Center Pin magic ..or is it ?

[Neil Maidment]

Although I've fished with pins for 50+years, I can't imagine how the hell I would manage with the line coming off the top! :wh

Don't like scaffolding either mg:

 

[Keith M]

I've tried having my line coming from the top a couple of times, but I very quickly reverted back to off the bottom as I just can't get used to having to turn the handles in the opposite direction to every other reel that I own, it just feels very un-natural to me Lol.

And like Neil I'm not keen on scaffolding either

Keith

 

[peterjg]

Neil: give it a try, if I can do it you will walk it! No need for line guards or pins with caged back plates. Overall a more efficient way and very, very few tangles.



I am not knocking centrepin reels, I really enjoy using mine. Some swims on the river are just made for them - or the other way round! There is no better fishing than a nice steady glide and using the pin to trot a float with hemp as bait. Great for stillwater floatfishing close-in and also for barbel and chub, one can just be lazy and wait for the ratchet to sound.

I appreciate that fixed spool reels have a faster retrieve but if the presentation was that much better using a pin then I am sure that match anglers would use them more. I use mine a lot, the only time I don't enjoy using them is in the dark sitting underneath an umbrella.

It would appear though that some anglers have a superiority complex just because they use a pin - it is just another reel not rocket science.

 

[thecrow]

Well after searching the web and using all the advice from here I have decided that the Avanti Marco Cortesi Black Centre Pin Limited Edition -centerpin to start me off on another learning curve (after fishing for nigh on 60 years )

There are a few reasons why I chose this one.

Price....... £39-99 delivered

It has a line guard although I am still not sure whether I need this or not but as Bob says if I don't like it I can always take it off.

Its black and I like the understated looks of black reels me being the shy retiring sort

Build quality? not sure Skip had problems and to be honest when these first came on the market I read some stories about poor quality and being made in china (what isn't? ) but also read other reports of no problems as posted by JC2 .

Any road up I have ordered it and next week will hopefully be using it.

 

[tigger]

You should go for the TFG classic.

 

[mikench]

Well done Mr Crow! I always thought the corvids were impetuous and inquisitive birds. Please do report back on your initial findings!

 

[S-Kippy]

Good for you ! I'm sure you'll love it.

To put things in perspective though the bearing fell out of my pin in all other respects I felt it did as good a job as I could reasonably expect for the price. Big Phil on the other hand got an absolute pup which he had to return......it's replacement however was fine. You would hope QC had improved a bit by now.

 

[thecrow]

You should go for the TFG classic.

I looked at that Ian but it was more expensive and without a line guard which until I use a centre pin I wont know if I will need it or not.

---------- Post added at 19:20 ---------- Previous post was at 19:18 ----------

Well done Mr Crow! I always thought the corvids were impetuous and inquisitive birds. Please do report back on your initial findings!

No not me Mike I always consider things before acting like an idiot

---------- Post added at 19:22 ---------- Previous post was at 19:20 ----------

Good for you ! I'm sure you'll love it.

To put things in perspective though the bearing fell out of my pin in all other respects I felt it did as good a job as I could reasonably expect for the price. Big Phil on the other hand got an absolute pup which he had to return......it's replacement however was fine. You would hope QC had improved a bit by now.[/QUOTE]

I hope so Skip but if it needs returning its only 30 mins away so not to far.

 

[binka]

Looking forward to seeing it in action on the Trent Graham, when you're ready we'll test it out on a whisker or two

 

[Bob Hornegold]

You should go for the TFG classic.

Yep, I think I mentioned that !!

Far better reel, better tolerances and easier to get the spool off if the line goes behind the spool, unless you want to take a Phillips Screwdriver every time you go out ?

Bob

 

[thecrow]

Looking forward to seeing it in action on the Trent Graham, when you're ready we'll test it out on a whisker or two

I look forward to it although stopping the rod shaking might be a problem, maybe I could learn to fish left handed

---------- Post added at 19:53 ---------- Previous post was at 19:50 ----------

Yep, I think I mentioned that !!

You did Bob but I can only afford what I can afford and after a days shopping for xmas gifts for 11 grandchildren and great grandchildren it was out of my reach.

 

[tigger]

You can get them new in shops for 50 notes, less on ebay.

 

[thecrow]

You can get them new in shops for 50 notes, less on ebay.

That's what they are on e bay but without a line guard which I might need, until I try with and without I wont know,

 

[tigger]

That's what they are on e bay but without a line guard which I might need, until I try with and without I wont know,

They're very often coming on ebay new in box with guard for less than 50 notes, just hang fire until one pops up...won't be long i'm sure.

 

[thecrow]

They're very often coming on ebay new in box with guard for less than 50 notes, just hang fire until one pops up...won't be long i'm sure.

To late Ian already ordered the other one.

 

[tigger]

To late Ian already ordered the other one.

AS you say to latenow but if you take a look at completed listings you'll see how much they go for, an example here....

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TFG-Centre-Pin-F...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

[thecrow]

The link isn't working Ian, the prices I have been able to find and believe me I have searched and searched are around £60 with another £18 for the line guard which although shown in all the ads is described in the reels spec as "optional" add on another£5 for delivery and it starts to add up to more than I initially wanted to or could afford to pay for something that I might not get on with (cant teach an old dog new tricks )

I can understand why some centrepins are expensive as they possibly use better quality parts/materials and are not mass produced but there has to come a time when the cost totally outweighs the extra performance that the reel makers claim, some of the claims I have seen on a centrepin forum have been ridiculous and I would say that the extremely small differences between some reels are so tiny as to be undetectable by the user the biggest difference being the price paid but if the angler can afford to pay several £100s of pounds and is happy to do so fair enough.

 

[tigger]

The link isn't working Ian, the prices I have been able to find and believe me I have searched and searched are around £60 with another £18 for the line guard which although shown in all the ads is described in the reels spec as "optional" add on another£5 for delivery and it starts to add up to more than I initially wanted to or could afford to pay for something that I might not get on with (cant teach an old dog new tricks )

I can understand why some centrepins are expensive as they possibly use better quality parts/materials and are not mass produced but there has to come a time when the cost totally outweighs the extra performance that the reel makers claim, some of the claims I have seen on a centrepin forum have been ridiculous and I would say that the extremely small differences between some reels are so tiny as to be undetectable by the user the biggest difference being the price paid but if the angler can afford to pay several £100s of pounds and is happy to do so fair enough.

Yeah, I see what your saying but they do go quite regularly for 50 or less new and boxed with the guard on ebay.
You should be ok with what you've ordered, if your not happy with it you can send it back anyhow.
I suppose you only notice the differences in the reels when you get really into using them. As you say they're only gonn'a be small differences but at times they can make a massive difference to your days trotting. I don't think the differences will matter most of the time or if your legering. Best of luck with it though and I hope you catch some monsters with it ...oh, don't let crusher Steve any where near it mg:.

 

[thecrow]

Another question for you "pinners"

When putting line onto the reel or when fishing with it do you have to move the line back and forth across the reel same as a multiplier? Surely when you are reeling in the line will build up in one place?

 

[tigger]

Another question for you "pinners"

When putting line onto the reel or when fishing with it do you have to move the line back and forth across the reel same as a multiplier? Surely when you are reeling in the line will build up in one place?

When I put the new line on from the spool i'm mostly using bulk spools...so this means I just hold the reel central to the spool and wind, as the line comes off the spool it moves back and forth along the spool, a bit like a typewriter does but it peels off evenly either way as it comes off. This gives an even spread of line on the spool, however, when using the reel the line just goes on as it goes on when winding back, usually finishing up on one or the other side of the drum. This has never been a problem and is perfectly fine.