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Centrepin Heaven!

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Sean Meeghan 16/10/2009 07:24:00

Chris makes superb floats as well

Sean Meeghan must have been a good boy as he's just been to Centrepin Heaven!

Recently I spent a really enjoyable couple of hours in the company of a master craftsman. It all started at the last Yorkshire regional meeting of the Barbel Society in Wetherby when I won a Wallis casting lesson with Chris Lythe who, for those of you who don't know him, builds centrepin reels to die for.

The afternoon started with a welcome cuppa in Chris' home workshop while we discussed the finer points of centre pin construction and swapped tales of fishing for barbel and grayling on the Yorkshire rivers.

I then had a good poke round the workshop, admiring the machine tools (I am a production engineer after all!) and batches of work in progress.

Chris produces all his components in-house with the bulk of them being machined from aerospace grade T6 aluminium billet. Chris's reels are all true pins and the amount of work that goes into matching the spool and the pin is truly amazing!

Next I admired the finished product, a reel which was waiting to go out to a customer (all reels are made to order).

All reels are based on original Aerial designs and the quality of fit and finish has to be seen and felt to be believed: they are masterpieces of precision engineering with tiny gaps and beautifully finished components. Even the presentation cases, which are hand made for him, are exquisite.

Now for the lesson! We set up our gear on the local recreation ground, my 15 year old Swallow and Garbolino Carp Match rod, contrasting with Chris's '1915 Avon' and 11ft home built trotter. Chris soon had me drilled in the basics of the Wallis cast and, once I'd un-educated my multiplier educated thumb, I was achieving distances of about 15 yards.

One thing that did stand out was how much easier it was to cast with Chris's reel (a true pin remember) than it was with my well run in and very lightly oiled ball bearing reel. The Lythe pin seemed to have a very slight 'stickyness' which was probably down to the film of oil on the much larger area of the plain bearing. This didn't seem to affect the rotation of the reel once it was moving, it just seemed to slow the acceleration slightly and so was probably due to a surface tension effect. I'm going to try a slightly heavier oil on my reel before my next practice session to see if it makes any difference.

So, will I use the Wallis cast in future? The answer is a resounding probably! I need a bit more practice before I'm competent casting a float and the check on my reel is a little too soft for legering for barbel. I'm going to have to see if I can get hold of a stronger spring for the Swallow. Does anybody know of a source of spares for this reel?

All in all it was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon and many thanks to Chris for his time and patience. If you haven't seen a Chris Lythe Centerpin before then check out his website.

But be warned that when you see one you'll want one and there is a waiting list!

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Comments (17 posted):

Fred Bonney on 16/10/2009 08:49:18

There have been very many who have tempted by the splender of Chris Lythes reels, and gone ahead and ordered one. Not me I might add, but having seen them I can confirm, they are indeed fine pieces of equipment. I'm also too impatient for the necessarily long wait, not only that I value my life too much!!! I do have some of his floats though. Sean, if Chavender comes along,I'm sure he will have the answer to your Swallow question

Greg Whitehead on 16/10/2009 12:07:15

The best reels on sale today. Get one ordered Sean!

Peter Jacobs on 16/10/2009 12:25:47

The best reels on sale today. Get one ordered Sean! They are indeed excellent reels, but don't overlook either the Bisterne Aerials or the Centenary Coxon by Paul Witcher. Sadly I don't think he is making any more, but you can still pick one up (on rare ocassions) if available at auction.

Skoda on 16/10/2009 15:44:48

Lucky you! Did you win on your tickets or the ones I left you? Andy

Ron The Hat Clay on 16/10/2009 16:02:55

I like the picture of Chris next to his lathe. Of all the machine tools I learned to use over the years, the simple toolmakers lathe was my favourite. I once made a workable single shot pistol on the lathe in my works fitting shop! When I was an apprentice I got into trouble with the foreman for attempting to fire it using black powder and a ball bearing. But I digress, Chris Lythe's reels are true works of art.

Sean Meeghan on 16/10/2009 20:30:45

I won it on my tickets of course! Your tickets did't win anything:wh I'm sorely tempted to place an order for one - I just need to choose which one!

chavender on 16/10/2009 21:26:58

its allways good too see a artist at work ,chis's reels go beyond meare metal contraptions ,like all artist ,he puts a little of himself into his works and breathes life into them . for the spring ,garry mills would be first point of call ,but you know what these reel makers are like ( a little eccentric ) so best e-mail & call ,if he dont have one he might make one

Graham Whatmore on 17/10/2009 11:03:13

Ron The Hat Clay on 17/10/2009 11:28:00

And the rest Graham. I think more likely £500. The materials used are of the most expensive and best available. One thing you can say is that the value of such a reel will not drop, and in fact could rise considerably over the next 10 years. Consider the purchase of such reels as an investment. I would also like Chris to consider the manufacture of the ultimate fly reel.

Bryan Baron 2 on 17/10/2009 11:40:36

Must admit every time i pick one of his reels up i feel a sudden urge to place a order. With the waiting list it works out at only a couple of quid a week. See i am talking myself into ordering one. But as you say sean which one. I do like the look of the Barbel Master.

Grumpy Git @ on 17/10/2009 12:05:21

Sent my wife a link to Chris' website as a reminder that Christmas was approaching a couple of years ago. She even rang him to order one!! When told the wait was 18 months she was rather bemused and didn't bother to place the order, DAMN. Why is it women never see the long term?? Everything has to be now. For those who haven't seen a Chris Lythe pin, study them here: [url=http://www.chrislythe-centrepins.co.uk/centre-pin-reels.html][url]http://www.chrislythe-centrepins.co.uk/centre-pin-reels.html

Graham Whatmore on 17/10/2009 12:10:55

Needs to be a short term investment for me Ron I ain't got that long to wait ;) and anyway owning two already that don't get used much it would be a silly waste of money - for me.

tigger on 17/10/2009 13:38:30

I have a fondness for centrepin fishing and have a collection of about 15 and do use them all at some time or other. I actually have two Chris Lythes on order and one of them should be ready very soon. To be honest though out of all my centrepins I actually prefer to use my okuma sheffield the most and it works as good as, if not better than any top end centrepin. I think it looks great also. If I could only have one centrepin purley to use rather than just admire I would without doubt have my okuma sheffield !

George387 on 17/10/2009 13:38:45

Well done sean, cant beat a bit of centre pinning especially with one of chris''s. Just tell the Mrs what you want for xmas now...I did...lol ;)

spanishpete on 19/10/2009 08:25:03

I am an Okuma user and simply would like to make the point that it is not used for Trotting!! I find that too much batting back eventually hurts your hand and can be slow on a fast river. Instead I use it regularly on ponds where you can fish relatively close in if not in the margins. It is a little unfair on the fish really as you can respond to every movement it makes without it having any chance of breaking your line. You can therefore afford to fish lighter. At one of my local mixed lakes with a head of carp, I fish for the roach with a 15ft assassin rod and 4lb line and land carp to low doubles with no problem other than it takes more time and patience. I have more fish and more fun than neighbouring blokes using 21/2 test curves and legering etc. Try it and see. Peter Barton

geoffmaynard on 19/10/2009 13:04:01

Theres something very attractive about a centrepin, they aren't really practical except when fishing reasonably close, they are difficult to cast a float with but still they excite us anglers. I have two centrepins and they rarely see the light of day, shame really because I do enjoy running a stick through with one. Just out of interest what are we looking at as regards price £300? or more? Not always so close Graham. When fishing a river or stream with a good flow it's easy to find you are getting bites at 50 yards range. Most rivers are easily fished with a pin and a fixed spool is not essential. (note I said "most"!)

Sean Meeghan on 19/10/2009 18:08:52

I think the most surprising thing for me was the distinct difference in feel between the plain bearing on the Lythe pin and the ball race on my Swallow. From a pure engineering view point (low loads, high speeds) a ball race should be the best solution, but the feel of the plain bearing reel was so much better somehow. I've got a mate who uses a centre pin very succesfully for 99% of his barbel fishing. He can't do a Wallis cast either!

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