Pin is boss in jungly swims, pull off a loop, little underhand pendulum cast boosted by a pull on the loop, and you're in business, none of this sideways or behind nonsense.
I'd go for pin over bearings, you can put the brakes on more subtly by turning the rod from reel lying flat (running as free as it possibly can, on the tip of the pin) through to dangling vertically under the rod (spool running on the whole length of the pin - more friction).
Two tips: 1: slack line is your enemy, and the closer to the reel, the more it wants to make you really suffer. With this in mind-
2: Practice on an open, slow or still water first, till you've got the basics nailed. If you have a dependable, close-in gudgeon swim, go to it.
If you're not shy about being seen getting stuff wrong, try to find a local pin-head to go with (especially if they'll let you use one of theirs, before you commit). Roughly where are you?