Centrepins...love em or no..!

What have you got..?
What's the biggest you've had on a pin ,any stories?

I'll start off,my first reel ,was a Rapidex I believe,its what I learnt on ..

Goose ,gave me an idea to start a pin love thread..!

In reply to Post #1
Love the pin. I use an allcock perfection flick ‘em (1938-1939 rebranded rapidex) for light stuff and a matt hayes aerial copy for heavy braid. My first pin was also a hand me down rapidex.
Have had several 30+ carp, a juvenile bull shark and several flat head for the bbq on the MH reels and a pretty dicey experience with a double figure barbel with the old allcock model.
I fancy a ray walton rolling pin but the new super light model looks crap imo. Not a fan of the Sheffield, it's a bit bling for my liking. Kept meaning to get a pair of Fred crouch reels but they are no longer being made.
Duggs is a collector and user of various pins, he kindly donated my MH reel after I got rid of the first

In reply to Post #2
Great stuff noj,interesting..

I got a wooden Nottingham Starback,handed down from family of old,I never used it as yet..

I've got a want on for a John Wilson heritage ,but it's now known as a James Young heritage I think,green anodised, lovely..

In reply to Post #3
I know the model, it's a lovely reel.

In reply to Post #4
Very nice reels..


Has anyone heard or seen Lesek Delag ,these reels are the most perfect of perfection reels,every single component is completely handmade..he's made one called Naiaid ,I have a transparent naiaid float ,with St piran ,inside the float..which I only use on snag free places..

But the reels he makes are totally unreal ,works of art ,..

Kenny Kendal reels are another ,I'd love to try out or a Chris Lythe,

In reply to Post #5
Always liked kingpin reels too. The titanium piscario looks a bit of kit, I'll wait for Keith to make one

In reply to Post #6
Is kingpin Canadian,or is that a Raven.?

In reply to Post #5
I've seen his work, it's another level so far beyond anything else out there.

In reply to Post #7
Made in Dorset I think mate, popular in the US though

In reply to Post #8
Ohh man,his stuff is just superb.. ever seen his NHS reel...omg ,I'd not be able to touch it ,let alone use it....

Some lovely reels out there..like the Gary Mills Fred j Taylor trotter,..

In reply to Post #9

In reply to Post #11
I've a Avon royal supreme bought by my dad in 1955 together with a Alcocks super wizard rod,virtually unused,takes pride of place in my “man cave”👍

In reply to Post #9
Made in Dorset, I tried to buy one about ten years back and gave up. The US market must be lucrative as they didn't seem at all interested in selling one

My Fred crouch is unique I think, as I had it done 2 tone. Roger keys who sold them for a little while after Fred's passing said they had never done that before in all the years they had been making them, then I had mine and another guy had a reel done around the same time in the opposite combination.

In reply to Post #13
I bet there's no shortage on the banks of the stour

In reply to Post #10
He told a terrific tale of an evening after sea trout one time, a tale for the dark nights for sure I wonder if I could dig it up.....

In reply to Post #2
I've never fished for anything really big but have a mk1 rolling pin on a 12ft 2lb torrix built by snags that I used a lot on the wye barbel fishing. I'm selling my pins to mate except the rolling pin and I'm buying a youngs Bob James light weight to thin out tackle and just keep stuff I will use.

In reply to Post #16
I have;

4.5" J W Young & Sons Purist II

4" Allcocks Aerial Popular

4" Richard Carter Merlin

The Merlin is by far the best out of the three. It's suitable for ledgering (wide drum) for bigger species and you can trot a float with it (starts up really well). The only problem with it is that it's a collectors item so I'm always a bit worried about using it with my "carefree" style of angling.

In reply to Post #17
Very nice,...

In reply to Post #18
Couple of mates have had Lythe pins but both didn't rate them to fish with and said they are for the display case.

In reply to Post #17
I know what you mean, I have a few nice pins, but none that I'm precious about. I don't really class myself as a collector as all of mine have a particular use they are great for, and they all get used.

In reply to Post #19
I've never held a Lythe pin,..so many fantastic versions of them ,I mean makers..of pins.I seen a red Fred Crouch for sale earlier on,looks unusual reel in its colouration..

I think.like yourself ,keep stuff minimal.and used,I couldn't see myself other than being a user..

I'm quite taken by the Bob James ,side ratchet version ,suitable for ledger and float...similar to a Purist 2048 maybe but bigger diameter...I still like the look of a wilson pin as well..

In reply to Post #19
With the true pins, a lot aren't great to use at first, and it can take years to run them in.
The lythes are beautiful reels, I haven't used one but I'm still hoping the mrs has taken the hints over the last decade to get me one for my 40th in a couple of years

The bj lightweight is nice, but can be a fussy bitch at times. I keep a small cloth in the case to wipe behind the spool periodically as grit gets in so easily.

@wandle
If you think about buying a Bob James, look at the river specialist, it appears to be the same reel but with a 2 stage drag

Dont own a pin now but had a richard carter aerial gem and a chris lythe barbel master reel a good few years ago. Staring to regret selling them now especially the chris lythe as i sold it for £200 and there now changing hands for £900 😞

In reply to Post #22
Funnily enough I've been looking at that same reel,the river specialist..I'm not too sure how it sets up,but it might be great for what I've in mind,...ledgering for perch ,using a bobbin or Dave Kelly swing tip,....I don't cast far ,just real close in stuff..

It might be a better long term choice than a Wilson or JY heritage..


Those Lythe pins are keepers aren't they ,£850,give or take,lovely 40th present

In reply to Post #24
I'm not sure you'd get the benefit of the drag in that case, I've always looked at the bj as a carp/barbel/big tench legering reel so the river specialist is slight improvement for how I'd use it. I wish they'd put that drag on the Triton reel, I would have pre ordered that

In reply to Post #25
That's it see Duggs,I always ask people with experience like yourself,...I'm in two minds the BJ with side check or that lovely Wilson, the Wilson or Heritage ,nice for float fishing..

Decisions lol...(we got a caged superlight as well,and your right ,grit is not recommend in those types..

Have you ever used a Speedia?

In reply to Post #26
No I've not tried the speedia reels, they were pretty expensive used when I was trying lots of old reels via ebay

In reply to Post #26
The speedia is a reliable work horse, most are well used. Good reel
I like the aerial design, it's how a pin should look. But I dislike spokes kinking the line. I also don't like the elaborate branding on most reels and why I never actually ordered the FC reels.
I bought an old match Ariel but actually preferred the clunky MH because of the smooth arbor.
Now I want a ray Walton but know full well the retrieve will annoy me, it's only 3.75”

In reply to Post #1
I have an Adcock Stanton which I love using.. not had anything of note on it but it is my reel of choice on the river and club water. I don't do any of that fancy casting as it always seems to end in tears, two fingers is enough for me.

In reply to Post #28
That's why me and the 2048 parted,took for a age to reel in ,in hindsight I was silly to sell that reel..

Speedias,think Shaun Harrisons faves and Fennels as well..was looking at the Gary Mills repo version earlier,very nice ,Speedias made by WR products,no idea who they were though..

Love pins ,they all look the same to untrained eyes,but all.different ...

In reply to Post #29
Very smart reel...

I use three fingers,underarm ,I can Wallis a little bit as well,not brilliant but I can do it sometimes..just love the old stylee ,

Tbh...Next few years it'll be all I'm doing ,just total minimal ,keeping it simple....no barrows etc,..

In reply to Post #31
To be honest I haven't tried to spin a pin for years as I don't like the tangles. I have been taking less and less gear these days, the evening sessions this last week have been with just a bucket for bait and tackle which is also my seat and a rod.

If you can get one the mk 1 Dave Swallow

In reply to Post #28
I bought the walton for carp fishing, and found it pretty poor for that
Mine has had more use this winter than in the last 5 years, fishing a different stretch of the river there are a couple of undercuts in the bank I can't cast in to with a normal pin.

What are peoples thoughts on knurled rims? Having had burns from trying to stop big carp and cats, the knurling on the stantons and some others has put me off. Can you actually slow a run with pressure on the rim or will it grind your thumb down

In reply to Post #34
I 'think you can get 'pins with a lever drag to apply brake pressure. There was an article on fishing magic from a guy living in France catching cats* with one but I've forgotten the details.
* Not the giants, 20-40 lbs.

In reply to Post #34
I reckon the RW will be unsuitable for what I want too, maybe I'll just swerve it and avoid an expensive mistake
A purist is ideal for what I want but the colour and writing on the back look pants

In reply to Post #35
I've seen a few different drag systems most of them make a racket tho and can be fiddly to use.

The shiny thumb is a bit of a trophy tbh, the half moon on the left palm means it was a really big fish

In reply to Post #36
I keep thinking of moving mine on but every few years I find myself in a situation that it's the only pin I have that'll do the job. there's a lot I don't like about it but the fact that it keeps going up in value, and I couldn't buy a battered old one for what mine cost new(£160) so I don't bother selling. Most of my pins are the same, bought new at good prices and within a couple of years I could sell them for a profit but they have found a home on a well matched rod to make a great combo for a given method/target species

Maybe I am a collector

In reply to Post #38
I did call you a collector and user
As for drags, I have fly reels with better drags than a fixed spool. Seems silly it's not available on a heavy duty pin.
Some fly reels, lamson spring to mind, I'm sure you can quite easily disengage the clicker.

In reply to Post #38
Na, collectors don't use them, they pack them away from new or put them in a display case. There's a guy I know has a big house with a very large room full of rods and reels that have been in there from new going back pre ss3000, mk1 armalite, morphs, all sorts, this guy also has been sitting on exclusive dead man's shoe tickets to two of the best waters that most will never have heard of in the UK and never fishes.

I've got two Youngs Trudex. I use them on my hardy marksman Avon rods and it's my favourite combo. The reels can be picked up on eBay for around £50 and I love them. Mine spin beautifully. One day I will treat myself to something truly spectacular but I'm happy with what I've got atm.

In reply to Post #39
I just don't think they are considered big fish tackle for someone to design a decent system. Okuma had the trent reel for a while that doesn't seem to have been very popular, youngs have now got the rs but both those are more for holding in heavy flows where a normal ratchet would spill its guts.

I'd love to make one one day, and I have often thought about a one way drag borrowing bits out of a bike hub.
I just don't have the time or tools to have a serious go at it

I've had many a disparaging remark or tut touting as I fish line off the bottom but find it the natural way to do it, fingers on back plate and thumb around rod control the trot and bat it back with left hand. Anyone that doesn't use the drag on a fixed spool but back winds would probably use the traditional line off the top method.

In reply to Post #42
Chris king reel guts

In reply to Post #44
Imagine the racket that would make

I prefer line off the top, but I have the line off the bottom on the reel I use for carp, just because it plays havoc with the muscle memory if you have an hour or two stalking during a longer session with normal carp kit. I've had a few dodgy moments using a pin with line off the top after spending an hour raking and baiting the main areas.

With the atom reel I use on the long float rod I've changed between both, the rod mount is a few mm off centre and it's just enough that it's not very comfortable to flick the spool backwards with my right thumb. I've been meaning to ask garry Mills if he can doctor it for me but I never get round to it.

In reply to Post #30
I've quite a few Centre Pins/Fly Reels - just re-spooling a #6 Young's Pridex now, that will be mated up to a 8ft 6” Edgar Sealey Octofly Split Cane.

As for trotting or for general short range Coarse use – take a look at the K Dowling & Sons Centre Pins, sometimes you can pick one up reasonably cheap, they are as smooth as silk and spin for ages - defiantly seems to be my favourite (Gets most use)

In reply to Post #41
Still use a 4" Trudex pin I bought from Mitchells Tackle Shop in Dalston Lane East London 63, yes 63 years ago and it still spins perfectly. Made to last.

In reply to Post #46
Odd you say that, scrolled past this last night, no idea if its on interest to you?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/313449730640?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=28

Alloy black one

In reply to Post #30
Own-
Kingpin regency gold
Sundridge trophy
Okuma Aventa
Okuma Sheffield

Had-
Ray Walton rolling
DAM Robo

TBF v little use as find them far too slow reeling back after a long trot. Useful though to slow run through.

In reply to Post #49
Can bat a long trot back quicker than winding back a fixed spool with a little practice.

In reply to Post #50
Race ya!

In reply to Post #49
What's the rush?

I actually like the way they slow things down. I feel more 'in the moment' with a pin, enjoying the whole process rather than just the brief fight and a farewell.

Some nice reels tho

In reply to Post #1
Happy with my okuma Sheffield which I've had for more than 10 years, caught chub to 7lb long trotting, barbel to double figures - so much more feel than a fixed spool reel - really enjoy the fight even when on narrow snaggy rivers - I always feel in control.

I have the line coming off the top the reasons for me is on a windy day with line coming off the bottom more chance to loop off the spool ending in a birds nest.

Having my thumb at the top of the spool with the line coming of reduces that (of course okuma Sheffield does not have a line guard)

The other more important reason is when into a decent fish if line coming off the bottom the movement of a clockwise spool will push the thumb up and away from the spool making control challenging. With the line coming off the top and the spool rotating anti clockwise I can keep better thumb pressure.

My collection now stands at:

4" Allcock Aerial Popular

4" Allcock Aerial T3 - still spins lovely after 90 years of use

4" Allcock Aerial T10 - a wobbly battered thing for static fishing and throwing in bushes

4.5" J W Young Purist 2041

4" Richard Carter Merlin

I still don't use the Merlin...