Bass, carp, ling cod, rock fish; I think you could target pretty much anything you can think of.
Non-Fly Centerpin Thread
- Thread starter Little Fork
- Start date
This right here. It's a rod, reel, and line. You can technically do anything with it, but there is one thing it's very good at, and that's a drag-free drift with a float (bobber) setup. It would be of no advantage, nor would it likely even be enjoyable, in most other applications compared to rods that were designed for those applications.
Before the invention of the spinning reel, your options were baitcaster, fly rod, or centerpin reel. I bet a major reason for the silex/other centerpin reels falling out of favor besides price is the slow retrieval rate.
This guy throws spoons on a centerpin rig up on Vancouver Island.
outdooraddictions.wordpress.com
This guy throws spoons on a centerpin rig up on Vancouver Island.
Outdoor Addictions
Steelhead Fishing, Salmon Fishing, Pacific Northwest Outdoors
outdooraddictions.wordpress.com
Do folks target trout and smaller gamefish on pins still? I remember fishing a bead while the pinks were spawning and hooking up on white fish after whitefish targeting coho, I always wanted to try it again with lighter gear
This was my first pin setup. 8# Maxima, #8 Eagleclaw baitholder with a crawler, couple of crimp on shot, red and white clip on float. Turn the clicker off and it spins wonderfully. Flick it out and let it run downstream. I tried the modern gear, but I lack a certain dexterity and coordination, and I think other tactics work better for the waters around here.
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When I first began steelhead fishing, I ran into a couple old timers who fished with Heddon Winona reels. They are a type of centerpin I guess, but not as fancy as newer designs. They run on either a bronze or stainless steel bushing and don't have ball bearings. I saw a couple at a yard sale years ago and bought them on a whim. I thought I would disassemble and clean them, then oil them up and try to learn to cast with them. They're still in a box out in the garage. Maybe this winter.
Russell
Steelhead
I have been mostly using my centerpin setup for Shad in the spring. Lots of action and a helps you get proficient in casting and fighting fish on a CP reel. Just picked up a 12'6" UL spinning rod to use with my CP that is quite a bit lighter in action than the Steelhead/salmon rods I have. I am able to cast quite a bit lighter gear with it and have started to target trout.
Originally bought the Centerpin setup for steelhead. I really do not enjoy nymphing, but I still allways fall back to swinging flies while the CP rig sits.
what rod did you get?
Russell
Steelhead
I picked up a fenwick hmx 12' 6" UL moderate action 4-10lb test spinning rod. Was on sale for under $100 and seems to work very well with the pin reel. Rod is not a total noodle and can cast a a light wt rig pretty well.
Definitely, I have built a rod on a 10’ 5wt blank that I use to bead fish for trout and char. Also I have a few small 3.5” to 4” reels both bearing and bushing that get put on the rod. It’s a joy to use and In situations it is definitely more effective than fly fishing an indicator rig.
I’m interested in building a pin rod like the one you described but don’t really know where to start. Can you recommend a good source of information about the build process?
YouTube is your friend. Lots of info there, some shops like mudhole have plenty of instruction videos. Also I’ve seen shops that put on rod building classes occasionally. Then also scope out your area for a friendly rod builder that is willing to show you a few things. A nice bottle of whiskey or a case of beer can work wonders.
fatbillybob
Steelhead
cool looking reel!
fatbillybob
Steelhead
With flyrods we talk about action and speed fast to slow. We talk about rod weight for the target species. What are the required characteristics of a CP rod?
For fly fishing sometimes a nymph is the only game in town. US nymph fishing has really embraced the euro nymph method. I would think a CP set-up would be a superior nymph delivery system. What do you CP guys say?
For fly fishing sometimes a nymph is the only game in town. US nymph fishing has really embraced the euro nymph method. I would think a CP set-up would be a superior nymph delivery system. What do you CP guys say?
CP is superior in length of drift and distance of cast, allowing you to cover more water. Otherwise I'm going with Euro, it's why I dropped using the bobber on the fly rod if I'm fishing closer in. Most stuff here is higher gradient than the great lakes, meaning if you can ditch the bobber, you'll get a better drift.
BC steelheader here. Been using centerpin reels for close to 50 years. They are at their best when used for float fishing. Level wind reels are just as good for float fishing but not as fun to use when fighting a fish. Spinning reels are not very useful for float fishing. Float fishing is a very effective way of presenting a variety of lures, bait, jigs in a precise way to exact locations and depths. Location matters when it comes to steelhead.
The major disadvantage of centerpin reels are slower retrieve rates. In a day of steelheading, more water covered generally = more fish.
The major disadvantage of centerpin reels are slower retrieve rates. In a day of steelheading, more water covered generally = more fish.
fatbillybob
Steelhead
Why is that? It would seem on a spin rod you could do the same CP float system and cast into river open the bail and drift drag free like CP? I know CP uses a 11ft+ rod and they say they mend but in reality how can you mend 15lb mono? Flyline has mass and diameter and drags on the water you certainly can mend flyline. That's what we swinging steelheaders do but mend mono?
