The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

Don't forget that with a centrepin rather than a fixed spool it'll be a different rod....

Why's that RBT?

Sorry Nobby I probably didn't word that correctly. What I was infering is that a pin gives you greater control allowing you to soften the lunges a big fish can make much more easily than with a fixed spool, it does make the rod a different tool so to speak. I've landed carp unintentionally whilst perching up to around 12lb on a lucky strike as has my fishing mate Kev on a pin only loaded with 4lb line, I very much doubt I'd have managed it with a fixed spool

Ah yes, I think that's why some anglers like to back-wind.....they feel it gives them more control.

RBTraditional wrote: ↑Sat Jan 28, 2017 10:05 am Don't forget that with a centrepin rather than a fixed spool it'll be a different rod....

That's so true Sir.

Nobby wrote: ↑Sat Jan 28, 2017 4:47 pm Ah yes, I think that's why some anglers like to back-wind.....they feel it gives them more control.

Personally I think back winding using a fixed spool reel will never really give you the direct control that using a centrepin can, after many years of using one it becomes almost instinctive to brake with the thumb or release when a fish runs or lunges, applying just the right amount of pressure to control the fish and take the pressure from the rod.

I have recently purchased some older ABU cardinals which like the newer 54/55/57 series have excellent drags but must agree with RBT that a centrepin gives instant and better control. This season I had an 18/20lber carp on a c****n rod plus a 4 in Allcocks Aerial Popular - it was very exciting but the fish was 'under my thumb' and being controlled all the time.

Thank you Paul and Olly for your endorsement..
I'll not get too specific about the sizes of certain species I've landed on cane and pin as I don't want to sound egotistical. I firmly believe that cane rods are better matched with a centrepin, which is the very reason that I rarely employ the use of a fixed spool reel. Most of my fishing is executed close in, sometimes right under the rod tip, bait lowered into place, there are very few rivers I fish that I need to employ the use of anything but a pin.

There's a bit of interesting discussion here

http://www.redmirepool.biz/forum/viewtopic.php?t=177
on these issues, in line with my observation that Walker, as far as I know, largely used fixed spools.

Comments regarding how capable the rod is with twelve pound carp depends on how they fight. Now I habitually used seven pound line for carp without undue difficulty, but where I fish currently the carp pull very, very hard. Oh how hard they pull. You'd risk getting smashed up in tree roots.

It is each to their own, and loving traditional tackle is one thing, and quite a beautiful thing, but transferring this love into belief that it is better in all ways is a step too far, sometimes.

Tweed you are probably correct in stating that RW preferred the use of a fixed spool reel, he was after all an inovator and embraced new technology in angling.
Noted cane anglers BV, CY and Fred Crouch "mostly" seem to be seen employing the use of a pin for their angling, which may very well reflect their particular fishing style, I See no problem with a fixed spool reel being used on cane, but as I've stated before, I belive a pin is kinder to the rod. Now old Fred had a different viewpoint altogether, he detested fixed spools and once said you could get 45 in a standard dustbin.....but that may have been just Fred playing devil's advocate, he did love a wind up (no pun intended) ..which he was rather good at, bless him.