POLO
Active member
I'm looking at purchasing a reel specifically for trotting wondering does anyone have recomendations?
I'm looking at purchasing a reel specifically for trotting wondering does anyone have recomendations?
The most versatile reel for trotting, capable of varied techniques including waggler fishing, and coping with lines up to 6lbs, is a Shimano Stradic 2500 or Daiwa equivalent. Sensible money and robust. The proportions are perfect.
Yes the answer is a centrepin .............. simply a joy to use. It's a knack or an art if you are a romantic.
I have two the Okuma Sheffield and a Youngs PuristII. One without and with a line guard.
I wouldn't trot with anything else. In fact for chubbing I use the Youngs Travel Trotter rod which has stand off rings specificly desiged for centepins and keeping the line from sticking to the rod.
Lastly ............ it all looks rather wonderful.
I would say that 90% of my fishing is done with a pin. this is because I choose to, I enjoy the skill involved, I enjoy playing fish on them, as I believe I have more control. Fishing is not about using this or that because it's the latest fashion, it's about enjoyment! As for the best reel for trotting, ask 20 people get 20 different answers. The fact is the best reel for the job doesn't exist, because different situations call for different tools. Otherwise surely I would go roach fishing with a 3lb test carp rod, I would land the fish, but would derive no pleasure in doing so. So for me it would be a centre pin, or maybe a.......
The question is really about how versatile a reel is required: all of the following are trotting methods. Some can be accomplished well with a centrepin, others are either impossible or severely limited if you persist with one.
Fishing with an Avon float
Fishing with a stick float
Fishing with a waggler float
Fishing with a Trent Trotter
Fishing at range (over 25 yards out)
Fishing very deep water
Fishing very fast water
Fishing slow water
Fishing very shallow water
Running a float down at current speed
Slowing a float down
Using an over-shotted float
Fishing from under trees - "parrot cages"
Various combinations of the above.
All of the above constitute trotting as we know it on rivers as varied as small streams, slow rivers, fast rivers, wide fast rivers and wide deep slow rivers.
If you fish one type of water at modest range with good pace, always with top and bottom floats then a centrepin may be an excellent and enjoyable choice but you still cannot do anything with it that a well designed fixed spool is equally capable of achieving simply because the reel used is only part of the equation that contributes to the control achieved - other factors include the skill of the angler, choice of float and shotting pattern. The style of fishing is different too, which is why attempting to compare the two methods by trying to fish the same way is pointless.
The other big minus with a centrepin is that it is far more expensive to have many spare spools.
I do some trotting several times a week, on varied waters, thoroughly enjoy it, and invariably use a fixed spool reel, even though I have several excellent trotting centrepins.
I'm sorry Tigger but you are 100% wrong - I'd like to see you fish a 'Topper' at Saltford/Newton St Lo on the Bristol Avon from under the trees, casting 35 yards set 14ft deep - no chance of a Wallis cast. .