Centrepins: A Bit More Variety Needed?

[Alan Rose]

I love centrepins and fish almost exclusively with them. I own- and have owned- a modest number of different reels; some old, some new, some true-pin and some bearing reels. Trial, error and personal preference have taught me that my favourite reels are true pins, and on balance I like narrow drum reels best as, to me, they feel right in the hand.

Anyway, as I think all anglers do, I like to browse and geek out (okay, salivate) over rods and reels. I think I’ve noticed a strange quirk- a gap in the market maybe- with reels. Have a look at the J. W. Young & Sons website and there are eight or nine models depending on how you count. Only two are true-pin reels. The bearing reels all look amazing- I mean they really are beautiful pieces- but I don’t want a bearing reel, no matter how pretty it is.

Now, I own a Youngs Triton True-Pin, which is a superb reel, but if I wanted a new true-pin (other than a Youngs Trudex III) I’d have to go down a very expensive route of a bespoke Chris Lythe (£1k ballpark figure) or Garry Mills (half that, but not cheap). That leaves you with the used market, which is fine but potentially a minefield. I’ve got some used ones that are good, but again, the options are limited: Match Aerial or clones, New Hardy Conquest (harder to come by, not cheap and a bit of a marmite reel), Old Conquest (could be good, could be bad), Speedia (again, could be good or bad). You might find a Richard Carter, a Chris Lythe or a Garry Mills, but the second hand prices are stupidly inflated (I blame non-using collectors )

All to say, wouldn’t it be great if some enterprising person could start making a range of really good, useable and sensibly priced true-pin reels? There really is a gap there.

Will it happen? Nah, I doubt it. But a man can still dream.

Now, who’s got a Narrow Drum Fred J Taylor trotter they’d like to give me on permanent loan?

 

[Ian Woods]

I'm lucky enough to have the specialist and the trotter, I really like using them both, excellent reels.
Good luck if you really are on the hunt for one Alan. I think you can expect to pay 500 plus for a good example, so they arn't cheap.

 

[Dave Taylor]

Keep on dreaming Alan,… I don’t see a market for big batch production of quality c/pins ,.. maybe I’m wrong?
I like to use them when I can,.. none sit in a cabinet.
The river is over the meadows yet again,.. it’s been a frustrating autumn/winter for trotting a float. I gave this Richard Carter Aerial Perfection an airing last Weds,.. joy!
It’s number 67 out of only 115 made, ( according to the auction house) … that’s probably why they fetch silly money.

 

[Richard Parsons]

Fred Crouch did it fairly successfully for a good few years (I still have a jet and a narrow drum trotter). It's more likely, however, that if any enterprising soul invested in the tools to produce such a reel it would be in the Garry Mills price bracket anyway.

 

[Daniel Jeffery]

I get where you’re coming from and likewise I do prefer a true pin - it’s hard to beat that silky smoothness. But as Richard above says, market size and economies of scale mean any such reel is going to be expensive. Anyway, any old excuse for some Triton p0rn

Talking of expensive reels, has anyone used the Piscario titanium ones?

 

[Richard Isaacs]

I can’t see the point in titanium as a better material for a cpin
Sure it’s light and strong so in theory you would need less of it but aluminum is still over 60% lighter than Ti so in terms of weight you are not going to machine 60% more Ti out of a reel just to match the weight of an aluminum one.
Ti has its places definitely but on a fishing reel I’d say it’s of no more value than bragging rights.

 

[Ian Woods]

Keep on dreaming Alan,… I don’t see a market for big batch production of quality c/pins ,.. maybe I’m wrong?
I like to use them when I can,.. none sit in a cabinet.
The river is over the meadows yet again,.. it’s been a frustrating autumn/winter for trotting a float. I gave this Richard Carter Aerial Perfection an airing last Weds,.. joy!
It’s number 67 out of only 115 made, ( according to the auction house) … that’s probably why they fetch silly money.

View attachment 28416

I'm a big fan of RC's reels, always fancied a RC Bernard Vemables but never got round to getting one. I do have one RC myself, and it's a little gem of a reel.....it really is, it' a RC "aerial gem" lol. I've had many enjoyable days fishing using this reel and it still looks like new....

 

[Alan Rose]

I'm lucky enough to have the specialist and the trotter, I really like using them both, excellent reels.
Good luck if you really are on the hunt for one Alan. I think you can expect to pay 500 plus for a good example, so they arn't cheap.

If they’re as good to use as they are to look at then they must be a dream

 

[Alan Rose]

I get where you’re coming from and likewise I do prefer a true pin - it’s hard to beat that silky smoothness. But as Richard above says, market size and economies of scale mean any such reel is going to be expensive. Anyway, any old excuse for some Triton p0rn
View attachment 28417

Talking of expensive reels, has anyone used the Piscario titanium ones?

If there was a narrow drum Triton I’d lap it up. Although I do sometimes find the openness of the rear flange a bit of a pain for dust and crap getting in there.

 

[Alan Rose]

I'm a big fan of RC's reels, always fancied a RC Bernard Vemables but never got round to getting one. I do have one RC myself, and it's a little gem of a reel.....it really is, it' a RC "aerial gem" lol. I've had many enjoyable days fishing using this reel and it still looks like new....

Aw bless, does it live it’s own wee pillow Ian?

 

[Joe Winstanley]

I had a Richard Carter Kingfisher Aerial Popular. It was unused when I bought it, it was just so exquisitely machined, I couldn't bring myself to use it lest I damaged it! I ended up selling it in the end as I realised it was a waste to just have it sat on a shelf in the office.

I'm not sure in practice that it would have added anything that my Fred Crouch replica couldn't do, but it was truly beautiful. To much so for a ham-fisted angler like myself. Richard Carter is (was?) an absolute craftsman.

 

[Chris Jones]

No one makes exactly what I want, though it would be close to the FJT Specialist. Put a solid back on the spool and give the anodizing the blueish tinge of the Young's Atom, and I'd be happy enough. I might commission GM to make one for me and call it the Ion (an Atom altered). The other alternative would be the MTC experience day (if they still do them) where I could build it myself.

 

[Richard Isaacs]

A true pin in Black for me
13/16” wide (22mm)
5 inch diameter (125mm)
4.5inch vented round arbor (110-112mm)
Solid spool back,
Quick release spool no bits to remove
Vented back plate
Clicker on the rim upper left side
No drag adjustment, no brass spokes
2 handles and 2 large finger holes on opposite planes to handles.
Some beautiful machining work
230-260g

This would be the perfect trotting pin to suit me.

 

[Ian Woods]

If they’re as good to use as they are to look at then they must be a dream

They are nice to use, I like the ratchet button, it's the perfect spot for me, straight up and down caliper check.

 

[Paul Smith 2]

Reel porn - please stop putting photos up

 

[Ian Woods]

I must be easily pleased as I have numerous pins, both ball race and bush and pin reels that I find as good as anything else anyone could come up with.
I can get along fine with a narrow line lay, but I prefer a wider line lay, one and an eighth is a nice width between the plates for me. The wider line lay cuts out most stick and it's just level with my thumb as it sits a tad wider than the rods handles.
I'm happy to use a 4 inch reel up to a 4 3/4 incher, but 4.25 amd 4.5 inch are my preferred size of reel.
One thing I do like which most of my reels don't have is a knurled rim. The knurling isn't a big deal in dry conditions, but when playing a strong fish it comes into it's own. A smooth rim kind'a sticks on my finger when wet, a knurled one gives controlled grip when playing a powerful fish in the wet/rain.

 

[Howard Cooke]

I absolutely love pins and some years ago went through some sort of psychotic episode that may or may not have involved overdosing on sherbet lemons. Anyway the point is that one of the side effects was a tendency to spend money I really shouldn’t have on some beautiful reels. There was this moment in time when a few Witcher’s came up for sale which at the time made my tummy go funny and I bought them. Mrs C is always losing things so when her engagement ring disappeared it was a pretty straightforward shrug from me that required no words. She would have lost it at some point so surely much better to do that in an organised fashion and in a way that generated cash.

The rest of the money came from a successful foray into the cryptocurrency market.

These reels, like many hand crafted pins, are insanely beautiful. I don’t even understand how they work because my brain doesn’t work in that way, I just know I love them and am in full admiration of those skilled enough to build them.

My own view is that they should be cherished but used. I try to use them or other pins whenever I can for barbel but often (and perhaps because of my lack casting ability) they are not the right tool for the job. That sound of the pin bursting into life on a take is like an electric shock or similar to when Kelly Brook adjusted my tie once (this may not have happened). It’s a glorious thing. It’s also a very effective bite alarm, especially in darkness.

 

[Richard Isaacs]

I must be easily pleased as I have numerous pins, both ball race and bush and pin reels that I find as good as anything else anyone could come up with.
I can get along fine with a narrow line lay, but I prefer a wider line lay, one and an eighth is a nice width between the plates for me. The wider line lay cuts out most stick and it's just level with my thumb as it sits a tad wider than the rods handles.
I'm happy to use a 4 inch reel up to a 4 3/4 incher, but 4.25 amd 4.5 inch are my preferred size of reel.
One thing I do like which most of my reels don't have is a knurled rim. The knurling isn't a big deal in dry conditions, but when playing a strong fish it comes into its own. A smooth rim kind'a sticks on my finger when wet, a knurled one gives controlled grip when playing a powerful fish in the wet/rain.

Yes a knurled rim is something that I would quite like too for the same reason.
Playing a barbel on a wet smooth rim isn’t always brilliant.
I’d probably like the knurling to be on just a small section right on the outside of the rim.
Only because knurled rims make holding floats back at less than the speed of the current more difficult
You get a smoother release using a smooth rim so I’d want the ability to use both in a perfect world

 

[David Craine]

And now for something completely different.
This is a genuine “ one off” , you will never be able to find another quite like it I think .
It is all hand crafted as below .

It was auctioned and raised somewhere in the region of five grand as I recall .

If I owned it , it would be in a glass case I think .
The maker is a very private self effacing chap , but very helpful IF you can find him .

Makes the likes of any other reelmaker take a look within themselves I would think .

Although it is a fully functioning “ true pin” how many would actually use it I wonder.


David

 

[Cliff Turner]

No one makes exactly what I want, though it would be close to the FJT Specialist. Put a solid back on the spool and give the anodizing the blueish tinge of the Young's Atom, and I'd be happy enough. I might commission GM to make one for me and call it the Ion (an Atom altered). The other alternative would be the MTC experience day (if they still do them) where I could build it myself.

I got GM to make me a pin and I called it "the turner" !