Thoughts on buying a first Centre pin reel

[Noel80]

Just thought I'd share some thoughts and ask for help with a first centre pin.

 

Firstly, is it centre pin or centrepin? (not really important!)

 

What has struck me is the difference in quality and price between 'identical' reels. I've been into local tackle shops (I like to support them when I can) and feel even more confused.

 

One told me the Okuma Aventa Pro isn't available anymore.The other had in stock. One had the Okuma Sheffield. It felt and ran amazingly smooth but was £220... Ouch. I thought they were £150-ish. The other had a Sheffield. It said the RRP was £179 but they were selling it at £139. Great. But it felt awful compared to the one in the other shop! Not as smooth and made a quiet rubbing/grating noise when it spun............ Er, no thanks. The Aventa Pro (£120-ish I think) felt nothing like as good as the £220 Sheffield but about the same as the poor £139 Sheffield

 

I tried the cheapest one they had. Ikonix at £70 but it felt tinny and nothing like as 'good' as the £220 Sheffield. Fair enough....

 

The worst when I 'tried' was the Greys Beswick at £200. It just hardly spun at all. Utterly bizarre and confusing.

 

The best one I tried was the Okuma Raw 2. £150-ish I think. But I found it too ugly and 'modern' looking. Not what I'm after.

 

All this has made me even more determined to try them out in person before I buy. I know you can get cheaper online etc but I just don't know what is going to arrive. And I'm running out of tackle shops! All the shops have said they've had a lot of interest in them. They're definitely in fashion at the moment.

 

I'm tempted to just say "sod it" and get a Cortesi £40 one because frankly some of the £150+ I've tried just don't feel good enough. The quality between 'identical' reels feels so vast that I'm not surprised so many reviews differ so wildly on forums etc.

 

And I've never even used one before! All thoughts and advice much welcome thanks.

 

 

 

 

[Dick Dastardly]

_{The Leeds centre pin is a very good entrance pin.I can sell you one (several sizes available) for £30}

[bettsybetts]

Centre pin is English center pin is american ?????

[robtherake]

Brilliant in all respects.

 

http://www.fishtec.co.uk/buy.cfm/carp-and-specialist-reels/tf-gear-classic-centre-pin-reel/40/yes/48111

[bettsybetts]

I have a Marco cortesi from dragon carp. Costs around 40 quid.

Stunning build quality for the money, spin the drum and it just keeps going. For your first pin its ideal. Some of dragons stuff is for the angler who may go once or twice a year and ideal for the beginner and some of their stuff is actually quite good.

[chesters1]

I was brought up when pins were the norm ,the best ting i ever did was take a 2lb hammer to mine ,i would never in a million years buy another to actually use just as i wouldnt wear knee breeches unless i was paid to do so

[wotnobivvy]

_{The Leeds centre pin is a very good entrance pin.I can sell you one (several sizes available) for £30}

 

 

Dick. Did you see my pm re bite alarms ( sorry to hijack this thread)

[Phone]

Noel80,

 

It's C E N T E R P I N

 

Phone

[BoldBear]

Noel80,

 

It's C E N T E R P I N

 

Phone

 

It's C E N T R E P I N in the UK where English was invented

and CENTERPIN in the US (Where they spell things strangely LOL. )

 

Keith

Edited September 3, 2013 by BoldBear

[Phone]

BB,

 

Go burn some perfectly good UUUUUUUU's

 

Phone