[SMSNYDER]

I am thinking about getting into center pinning for steelhead. I notice that a lot of center pin rods are 13 foot. Can you get away using a switch rod or a spey rod that is less length? I am looking at the Sheffield Drii reel with a drag. Any advice on equiptment? Thanks

 

[Large_Richard]

I know some people who have used switch rods for pinning. I honestly wouldn't get a pin reel with a drag. That sort of defeats the purpose of using one to begin with.

 

[Flyborg]

Maybe message tallflyguy...I know he used to be into CP with his spey rods if IRC.

 

[SMSNYDER]

Thanks guys

 

[psycho]

Having been in the pin game for over 50 years, I do not have one with a drag. But then mine are all Majors,Jewels and such.

 

[typhoon]

Lots of high end custom centerpin rods are based on Spey blanks. The slower action and bending deep into the handle make them very well suited, plus you can get a 4pc.

 

[SMSNYDER]

I agree with the 4 piece rod. Center pinning is deadly on steelhead.

 

[SMSNYDER]

What type of line due you guys use on centerpin reels for steelhead?

 

[Manwell Lotion]

What type of line due you guys use on centerpin reels for steelhead?

@Evan Burck uses a spey rod for center pinning as that is what he prefers. I use a G loomis glx 11'3 center pin rod that is excellent because it is the only cp rod I have found that is not a complete noodle and is a fast action. It has handle a few steelhead already too very nicely. I also got the Okuma Raw II reel and switched out the bearings to abec 7s. As far as line that the majority uses is Suffix 832 braid from 40 to 60 lb as I have witnessed. I use 50 lb braid. Careful though what you are getting yourself into. Center pinning is the heroine of the steelheading world.

 

[Poopy McButtfart]

@Evan Burck uses a spey rod for center pinning as that is what he prefers. I use a G loomis glx 11'3 center pin rod that is excellent because it is the only cp rod I have found that is not a complete noodle and is a fast action. It has handle a few steelhead already too very nicely. I also got the Okuma Raw II reel and switched out the bearings to abec 7s. As far as line that the majority uses is Suffix 832 braid from 40 to 60 lb as I have witnessed. I use 50 lb braid. Careful though what you are getting yourself into. Center pinning is the heroine of the steelheading world.

That's what I was doing (taping the reel way up the top cork handle), but due to my current employment situation, switched to the Echo PIN rod since it's built on a spey blank.

 

[Carter Burke]

You can but baitcasting reels are far superior for steelhead gear fishing.

 

[Poopy McButtfart]

You can but baitcasting reels are far superior for steelhead gear fishing.

Or, maybe, you can have both? Pin for bobbers, and baitcaster for spoons. That's my preferred quiver.

 

[plaegreid]

I use a big ol spinning reel because I'm a monster.

 

[Runejl]

The Pin Rod is fun, its a blast to catch fish on. Most of the Center Pin rods available in the states that I have seen are total noodles. I think that I have lost fish on the hook set because of this.

The Pin rods the guys use in BC are much stouter and tend to be around 11 feet long. That's what I would recommend if you are going to get one.

I like my Bait caster more, mostly because of the retrieve speed. I can free drift floats about the same as the pin rod as well as cast spoons and bottom bounce.

 

[SMSNYDER]

I was thinking about using a 11 foot 7 weight switch rod with the center pin reel. Thanks

 

[Poopy McButtfart]

The Pin Rod is fun, its a blast to catch fish on. Most of the Center Pin rods available in the states that I have seen are total noodles. I think that I have lost fish on the hook set because of this.

The Pin rods the guys use in BC are much stouter and tend to be around 11 feet long. That's what I would recommend if you are going to get one.

I like my Bait caster more, mostly because of the retrieve speed. I can free drift floats about the same as the pin rod as well as cast spoons and bottom bounce.

Werd, dawg. Yeah, the USA models tend to be for Great Lakes fisheries, and they're whippy pieces of crap. As far as baitcasters, they definitely do about the same thing as far as the drift (almost), I do think the pin reel does a better job of getting a drag-free drift, but it's minimal. I just think there's a fun factor on the pin rod that takes it over the top for me.

 

[Carter Burke]

Or, maybe, you can have both? Pin for bobbers, and baitcaster for spoons. That's my preferred quiver.

I fished bobber and jig a couple years before it got real popular. Unless it's really brushy I still prefer a baitcaster.
For other presentations I don't like bobbers. I do not buy into the idea of a natural presentation I buy into a slow presentation therefore I prefer drift fishing.

Now there is a certain coolness factor to center pins. I just think that casting reels are superior fishing tools in most instances. But to each their own.

 

[Dizane]

I use rods shorter than 13 feet with my pins and they work fine. I have a lamiglas model that is a bit over 11' that I like a lot. I also have a 13 footer that is nice to use at times too. Raven makes some nice gear IMO that is entry level priced. I started with a Raven Matrix reel that I still use sometimes today and its been solid for me. The only issue I've had is losing the tension control knob on it into the river twice due to loosening it too much (my error) and it was replaced both times by Raven free of charge. I've since "moved up" to an Islander, but have no qualms about using the Matrix.

 

[c-dawg]

Center pinning is deadly on steelhead.

How is using a center pin reel on a 13' rod any more productive on steelhead than a quality spinning reel on a 13' rod?

 

[Gard Nale]

Make sure you use a deeper strike indicator.

Apparently you guys haven't heard of iFish yet?