then retrieve against the current ... allegedly, as I've never had the need to try it

Be honest, have you ever actually experienced this, or are you simply perpetuating the 'myth' that has sprung up on the internet? The reason I ask is that a/ most people have never owned such a reel, or used one at any length, and b/ the problem simply does not occur to any meaningful degree, regardless of what 'educated' laws of physics would seem to indicate. I DO own (and use) reels that function in this way - older models and one of the Young's Ray Waltons, and have never, repeat NEVER, had an issue with line twist caused by using such reels during the neck-end of 40 years of anglng! ... it's far more likely to occur using ANY pin (or fixed spool!) during the retrieve of tackle against the current, particularly when using a very common bait - double maggot, which can spin like a propeller, and put a serious twist into line, regardless of whether the reel is made by Paul Witcher, or marketed by Dragon Carp!

I've a couple of Trents, one still boxed as a spare (and very happy with the other ... but it's unlikely to wear out!) ... will happily swap for the Youngs if you're serious? PM me?

Great minds think alike! ... I was wondering myself about that precise issue, hence another reason for maybe looking into whether or not a single kayak-style paddle would be viable - it's not like I'll be paddling huge distances or in any great rush to get somewhere - I just need a way to propel the boat forwards (and steer) that doesn't rely on the trolling motor - and at least with a single paddle, I'd be heading in the direction I was facing, rather than rowing backwards with two oars ... I'm just not convinved it's possible / realistic, considering the width of the dingy (at almost 1.5 metres), with me sat centrally towards the rear of the boat?

....... it perhaps also explains one of the reasons that very few people actually own only one cenrepin!

Cynic!!!

Hi Phone: in the absence of any real technical terminology (alien to me, I'm afraid! ) the rowlocks appear to be a fairly simple affair, nothing more than a large pin that rotates in a socket, on top of which is a 'doughnut' through which the oar passes. I quite like the idea of a single paddle, kayak-style, but as the dingy is over 3 metres long and a metre and a half wide, I'm not sure that it would be either realistic or effective, so I'm almost certainly going to need oars. I guess one of the concerns that I have is that the aluminium / plastic affairs that I've seen seem relatively flimsy (unless someone can advise me otherwise?) and the wooden alternative (though far more attractive / tactile and robust) are much heavier and awkward to transport ... hence the request for advice and recommendations. I've already got a very nice trolling motor and battery sat waiting - maybe I should just be bone idle and rely exclusively on that?

Very mixed feelings here - got quite gee'd up, wondering what was likely to be in store - even more so when towards the end of the video clip there is what appears to be a new centrepin reel ..... followed by a VERY quick snippet of information: the range is to be exclusive to Dragon Carp, which does NOT fill me with confidence

Not really kayak-related as such, but maybe someone on here can give me a few pointers or recommendations? It's very likely that very soon I'm going to acquire a decent inflatable dingy, a bit over 3 metres, and will need to buy oars. It's almost certain that the boat will never see rough water, being used almost exclusively on inland waters, and mostly still-waters at that, either as a fishing platform of simply messing about with my youngster ... so what sort of oars do I go for (and why?) One piece construction or two piece? Aluminium / plastic or wood? Length? I spend half my life on competetive rowing machines, so I'm well capable of putting decent oars to good use ... I've just no real idea of what I should be buying, and why? Any advice or recommendation please?

Just thinking laterally a little, but if circumstances allow, how about simply upgrading your line to something that is strong enough to bully the rudd straight out, before pike get a chance to interfere. Not ideal, I agree, simply a means to an end. Or take me with you: I'll play with the like while you enjoy the rudd

Think it has the star drag, much like the existing Trent? Fair comment about the Martin Bowler reel though: I've had one for some time and it's a crackin' reel ... there's one floating about on Ebay now with a Buy-It-Now of just £140, and one sold last week for less than £100!

IF it was being aimed at the UK market (and perhaps this also applies elsewhere) 'German engineering' is still perceived as being a notch above most alternatives, including the Far East ... regardless of the actual quality, most products from the Far East are still perceived as being second-rate, rather than cutting edge. 'Far East' manufacture is usually spoken of as being a cheap, budget alternative ... a typical example is rods from Hardys that are made in China ... you still pay top whack for them, but pretty much everyone is of the belief that a UK - made product (by Hardys) would be of superior quality.

Have just seen this on Ebay, advertised by a US retailer as being a (very colourful) new variant of the Sheffield, though reading the description I'm more inclined to believe its a cross-breed between the Sheffield and the Trent ... shoukld look great with the Darth Maul outfit OKUMA Sheffield DR II This seems to be following the trend of the OKUMA RAW, released a few months back ... wonder what else is in store?

They definitely work, in that they DO cut down on the level of reflected light off the surface of the water (and many other surfaces too!) ... and it's the reflected light (mostly) that stops you seeing below the surface, assuming water clarity is sufficient. The critical part, which massively affects the the degree of reduction in the relfected light hitting your eyes, is a combination of the angle at which the light is hitting the water surface, and the angle / direction in which you are looking at the water: get it right, and the water will seem to virtually disappear, to the degree that fish (and boats on the surface!) can appear to be floating in mid-air, though admittedly, water clarity needs to be very high to experience this. As a quick visual experiment, the next time you are out somewhere with big blue skies and bright sunshine, put on polaroids and look up at the sky at an angle of maybe 35 degrees, then rotate your body slowly while concentrating on the sky. Apart from falling over, you will also see the intesity of blueness increase and decrease as you rotate, according to the direction you face. If you are ever in doubt about whether or not sunglasses really 'are' polarised, get your hands on a second pair that are 'known' to be polarised. Wear one pair, and then rotate the lens of the second pair in front of you whilst looking through it ... IF both pairs are polarised, the view through BOTH pairs of lenses will lighten / darken as the second pair are rotated - they should actually darken down to 100% opaque!

Initial thoughts are that I would be interested, BUT are you able to be a bit more specific about the geographical location? - it's highly likely that I may travel with others who are not anglers, and local 'entertainment' would be a consideration from their viewpoint ... leaving me in peace to fish Will happily (and discretely) accept a PM if you'd rather (understandably perhaps) keep shtum about the precise location at this stage?

Hi John ... any particular reason you've never fished from there? ... at a glance it seems to be a very obvious choice, with easy enough access to the rocks most of the time, good access from the rocks to the water, and apparently a good depth of water with a very modest cast, no?

I'm not a massively experienced sea angler, with most of my experience over nearly 40 years being spinning from rocks or similar, usually somewhere off the Scottish coast. I'm within spitting distance of Whitley Bay (and St Marys Island i.e the rocks that surround the lighthouse at the northern end of the beach, accessible at lower water levels) ... I've often been across onto the rocks for 'walkies', but I've NEVER seen anyone actually fishing off there ... and I'm wondering if there may be a very good reason that I'm unaware of? Are there any locals who can put me in the picture perhaps? ... is it an issue of particularly naughty seas (I'm aware that there are frequent drownings in the area, usually inexperienced divers, or people pushing their luck too late on the causeway), or maybe the area simply has very poor fishing / stocks? ... or is it an issue of losing way too much end tackle in rough ground maybe? Thanks for any help!

Yeah - the Swale can be particularly naughty like that ... found out the hard way many years ago when I was fishing a big match on there (when they still had them!) ... was pegged at the base of a vertical 15-foot bank at the time, with an upstream / downstream trek of less than maybe 100 yards before you could get away from the waters edge - we all started shifting as soon as we became aware of the water creeping up, but anyone in wellies still got wet feet, even with an immediate evacuation! Just out of interest, can someone explain to me what the height in metres on these charts refers to? The thing that is confusing me is that at one point on the local river they are talking about a 1.5 - 4m range, yet just a little further downstream they are quoting figures in excess of 20m! ... I'm confused!

Always amazes me how different the forecasts can be from different sites, to the degree that I have no real confidence in any site that I've yet found ... I'm assuming that they all use the same basic data from which predictions are calculated, yet the only thing these sites seem to have in common is that invariably, they consistently manage to get it wrong!

Hmmm ... went to the site, stuck in my postcode and started browsing around quite randomly Today, just after 1pm I ended up buying a load of pukka bullet-proof glass! Don't ask .......

TBH, I can live with the colour - much prefer it to bright shiny silver, which is WAY too good at reflecting the sun and spooking fish ... might be nice to see them do something in a rich burgundy colour, or a deep bottle - green maybe? Moi? A Tackle Tart????