CHEAP CENTREPIN REELS

[Dick Dastardly]

I will admit, though, there is something hypnotic about spinning a centrepin

 

Agreed! (begrudgingly though!)

[Guest tigger]

I've been reading these centrepin threads over the last few months, and have come to the conclusion that I must have been doing it wrong for the last 45yrs.

When I use my 'pin I rarely allow the current to take line freely off the spool, (the flow in some swims, and some floats I use are too light anyway).

My thumb controls the reel at all times, gently releasing line when needed, or stopping, slowing down, or retrieving line to keep in touch with the float.

I like my Match Aerial, because it has a screw drag, (which is now working perfectly thanks to Jigotai ). I don't want it to keep spinning, so I adjust the drag to suit the flow, and the float I'm using, as well as using my thumb.

 

I keep reading how some swims don't have enough flow to use a 'pin. Rubbish! You can use a 'pin in the slowest of rivers, so long as you use your thumb to control the flow of line.

 

 

Isn't the whole idea of using a centrepin to release line at the natural pace of the river and try to replicate/mimmic the way a natural bait would travel. I never use the drag system on my pins but use my thumb to slow it down allowing the current to wash my bait up and then release it again letting it flutter down. I have only been using centrepins for 15 months but find them easy to use and have no problem Wallis casting. If the flow of a river is to slow to pull line from my pin then I would use a fixed spool or closed faced reel as that just wouldn't be trotting to me.

[chavender]

centrepins have gone through a few incarnations from being the only choice (well apart from winches ,which they effectively are) to being a has been ,in the early 20th century then to be secretly coverted by elitists as a specialist piece of equipment to be in oar off and there skills at using /casting them then came the revolution and now its the choice item for pleasure angling and found a new niche in life .

 

the only spin time that matters is the 10 second rule ,f it spns for ten seconds (thats roughley how long a cast takes) then its a goodun ,if it struggles to overcome the startup inertia when casting off the reel (ie wallis casting ) then give it a stronger tug to start the spool spinning .

 

The frst rule of centrepinning is : Its not rocket science !

the secound rule is : remember its not rocket science

the third rule is don't rush it ,relax its not rocket science

the final rule is always ,always remember rule 1

[gozzer]

The frst rule of centrepinning is : Its not rocket science !

the secound rule is : remember its not rocket science

the third rule is don't rush it ,relax its not rocket science

the final rule is always ,always remember rule 1

 

Spot on, Chavender.

 

Although I love using the 'pin, (I didn't use anything else for my first dozen or so fishing years), I can't understand the 'mystique' that seems to surround it.

There are no special rules that apply to it's use.

I know guys who use it with the handles on the right, even though they are right handed. Having to switch hands to play a fish, and then again to land it. Looks complicated to me, but it's their way and they seem to manage.

Some use the 'spare' hand to feed line, (I do myself in some circumstances).

I have my line coming from the top of the reel, some prefer it coming from the bottom.

Some use the Wallis Cast, I don't.

 

Like most things, it's down to personal choice, and what you feel comfortable with.

So if anyones thinking of trying the pin for the first time, don't be put off by, "you've got to do it this way", or "you can't fish here with it", comments.

If you really want to try it, get one, and experiment to find the way that suits you, and the waters you fish.

 

 

John.

[Anderoo]

I've only been using a pin for the last year, but I've found that it's made an enjoyable and difficult method (trotting, previously with a fixed spool reel) enjoyable and easy.

 

I've seen other people's centrepins but I've yet to see one I'd choose over my Okuma. Although I would like one of Jigotai's custom made ones!

[jeff smith]

Could anybody recommended me a good, cheap centrepin reel.

 

If you can't stretch to the Okuma,i'd recommend a hunt around on ebay.I picked up a very usable Young's Trudex for around thirty quid.These high quality reels come up quite often so there'll be plenty to choose from.They are quite compact and have a fairly light spool,so they work well with smallish floats of say 3bb.The Rapidex is similar although usually fetches a bit more cash.I've found sellers of old tackle on ebay to be pretty honest about the condition of reels,so if they tell you that a reel spins freely,it usually does.

One real bargain i picked up was a Strikeright Questaflo in mint condition for £15.These reels are NOT trendy and as most of the models that Strikeright made were very cheap beginners type reels and not 'proper' pins,they don't tend too fetch much on ebay.

THis reel must have been their top of the range and is a 'Proper'pin.It's made of cheap materials,but has a very light spool and works beautifully.One to look out for.

 

Jeff

[Dick Dastardly]

Some do not seem to understand the basics of trotting a bait using a top and bottom float and therefore miss the main advantage of using a pin.Or maybe Ive got it wrong?

 

The idea is to present the bait at the same speed as the water is flowing on the bottom of the river ie the same speed as your free offerings.Due to the friction of the river bed this is a lot slower than the surface of the river.Letting a float run down at the same speed as the current means the bait will be dragged along the bottom faster (and therefore unaturally) than the free offerings.The float needs to be slowed down (heldback) so that the baited hook preceeds it down stream and is at the same speed as the free offerings.This must also (to still be natural) be as smooth as possible.The varying techniques to do this with either fixed spool or closed face reel are very difficult to master so everything is smooth.

 

A centrepin (IMHO) simply does this for you in a far smoother and easier way.No snobbery,no sentimentality just pure ease and efficiency of use. The best tool for the job.

[jeff smith]

A centrepin (IMHO) simply does this for you in a far smoother and easier way.No snobbery,no sentimentality just pure ease and efficiency of use. The best tool for the job.

It's also,IMHO,the BEST type of reel to play hard fighting fish on-particularly Thick Lipped mullet!Total control,and superb fun!I use one for All my mullet float fishing nowadays.....Still or moving water.Master the mythical 'wallis cast'(it's not that difficult with practice,and immensely satisfying )and you can fish at reasonable distance too.

 

Jeff

[Houghton]

I wouldn't buy a pin soley for the Douggy as there's very little of it worth fishing with a pin. What part of the Douggy are you fishing? You would be better off driving 20 mins to the Ribble. Personally I'm not a lover of the Okuma Pins they may spin well when you rattle them round with your finger but they don't release line as easily as many other pins. You can pick up some decent pins for reasnable money on ebay. I like Adcock Stantons range of pins although they are no longer made you can still pick them up online and unlike the okumas you'll get your money back if you get fed up with it and decide to re'sell it.

 

May I recommend that you save up for a good quality Pin rather than buy a heavily mass produced item. At the end of the day you get what you pay for which is more apparent with a Centrepin.

 

Thanks for the advice chaps.

 

Tigger , I know the dougie is fairly weedy in most areas but I do intend to fish other rivers fairly locally such as the Ribble and Dane.

Tigger, you ask what part of the dougie I am fishing, well actually I am hoping to return to fishing after a 12 year absence, but I did used to fish at Appley Bridge and near where I live at Parson Meadow. If you know of any other areas that are any good please let me know.

Cheers

[Guest tigger]

Thanks for the advice chaps.

 

Tigger , I know the dougie is fairly weedy in most areas but I do intend to fish other rivers fairly locally such as the Ribble and Dane.

Tigger, you ask what part of the dougie I am fishing, well actually I am hoping to return to fishing after a 12 year absence, but I did used to fish at Appley Bridge and near where I live at Parson Meadow. If you know of any other areas that are any good please let me know.

Cheers

 

 

I only know of one little spot on the dougy any good for trotting with a pin and I found that a few weeks back. I literally got a fish a trot, Dace, Perch, Roach and Cub the biggest chub was 4lb 2 ounce . I was amazed and went back the following day to a repeat performance and then another couple of super little seshes the following week. I had a go the other day while it was up a foot or so and was expecting a good sesh but it just didn't produce the same and I got a perch about 3 inch long. The weed isn't really the prob especially during the winter months it's all the old rubbish, tyres, shopping trollies and who knows what else lurking in there that's the problem. The best thing to do would be just have a wonder along the river and plop the float inn any likley looking spot preferably when the rivers down so as to see all those snaggs!