Piking with a centrepin

[Oldskoolfool]

Does anyone still use a centrepin for piking?

Way back I started out using one before I changed up to Mitchell 300's. Recently found one of my old reels

Can't say I ever managed to master the Wallace cast but manage ok.

[Mike J]

Yes there are a few of us who do

Models vary, one of us uses the G&Y Big Pike on glass rods, my favourite was an FJT Specialist but someone offferred me twice what I paid for it so I let it go.
I now have a Browning Revolver which doesn't have line posts, the ideal spool design for a centrepin especially when heavy line fishing.

Fishing with a 'pin is a joy, no matter whats on the serious end.
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[OLDESOX]

it is great fun for close in or river fishing i have a g&y big piker matched to a modern rod but great all the same

[martin(rockape)]

Not a question of still using but more just started really.

I'm using a Grice and Young Sea Jecta lll, absolute joy to use. Had my first pike using my Addcock Stanton centrepin a few years ago and a couple of seasons ago 98% of my general fishing is using a pin. Piking i mostly have one rod with a pin.

Regards

Martin

[martin(rockape)]

Does anyone still use a centrepin for piking?

Way back I started out using one before I changed up to Mitchell 300's. Recently found one of my old reels

Can't say I ever managed to master the Wallace cast but manage ok.

Not particularly good at that but a deadbait swings out nicely and i trot it down river till it catches the bottom or pulls into the margins.

I use my other rod for anything further out.

Love it

Martin

[John Milford]

Does anyone still use a centrepin for piking?

Way back I started out using one before I changed up to Mitchell 300's. Recently found one of my old reels

Can't say I ever managed to master the Wallace cast but manage ok.

I've used my 'Big Pikers' fishing from a boat, both for trotting baits and float trolling (where the adjustable brake on the spool is very handy).

What I've not done is use them for Stillwater piking. I use pins for close range carping, so that's something I will remedy soon.

As a regular multiplier user, I suspect casting directly off the drum and feathering would be workable and achieve some distance? The Seajecta Mk111 deluxe was a reel used for beachcasting, so it must be viable with a heavy enough casting weight. The 'Big Piker' is basically the same reel.

The sheer 1:1 cranking power of a centerpin is superb with a good fish on. No need at all for 'pumping' and the constant direct contact with the fish makes them, as others have said, a 'joy' to use.

[Oldskoolfool]

Thanks guys I think I'll revisit them. Love to use a pin for trotting with homemade floats for chub and recent find has reignight the spark to try them for piking.

I have a couple of pins but thinking it's either a G&Y or an early Adcock Stanton.

Also seems there has been a surge in using pins in the USA for steelhead fishing with floats - some really interesting models .

[John Milford]

The stainless steel version of the Seajecta Mk 111 has a cult following among steelhead anglers stateside, as they are low-maintenance and completely bomb proof.

I had one, but it was it far too heavy for piking - perhaps double the weight of a 'Big Piker'!

When I sold it on eBay it went to the 'states and the buyer told me he already had three!

(If you see one, don't be tempted to buy it for piking - they are very heavy!).

Grice-and-Young-45-Sea-Jecta-Centrepin-reel-Twin_1583965124_2264-thumb~2.jpg

[Mike J]

The stainless steel version of the Seajecta Mk 111 deluxe has a cult following among steelhead anglers stateside, as they are low-maintenance and completely bomb proof.

I had one, but it was it far too heavy for piking - perhaps double the weight of a 'Big Piker'!

When I sold it on eBay it went to the 'states and the buyer told me he already had three!

(If you see one, don't be tempted to buy it for piking - they are very heavy!).


Grice-and-Young-45-Sea-Jecta-Centrepin-reel-Twin_1583965124_2264-thumb~2.jpg

Ive got a stainless something somewhere

Note to self - dig it out and have a look, might even be worth moving on.

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[jeff smith]

I use a J.W Young’s Seldex sometimes with an old 60s built cane pike rod for an authentic ‘old school’ outfit.
As I fish from a boat on a river, long casts are unnecessary but, by casting directly off the reel, braking the rim with my thumb, I find I can place my rig extremely accurately with an underarm swing.
As with any direct drive reel ( multipliers too) playing a pike is a lot of fun and the clicker provides a convenient back up bite indicator to the float.
Despite being , at 3 3/4 inches , a relatively small diameter , but wide drummed pin , originally designed as a spinning reel, as it’s not encumbered with a line guard, which I think are completely unnecessary, with a bit of practice, it’s relatively easy to use.

[SamG]

I bet a pin would be perfect under the right conditions with a drifter float......less fun winding them back in though!

[John Milford]

I bet a pin would be perfect under the right conditions with a drifter float......less fun winding them back in though!

The other faff with wide drum 'pins, when there is a lot of line out, is that there is no level-wind or spool oscillation.

That means you have to lay the line back on carefully, just like you have to when you first spool up, otherwise it can pile up on one side!

[SamG]

I bet a pin would be perfect under the right conditions with a drifter float......less fun winding them back in though!

The other faff with wide drum 'pins, when there is a lot of line out, is that there is no level-wind or spool oscillation.

That means you have to lay the line back on carefully, just like you have to when you first spool up, otherwise it can pile up on one side!

Yes, I bet that’s the case!

Been on the pin all morning after roach. Such a lovely way to fish.

[JoeNickel]

This is all interesting. I've tried a couple of times in a stillwater, one margin rod with a pin. I struggled to wind down fast enough to set the hooks, and gave it up as a bad job. Maybe I just need to keep a tighter line.

If trotting a bait it's obviously not an issue.

I'll maybe give it another go. It's such a nice way to fish!

[martin(rockape)]

This is all interesting. I've tried a couple of times in a stillwater, one margin rod with a pin. I struggled to wind down fast enough to set the hooks, and gave it up as a bad job. Maybe I just need to keep a tighter line.

If trotting a bait it's obviously not an issue.

I'll maybe give it another go. It's such a nice way to fish!

Think you've hit the nail squarely on the head there, too much slack line.

Regards

Martin

[JoeNickel]

If I were to pick up a cheapish second hand pin to give it another go, what am I looking for - large diameter, like 5 1/2"?

Is there any advantage for a wide drum, other than line capacity? It'll be for margin fishing, so I'm not going to need hundreds of yards of braid. Oooh - unless I use it for drifter fishing too, that could work

Looks like I should have some options on the 'Bay for £40ish.

My regular trotting pin was my grandad's. It's not necessarily worth a fortune, but I don't want to submit it to the battering my pike gear gets...

[martin(rockape)]

If I were to pick up a cheapish second hand pin to give it another go, what am I looking for - large diameter, like 5 1/2"?

Is there any advantage for a wide drum, other than line capacity? It'll be for margin fishing, so I'm not going to need hundreds of yards of braid. Oooh - unless I use it for drifter fishing too, that could work

Looks like I should have some options on the 'Bay for £40ish.

My regular trotting pin was my grandad's. It's not necessarily worth a fortune, but I don't want to submit it to the battering my pike gear gets...

I'd go for a diameter of 4.5 inches just an inch bigger and you'll find you have a monster of a reel on your rod. Drum width of my Grice and Young sea Jecta is about an inch and its no problem at all.

I think you might get a bit of bedding in with the line but for me it really isn't a problem i just peel the line off and rewind before casting back out.

Regards

Martin

[martin(rockape)]

Just to add to that as i buy bulk line spools i put 150 yds on all my pins that way i can strip off a few yards if needed and still have plenty left on the spool, works out cheaper in the long run.

I use a Berkley line counter to measure how much I'm putting on. Its actually a depth counter reading 999 feet so its a case of deducting how many feet your putting on and winding down to that number. They are about £12.

Regards

Martin

[Mike J]

Just to add to that as i buy bulk line spools i put 150 yds on all my pins that way i can strip off a few yards if needed and still have plenty left on the spool, works out cheaper in the long run.

I use a Berkley line counter to measure how much I'm putting on. Its actually a depth counter reading 999 feet so its a case of deducting how many feet your putting on and winding down to that number. They are about £12.

Regards

Martin

Measure the curcumerence around the line pillers, divide the figure into the length of line required, wind the reel the same number of times = job done.
Plus you've saved £12 (yes I know tight ****)



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[martin(rockape)]

Just to add to that as i buy bulk line spools i put 150 yds on all my pins that way i can strip off a few yards if needed and still have plenty left on the spool, works out cheaper in the long run.

I use a Berkley line counter to measure how much I'm putting on. Its actually a depth counter reading 999 feet so its a case of deducting how many feet your putting on and winding down to that number. They are about £12.

Regards

Martin

Measure the curcumerence around the line pillers, divide the figure into the length of line required, wind the reel the same number of times = job done.
Plus you've saved £12 (yes I know tight ****)



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Bit of a faff but i used to measure out a set length of line and count how many turns it took to wind that on then multiply it accordingly........line counter makes it so much easier and i don't lose count if distracted.

Regards

Martin

[Mike J]

Just to add to that as i buy bulk line spools i put 150 yds on all my pins that way i can strip off a few yards if needed and still have plenty left on the spool, works out cheaper in the long run.

I use a Berkley line counter to measure how much I'm putting on. Its actually a depth counter reading 999 feet so its a case of deducting how many feet your putting on and winding down to that number. They are about £12.

Regards

Martin

Measure the curcumerence around the line pillers, divide the figure into the length of line required, wind the reel the same number of times = job done.
Plus you've saved £12 (yes I know tight ****)



.

Bit of a faff but i used to measure out a set length of line and count how many turns it took to wind that on then multiply it accordingly........line counter makes it so much easier and i don't lose count if distracted.

Regards

Martin

The only time I get distracted is when I fall in !



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[martin(rockape)]

Just to add to that as i buy bulk line spools i put 150 yds on all my pins that way i can strip off a few yards if needed and still have plenty left on the spool, works out cheaper in the long run.

I use a Berkley line counter to measure how much I'm putting on. Its actually a depth counter reading 999 feet so its a case of deducting how many feet your putting on and winding down to that number. They are about £12.

Regards

Martin

Measure the curcumerence around the line pillers, divide the figure into the length of line required, wind the reel the same number of times = job done.
Plus you've saved £12 (yes I know tight ****)



.

Bit of a faff but i used to measure out a set length of line and count how many turns it took to wind that on then multiply it accordingly........line counter makes it so much easier and i don't lose count if distracted.

Regards

Martin

The only time I get distracted is when I fall in !



.

I trust you wear a life jacket

Regards

Martin

[Mike J]

Just to add to that as i buy bulk line spools i put 150 yds on all my pins that way i can strip off a few yards if needed and still have plenty left on the spool, works out cheaper in the long run.

I use a Berkley line counter to measure how much I'm putting on. Its actually a depth counter reading 999 feet so its a case of deducting how many feet your putting on and winding down to that number. They are about £12.

Regards

Martin

Measure the curcumerence around the line pillers, divide the figure into the length of line required, wind the reel the same number of times = job done.
Plus you've saved £12 (yes I know tight ****)



.

Bit of a faff but i used to measure out a set length of line and count how many turns it took to wind that on then multiply it accordingly........line counter makes it so much easier and i don't lose count if distracted.

Regards

Martin

The only time I get distracted is when I fall in !



.

I trust you wear a life jacket

Regards

Martin

Nope

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[JoeNickel]

Gah! I got carried away last night, full of enthusiasm I bought a reel that I now think is less than ideal. Should have waited for the sage guidance here!

It'll at least give me the opportunity to practice Pin Piking, even if it has to be next season now. And I can always return it to the 'Bay from whence it came.

[martin(rockape)]

Gah! I got carried away last night, full of enthusiasm I bought a reel that I now think is less than ideal. Should have waited for the sage guidance here!

It'll at least give me the opportunity to practice Pin Piking, even if it has to be next season now. And I can always return it to the 'Bay from whence it came.

Nothing has to be perfect so long as it does the job and just as importantly you enjoy it.

What pin did you buy?


Regards

Martin

[Mark_Houghton]

Just to add to that as i buy bulk line spools i put 150 yds on all my pins that way i can strip off a few yards if needed and still have plenty left on the spool, works out cheaper in the long run.

I use a Berkley line counter to measure how much I'm putting on. Its actually a depth counter reading 999 feet so its a case of deducting how many feet your putting on and winding down to that number. They are about £12.

Regards

Martin

+1 for those line counters. Handy little tools....

[coopercollector]

Occasionally I fancy having a vintage day and I go down the mill pool on a river near me. I use a Chapman 700, with a 4" ventilated Allcock Aerial and a gazette bung.

Its good fun trotting a bait down the current. Mind you the Chapman is like a snooker que !!

[JoeNickel]

I've picked up a 5" Lewtham Leeds. Seems like it'll do the job. May be able to give it a go over the weekend!

... and I'm also watching another couple of properly vintage pins on the 'Bay. This has the potential to be more expensive than buying lures! Sometimes I'm genuinely not sure whether I prefer fishing, or fishing tackle.

[Mike J]

I've picked up a 5" Lewtham Leeds. Seems like it'll do the job. May be able to give it a go over the weekend!

... and I'm also watching another couple of properly vintage pins on the 'Bay. This has the potential to be more expensive than buying lures! Sometimes I'm genuinely not sure whether I prefer fishing, or fishing tackle.

Oooo the slippery slope into collecting fishing reels.

Proper vintage is a wooden spool.
Expensive is a Witcher £1,300 currently if you'd like it.
Probably the strongest modern 'pin is the Barbel Catcher, vintage a Big Pike.
Best looking 'pin is the Revolver, or the Rotator if you want a bearings, 150 of each were made, the first 50 of each in England, the rest in Asia.
Classiest is the Fred Taylor Specialist, just 100 were made.
Best named The Roach Perfection only 25 ever made

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