THE CENTRE PIN thread - everything I wanted to know but was too afraid to ask

[mick b]

Agreed Mick - BUT - would you go and buy 'an Audi, Range Rover or Bentley' as your first car? mg:

.

No I would learn to drive first.


NB your taught to pass your test, you learn to drive later (and not to look at the girl on the pavement in the short skirt mg: )

 

[greenie62]

not to look at the girl on the pavement in the short skirt

My point exactly! - don't get distracted by beauty and superb engineering - go for functionality first!

 

[Alan Tyler]

Functionality varies with context, too; I have some rather primitive pins loaded with sinking lines for lakes and ponds, because on still waters a free-running reel is a pain; no flow to take up the odd inch or two of slack, so you're slightly nervy all the time, and that's a bit corrosive to fun.

As to the cars analogy, if you wanted to kill a youngster without being convicted of anything, buying them a Porsche 911 a month after they get their licence would be a fairly effective way to go about it, wouldn't it?

An Aerial or similar won't (often) prove fatal, but it can mean a lot of time spent untangling, which is few people's idea of fun.

BTW, if anyone is having trouble with over-free 'pins, just use thicker oil, or even grease to tame them - then wash out with lighter fluid and replace with slippier stuff as you progress. Once you're on light oil, remember to give the pin and bush a quick wipe and q-tipping and a fresh drop of oil after each trip.

 

[nicepix]

The Aventa Pro which has the same bearings, build quality, etc as the Sheffield and RAW was being knocked out at around £60 last year. Half the price of the identically functioning Sheffield and RAW reels. The Aventa which only has one bearing, not two, but you probably wouldn't notice, was even cheaper.

When you consider how well made these reels are compared to those used in the fifties and sixties even the inexpensive Marco Cortesi is better engineered than the top of the range 1960's reels.

For me the thing to look for in a centrpin to be used for ledgering is a ratchet that will hold against the current and an easily reached on / off switch for the ratchet. It doesn't matter so much when trotting, but when ledgering, having to turn on and off the ratchet with your reel hand that is at the other side of the switch can be a right PITA.

 

[Paul Boote]

Which brings us to the best-ever barbel leger reel, in my opinion - the Speedia Wide Drum De-Luxe.

http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/...Wide spool Deluxe speedia/SPEEDIADELUXEf2.jpg

http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/...Wide spool Deluxe speedia/SPEEDIADELUXEI1.jpg

Ratchet tensioner, super-freerunning, robust....

I have long had a few (five these days) - barbel to 16.25, river carp to high 20s, salmon to 23 and Heaven knows what else....

And yet it will cast 1/8ounce out of the park - well, quite far enough - and even lightish float gear with a half-decent Wallis Cast.

 

[tigger]

When i've had a fiddle with the cortesi amongst quite few other modern reels imo they of an inferiour build to the higher end of the older reels. I'm not being nostalgic in anyway as I never had any centrepins when I was a small child (only fixed spooled reels) but the older centrepin reels do have better tolerances, for example they won't allow even a very thin line round behind the spool and backplate and I do know of several people who complaine about the line constantly getting trapped behind the drum on the TFG's, cortesies etc. I suppose it's a testament to the gent's or ladies that made them at the time. I know the paintwork isn't to spectacular but then again the reels are quite old and it makes me wonder just how well the modern powdercoatings will stand up over the same time period.

 

[robtherake]

When i've had a fiddle with the cortesi amongst quite few other modern reels imo they of an inferiour build to the higher end of the older reels. I'm not being nostalgic in anyway as I never had any centrepins when I was a small child (only fixed spooled reels) but the older centrepin reels do have better tolerances, for example they won't allow even a very thin line round behind the spool and backplate and I do know of several people who complaine about the line constantly getting trapped behind the drum on the TFG's, cortesies etc. I suppose it's a testament to the gent's or ladies that made them at the time. I know the paintwork isn't to spectacular but then again the reels are quite old and it makes me wonder just how well the modern powdercoatings will stand up over the same time period.

There is more than one TFG reel, Ian. This is the one I have:

TF Gear Classic Centre Pin Reel - TFG Carp and Specialist Reels - TFG - Total Fishing Gear

Never had a second's bother with it (certainly no problems with line disappearing behind the spool) and such a pleasure to use it puts an involuntary grin on my fizzog. I would say that for 90% of pin users it's all they would ever want or need. Mind you, I didn't realise the Aventa was available so cheaply or I'd now be talking about that in the same glowing terms - they really are a remarkable piece of engineering for the money.

 

[tigger]

There is more than one TFG reel, Ian. This is the one I have:

TF Gear Classic Centre Pin Reel - TFG Carp and Specialist Reels - TFG - Total Fishing Gear

Never had a second's bother with it (certainly no problems with line disappearing behind the spool) and such a pleasure to use it puts an involuntary grin on my fizzog. I would say that for 90% of pin users it's all they would ever want or need. Mind you, I didn't realise the Aventa was available so cheaply or I'd now be talking about that in the same glowing terms - they really are a remarkable piece of engineering for the money.

Rob, I was referring to the other lesser model, the one that's pretty much the same reel as the cortesi. I have used one of the models you have and as you say they're good reels .

 

[laguna]

As for lugana's post, I fail to see how his singular experience "as a kid" can give him a balanced opinion. His use of the (offensive) term 'old gits' is neither constructive or helpful to this post and suggests a preconceived idea of who actually owns and uses this type of reel and adds nothing to his reply, nor does his use of a none word neo-tart that doesn't actually exist..........even in the Urban (slang) Dictionary.

Its only an opinion and as opinions go; its just but one but its still mine, on topic and relevant to this discussion as far as I'm concerned, your dislike of mine however is totally irrelevant as is your pedantry of the portmanteau.
Singular perhaps as stated but having owned and used a allcocks match aerial (for perhaps a little over a year C. 1968/9), and again several borrowed since over the years... mates too fishing along side (only yesterday as it happens), I see its appeal as a purist but its not for me. As a kid I was very resourceful and quickly learned to adapt and yet never got along with it (for practical reasons) and prefer my CF, which incidentally, despite its shortcomings, can also be used with one finger to control line flow and set the hook without turning the handle to engage a bail arm.

 

[Tee-Cee]

Paul Boote...I have one of those Speedia jobbies but never heard of the 'De- Luxe' version and it sort of suggests a 'standard version' was made as well, or am I making assumptions here ??
Mine looks identical to that shown in the pic.....

 

[mark brailsford 2]

Only an opinion mate that's all, but I did have a friend that had one and he wasn't to pleased with it!

 

[Paul Boote]

Tee-Cee - Check the picture of the reel's interior. Note the ratchet pawl tensioner (a plate operated by a knurled ring that protrudes from a small slot of the side of the backplate. If your reel has this set-up, then it is the much sought-after (these days) De-Luxe. Ruddy good reels and very highly thought of by those who can do and not merely post.

 

[nicepix]

I've bought, used and sold dozens of centrepins many of which came from the glory years of the fifties and sixties. None of them, including the matchmen's 'must have' Alcocks Match Aerial come close to modern inexpensive reels IMO.

Smoothness of the bearings and paint quality for example of the newer reels cannot be matched by any of the older 'pins. I used a Cortesi for a few hours on the Dearne and couldn't believe how good it was for the money. And my mate's Aventa Pro knocks any of my older reels into touch for build quality.

 

[S-Kippy]

Only an opinion mate that's all, but I did have a friend that had one and he wasn't to pleased with it!

I've got a mate with an opinion too....he seems very pleased with it but I can't say as I'm that fussed !

 

[mark brailsford 2]

I've got a mate with an opinion too....he seems very pleased with it but I can't say as I'm that fussed !

Ah, ah, somehow the quote from rake as not appeared!! mg:

 

[Poshpaul (Angling Trust and PaSC)]

Pre-emptive strike now.....

I sense the direction this may start to go.........

don't!

 

[Peter Jacobs]

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^


wot He said . . . . . . . . . . !

 

[robtherake]

Only an opinion mate that's all, but I did have a friend that had one and he wasn't to pleased with it!

It's OK, Mark, I sussed you were replying to me.

 

[Tee-Cee]

Paul......No, my internals show the end of the 'spring' retained by a pin (sitting away from the side of the reel) and not the plate shown in your pic..

Must be the 'standard ' job I suppose.. Still, it must be 50 years old at least, still running like a dream and I love it to bits - weight as well !!


Thanks for your help though...

 

[Paul Boote]

Still an EXCELLENT wide drum centrepin, Tee Cee, and one that a lot of reels for all their bells-and-whistles modernity and £s price still fail to equal. The one I had was the reel that I always used to reach for when trotting live and dead baits for pike (Avon and Stour) and also one that caught just as many salmon as its D-L counterpart when I used to run bunches of worms for them in a few Welsh rivers.

That said and done, reels, of whatever shape and amount / lack of gearing etc, are just line carriers and lumps of crafted metal and tools of the trade - nothing to get all "My car is better than your car ... can't be a man 'cause he don't smoke the same cigarettes as me" about. But then many, sadly, are fall out with their own fingernail men first and fishers second.