What's So Great About Centerpin Fishing Anyway?

[@chrisventicinque4486]

Being new to center pinning, but not new to fly fishing, (I've casted flys for more than 40 years,) including "drifting" rigs ("chuck n duck"). I am new to learning the hand sequence needed for casting a mono loaded center pin reel. It's no more difficult than learning to cast a fly line (lolol) The understanding of this reels function is paramount to success. Center pinning is "drift fishing" with a bobber! Not new to drifting or float fishing. Saying that as it may, float center pinning in its simplest explanation is "Free spool drifting" Not new or indicative of "fly fishing" only! But it is an extremely productive method for fishing a river (current) for Steelhead and other andromous fish. Open spooling can be achieved with most any (almost) spinning, bait casting or fly rod and reel combination. What is required is that a rig 2:10 can "give" line without tension... It's a presentation of a bait during a drift, suspended from a float, to create a "dead" drift . Or, in other words, a drift that matches the current speed. The "float" (indicator or bobber) depth is set, either by slip bobber or stationary bobber, 1 1/2 times the depth of the water on the main line, usually with split shot aligned in sequence by size largest up top to smallest down the leader, depending on current speed, with a bait attached to the end of the tippet or tapered leader. The premise of this fly reel adaptation, is to give a "dead" drift without the need to pick up line after each drift with a float, but to be able to reel-up copus amounts of line (usually mono) and then be able to "throw" the line off of the "open" center pinned reel the distance needed like a fly line without any false casts. Looking at a center pin reel, and you'll see one side of the reel seat is missing! This adaptation allows one to pull line off a spool without the reel interference or drag. Also, for not having to manage bunched fly lines on deck or gathered about the feet. It's a situation where the hand opposite the hand used to hold the rod, controls the line off of the reel during the "toss" The line then "free spools" for the length of the run. Reeled back quickly and "tossed" again, and again, and again! They call Musky, "the fish of ten thousand casts" Steelhead is a fish 9,999. Great Casts!

[@fishstopbc8662]

Always learning something new from your videos! Keep em comin

[@petrhermanadventures9509]

Thank you. Always enjoy the supportive comments.

[@losratitos8277]

I used to fish my CP quite a lot on the Vedder/Chilliwack 15-20 years ago....would go to White Rock and get sand shrimp on the dropping tide and then drive out to the river and fish...good times...I remember catching a 16-18 pounder once in the upper river in a 20 foot hole...I had my drift set at 18 feet...very exciting...Thanx for the vid...selah

[@petrhermanadventures9509]

According to government stats angling pressure for steelhead on the vedder has been fairly consistent for about 40 years. But I somewhat doubt the data. Last year was crazy busy. I think it might be that far fewer people bother with government surveys now. I'd be pumping bugs too if it wasn't for the long drive, deadly.

[@roddyck7081]

I had a good laugh when you mentioned you traded your pin for a level wind. I myself spent hours at trying to learn to cast a pin. I too decided to sell it out of frustration but my wife talked me into trying again. I figured it out but thought i might add that matching up to a good 10.6 or 11' rod make's a world of difference as well. Keep the video's coming!! See you on the river one day!

[@petrhermanadventures9509]

Glad to hear I'm no the only one. Some people seem to catch on pretty quickly. I have seen some casting really well after just a week. For me casting accuracy was the biggest problem to overcome.

[@ReelWaterFishing]

1:05 me when my wife ask the price of anything

[@Kdash66]

No steelhead for us over here but snakeheads and smallmouth bass are a blast on a pin.

[@TheSpeyfisher]

Peter, perhaps you can go through different setups and why? I use many different setups according to the river flow and speed? Thank you, Mike

[@petrhermanadventures9509]

Yes , that's a good topic. Unfortunately I find myself short on time to make a lot of videos. I have like a hundred hours of awesome footage that I never edited and posted. I'd have to cut back on fishing LOL

[@Lebigbeard]

hooked up my first steelhead on a center pin the first day on the river. Was a nice 7-8 pound buck

[@petrhermanadventures9509]

That's awesome. I think that's what makes steelheading so interesting. Every cast could be the one, #5 or #5000. Right now I think I'm sitting at about 3000 casts without a bite :)

[@Deleted-k9b]

I was fishing right across from you today briefly while you were filming this!

[@petrhermanadventures9509]

I like that spot because there is very little background noise from the river and not too much foot traffic. I get self conscious filming around people.

[@carolfisher6824]

Haha! I heard the siren. Not so quiet 😂

[@carolfisher6824]

I always look forward to your videos, I check for them every day

[@shermanou1337]

centerpin reel is excellent for line management, due to it large spool, the monofilament line doesn't become as curely as they are on other type of reel. I wonder if anymore ever try use braided line on CP reel.

[@Ludwigvonweinershnitzle]

It's not uncommon, most people don't because they worry about damage to eyelets and float rods are pretty pricey.

[@TheSpeyfisher]

Peter, what makes the center pin better than another???? I know you can change bearings? The material it's made out of? Thank you, Mike from Oregon...

[@petrhermanadventures9509]

I have a video on my channel reviewing some different CP reels. I've tried several brands and makes, so far my favorite is the Luhr Jensen Legacy, actually find it easier to fish than my much more expensive Islander. It's like a lot of things, small details make the difference and a lot is personal preference. I really should make a few more CP videos, there seems to be a lot of interest in the subject. Maybe some casting lessons.

[@ChrisG9978]

I've honestly had great luck centerpinning using a $50 Amazon-purchased centerpin reel. Low investment for anyone who wants to give centerpinning a try. The knock-off brands from Amazon are still made from CNC'd aluminum...many use stainless bearings just like the expensive reels. Grease up the center shaft and the bearing and it'll spool and reel as smoothly as something that costs 10-20x more $$$. Matching it up with a longer rod designed for centerpin float fishing is always a good option, but anything over 8.5-9 ft is sufficient for most rivers and streams. I also recommend starting off with a smaller diameter centerpin reel (3.75-4.25" diameter range)...I've found them easier to manage and cast compared to a larger diameter reel. Casting is usually the #1 difficulty anglers have with pins, but once you're over the learning curve it's smooth sailing and more fish to the bank at the end of the day.

[@petrhermanadventures9509]

Thanks for the comment. I have another video on my channel comparing several reels, the Amazon one is one of them.

[@chrisventicinque4486]

Ditto! It's a freaking spool of line (wtf?)

[@ChrisG9978]

@@chrisventicinque4486 The only real problem I've seen with some dirt-cheap centerpin reels is the casting can be a nightmare and an angler new to pinning might walk away as a result. Cheap reels often won't cast well because of poor design...line gets caught on corners, ridges, and whatnot coming off the spool.

[@secondlife5704]

Informative. Thanks Petr!

[@petrhermanadventures9509]

Glad it was helpful!

[@sandeepp3655]

For any one starting new.. centerpin reels within $300 are good enough to last long if you maintain well. Super smooth expensive ones are just matter of your choice. CP won't catch any more fish than baitcaster. In a slower water, they work awesome. If you are on a budget, save and stick with baitcaster then move to CP but then don't give away baitcaster.

[@Comrade_Akimov]

Dude. A barebone CP that’s is used from Finland to Japan and down to India costs 10-35$ tops.

[@tidelybumsquish]

With no gear ratio . How to you reel fast enough when a trout darts towards you? I get the drift aspect of float fishing. I dont understand the 1.1 ratio ...

[@petrhermanadventures9509]

I find Coho do that more often than trout, but yeah, reel like hell and hope for the best. After using a CP for a while you get used to reeling fast, a muscle memory kind of thing.

[@joselopezgarcia528]

Hey Peter, how about the fishing rod? Does it require a special rod?

[@petrhermanadventures9509]

Yes, pretty much all manufacturers make rods that are either called centerpin or Float/drift. The main difference between that and a regular spin casting rod is that the eyelets are smaller and sometimes the butt is a bit different too.

[@armreels_com]

Hi, what do you think about new Redband 45 centerpin reels?

[@petrhermanadventures9509]

I have not seen one, so no comment.

[@hughlewis4471]

Is the "trotting"/holding back the full freespool the reason i see guys whos float seems like its being held back and the top kindve angled towards the angler when drifting? Thanks

[@petrhermanadventures9509]

Yes, the Brits call it trotting, around here most people just call it hold back. It's all about trying to match bottom water speed to float speed. That relationship varies with each spot. In the top half of a run surface water is generally a lot faster than bottom water, but in a tail out they are almost identical.

[@michaeliglewski46]

I've been pinning for afew years now but I can't cast like you are in this vid. I cross cast holding the rod in my right hand and casting over my left shoulder pull my line off the side of the spool.. I can't seem to get the real moving fast enough to cast it the way that you are casting it and make any type of real distance..

[@petrhermanadventures9509]

The trick is to release near the end of the backswing, so that the reel is already starting to spin up when you cast forward. Definitely a tricky bit of timing. Took me about a 100 hours to get good at it, though some people pick it up much faster. I think I had a lifetime of spin casting reflexes working against me, because my 12 year old daughter had a much easier time of learning.

[@Koomzy475]

Where did you get your reel and rod from

[@petrhermanadventures9509]

I won them, first prize in a coho derby. Sold at most tackle stores though. Luhr Jensen legacy.

[@lonewizzard8456]

500 dollars for a reel with no drag system. No thanks. That doesn't mean that I am not fascinated by the centerpin. Awesome job on explaining the advantages of fishing with this type of a setup.

[@petrhermanadventures9509]

Thanks for the comment. The reel I'm using there is only 350 brand new and because it has no drag system, should last a decade or more. Most spin casting reels, even expensive ones, are done after a couple of seasons of battling salmon.

[@bsdgffishtuna5186]

are you left handed? Just wondering since I'd be inclined to retrieve with my dominant hand (right) since you have to be reeling and such...

[@petrhermanadventures9509]

These big fish require the dominant hand to be on the rod just to muscle them, so most people reel with their non dominant hand. I suppose it's personal preference, but the majority of anglers I think do the same. My wife gave me the same argument until she got her first salmon on :)

[@iamalemontree]

Can center spin reel be used for surf fishing?

[@petrhermanadventures9509]

It probably can, but it would be a disadvantage, rather than an advantage. Long shot casting is hard with a centerpin and the retrieves are slow.

[@mick8018]

once you master a center pin, you master the river. the single most deadliest method of taking salmon and steelhead full stop. i typically out-fish bottom bouncer / flossers 10 to 1 and ALL my hook-ups are legitimate takes. NO SNAGGING !

[@petrhermanadventures9509]

Yes, no argument there. I think that by the time people decide to C.P. they've also spent a few years on the rivers and know how to get'er done.

[@bobmariano3731]

Great video thx ! 🎣get the net & keep rippin some lips 👄🎣👍

[@petrhermanadventures9509]

Thanks for watching. I appreciate the feedback.

[@jasmijnariel]

Its disgusting how expensive they are. I bought a dam quick 4... 71 euros

[@brettjamesmiller]

100 hours ?! You can’t learn to Spey cast in a fraction of the time

[@petrhermanadventures9509]

LOL, what do you mean? that sentence doesn't make any sense. I'd love to learn spey one day, looks so beautiful.

[@Yomzky]

Is casting fishing rod fit on centerpin reel

[@petrhermanadventures9509]

It will fit, but it's not ideal.