Centerpin rookie - please help!

[Bill Shearer]

I also do what Ralph says, but go one further. I always have my pouch on my wading belt, if it's not on the reel. After the fish is beached, netted or tailed, I always put the pouch on. Takes 10 seconds at most, and stops crud, ice, snow from getting into the clearances on the reel. This is especially good if fishing sandy areas.

Edited May 24, 2014 by floatman55

[misfish]

As for drag,your finger or palm will be it. Small fish I will use my index finger. Bigger,I will palm the pin. I also wet my hand for comfort from getting skin burn. There are guys that will say lock it down and put the boots to the fish,but I like my rod to much to hear the snap. I play them all out.

 

Once you get use to your outfit,you will know when and when not to put pressure on the fish.

 

Im still a rookie learning as well. Just posting what works for me.

Edited May 24, 2014 by Misfish

[Bill Shearer]

Misfish brought up a good point, about drag on the reel.

The size of your hands, the way your reel was designed, and how you hold the rod, all play a big part in landing the fish.

Some reels like the Islander, have the spool very close to the reel foot. Others like the Anspec can have quite a gap between the spool and the reel foot. So if small handed person used an Anspec, he might use a longer finger to provide the drag. Conversely, a large handed person with an Islander might have difficulty applying drag with the larger fingers. I use a Kingpin,(which has a gap between the spool and the reel foot that is similar to the Anspec,) and apply drag with my little finger, and on larger fish pair it up with the ring finger. Works for my small hands.

It all comes down to what you are comfortable with. Personally the index and second finger are the strongest on my hand, and using either of them for drag, leaves me holding the rod with less strength than using the little finger and ring finger. Some flows and some fish would test the limit for sure.

I have developed what works for me over 30 years of pinning. It may not work for you at all. Get out and play with some carp, channel cats, bass- whatever. Now is the time to learn. And you don't have to worry about cold hands!

Misfish mentioned that he wets his hand to stop from getting friction burns, when putting on the brakes of a hot fish. Works for him, and for me it spells disaster. My point is that you can read all kinds of pointers and opinions, but until you start doing it yourself, too much information is no help at all.

Edited May 24, 2014 by floatman55

[misfish]

 

 

Misfish mentioned that he wets his hand to stop from getting friction burns, when putting on the brakes of a hot fish. Works for him, and for me it spells disaster.

 

Not sure where I said "put the brakes on". I use it as a comfort when putting drag on the reel.

[Bill Shearer]

Sorry, I took this

"I also wet my hand for comfort from getting skin burn."

to mean that heat, caused by friction from trying to slow a fishes run,

or 'putting the brakes on', was why you wet your hand.

Obviously I was mistaken.

[Ralph Field]

I don't put the pouch on my reel when landing a fish because I developed a wading staff with a rod holder built into the shaft, so when I land the fish my rod is put into the rod holder in my staff which is stuck in the ground. I,like Bill don't want to get any kind of crud into my reel by setting it down and I don't want myself or anyone else stepping on my rod.

Edited May 24, 2014 by staffman

[Bill Shearer]

Great idea Ralph!

Sooner or later we all develop ways to land and protect the fish, and our equipment.

[shaker]

Do you ever apply drag with your "reeling" hand?

[misfish]

Do you ever apply drag with your "reeling" hand?

 

Thats what I mean by palming. Just cup your hand under the pin. I only do this with big/strong fish.

[davey buoy]

Do you ever apply drag with your "reeling" hand?

I'm thinking you want that hand ready as soon as the pull stops.It would be a quick changeover fore sure.What ever works best for you I think is the right answer.Thinking that is the hand I use with fish on,not trotting.

Edited May 25, 2014 by davey buoy

[misfish]

 

Thats what I mean by palming. Just cup your hand under the pin. I only do this with big/strong fish.

 

Let me see if I can explain this better.

 

At first I will use my finger as the drag/set the hook. If I feel the fish is strong/aggresive,I will palm the reel. Once I feel I have control,I will switch back to the finger drag,and use my free hand to reel in the fish.

Edited May 25, 2014 by Misfish

[BillM]

 

Thats what I mean by palming. Just cup your hand under the pin. I only do this with big/strong fish.

 

No need to use your other hand, this is where people get into problems with snapping off fish.

[misfish]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^LOL^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ IMPERIAL ONE ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[BillM]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^LOL^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ IMPERIAL ONE ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

Stop palming your reel rube I had my brother in law out early last fall, he was using my spare setup. Gets into a fish, palms the reel, all hell broke loose and he actually snapped off the 6.6 phantom leader. I was killing myself laughing watching that unfold.

[landry]

Bill is correct.

As u get more comfy float fishing u will get a sense for what they will do next. Never palm the reel. Apply varying finger pressure as needed - go easy when they run or jump and apply more at other times... They r great fish fighting reels - way better than a spinning reel.

[bare foot wader]

I mostly apply drag to the line itself, not the spool, with my middle/ring fingers but I do palm the spool too...fingers or palming, you'll get a feel for it and learn not to lock the reel

 

biggest thing is keep your rod at a good angle, don't crazy high stick it, but do keep it bent, it's a 10-13' shock absorber, let it work for you

 

if you have any carp or catfish around you, that's great practice, you can bottom fish with a pin reel too, no rule that says you need to drift with a float

[misfish]

 

Stop palming your reel rube I had my brother in law out early last fall, he was using my spare setup. Gets into a fish, palms the reel, all hell broke loose and he actually snapped off the 6.6 phantom leader. I was killing myself laughing watching that unfold.

 

Oh so now Im a rube. What a greaser. LOL

 

I have yet to break off. Missed strikes ya,but never break off.

[Miranda1]

Hi Folks

 

First time posting on this forum, joined after doing some searching on the web for local (Ontario) centre pin sites. Looking for some guidance and recommendations from you on a good quality float rod. I started float fishing back in the mid 80s after returning from Europe where I lived for a while. Float and match fishing with long float type rods were the norm back then and once exposed to that type of fishing I was hooked. When I moved back to Canada I brought a couple of rods from Europe with me and purchased a nice float reel from Phil Clough when his dad released the original "Clough" float reel, I fished with it for a couple of seasons, the reel has been sitting in storage for years and at one point I actually thought of selling however in hindsight I'm glad I didn't. I recently decided to get back into the sport, looking for a good quality rod to use with this reel so I would appreciate what is out there right now in terms of rods.

 

Thanks

[BillM]

What's your budget? Lots and lots of rods out there. Also, you need to make sure you pair that Clough with something really nice :)

[Miranda1]

Hi Bill

 

Thanks for the reply. I really haven't landed on a set budget, most of the Sage fly rods that I've accumulated over the years are on the higher end of the price scale so I would expect that float rods would be similarly priced. Ideally a multi section rod so that I can travel with it back to Europe in the mid-length range would be perfect.

[Bill Shearer]

If you are looking for a rod that will fill your needs and be easily packed for carry-on, you will need to get a 4 pc, Spey conversion blank, custom built . There are many good options on the market.

I have done a couple. Although not inexpensive, they are quality blanks, that befit your quality reel.

Choose either a Sage ONE 6126, or Sage ONE 7136 blank, and get someone like Spiel on this forum to build it for you. He can provide some photos of each as well as prices. As always there will be other opinions on blanks and builds. What you decide to do is up to you.

Edited June 19, 2014 by floatman55

[misfish]

 

 

and get someone like Spiel on this forum to build it for you.

 

 

X2 on this ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

Many members here along with self,play with his work. .

 

You will be happy..

 

And welcome.

Edited June 19, 2014 by Misfish