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Ray Walton rolling pin, anyone used one?

Jon Kennard

Jon Kennard

Senior Member
It's be interested to hear anyone's views/ reviews on the Walton rolling pin. Although I'm miles away from the barbel rivers it had opened my eyes this year to moving bait and how receptive barrel can be. What are people's thoughts? Are they the in reality anymore benefits overt using a fixed spool? Thanks Jon
 
Jon

I have no experience with the Walton pin, but I did (in the distant past) have one of those Shakespeare side-casting pins which, I believe, worked on exactly the same principle. Despite plenty of trying, I never really got on with it, however I think there were a couple of things at play - firstly, despite how easy Ray makes it look, there is a bit of a knack to it and, like the Wallis cast, it's a knack I never managed to pick up even though I worked hard at it. Also, it only really works in rivers (or parts of rivers) that aren't too deep and where you have a decent flow and a suitable and fairly consistent even bottom - flow aside, my local Bristol Avon doesn't really have any of that, and with its undulating bottom in the upper to middle reaches and deep muddy bottom in the lower reaches it never really got rolling like it was supposed to. Your Hampshire Avons and Kennets are far more suitable.

That's not to say it's useless - Ray's success with it needs no introduction, and I know there are others on here who favour the technique. Plus I am going back 20 years - if I were to try one now I might have a different opinion (although the Bristol Avon still isn't really suitable for the technique for the mostpart I think).

Whether it has any benefits over a fixed spool...I'm of the opinion that a pin has infinite benefits over a fixed spool in certain situations, and rolling would be one of them. I think the more pertinent question here might be does the Walton rolling pin offer any benefit over a "normal" pin?
 
Had one, didn't like the feeling that you have that the reel moves on its pivot when playing a fish. There is a clearance in the pivot bearing which is more obvious when playing fish. Also because of the diameter of the spool, you do a lot of winding when retrieving.
I use a centrepin quite a lot, but change to a fixed spool when fishing beyond my centrepin range.
I think Rolling Pins are like Marmite, like them or not.
 
Thanks gents for your thoughts appreciate it. I haven't watched that much of Ray Walton but the but I did he's fishing close in as would be the case mostly with rolling bait anyway I would imagine? I thought the advantage or so i saw was the casting ability although it would appear not do straight forward? I totally forgot about the Wallace cast so thank you I'll give that a practice this week. I would imagine they are a niche market and as Steve mentioned pretty specific to the river you fish. What advantage does the rolling bait have over a float? I'm sure some. I think I'll do some practice on some local lakes for feeling bites. I often free line with a lot of success albeit at times in the surface.
 
Jon

There are several vids on YouTube of Ray rolling at the Royalty to nearly the other side of the bank. You have to work the line so the bait continues to roll through weed and such, and you also need to walk just behind it and follow it (the technique also doesn't really work on rivers with high banks and/or lots of bankside vegetation) so you don't end up bringing the bait back in with the pull of the line, all the while letting out line and reeling some in as necessary to micro-adjust. You really need to concentrate hard on it, though I'm sure after a while it becomes a little bit second nature, as it obviously has with Ray who makes it look like anyone could do it.

As for advantage of rolling over float - rolling is about as natural a presentation as you can get. Even trotting or fixed float fishing with a centrepin, you'll still have an element of artificiality about it because the float and associated weight is largely what's carrying the bait. Whereas with rolling the only thing moving the bait is the flow, and very shy biting fish (such as the heavily fished for Hampshire Avon barbel) are less likely to be spooked.

But it's not a one-size-fits-all technique and, to be fair, I don't think Ray has ever claimed it to be so.
 
I use one John for rolling/trundling/freelining, and really enjoy using it. I 'introduced' myself to sidecasts by initially buying an old Lewtham (~£50 IIRC) model and had a season with that. I enjoyed using that so bought a Rolling Pin. Love it, but obviously braid mainline is an essential.
 
Thanks Terry that's really helpful. I'll grab a bit of time to check these things out, and practice my casting. I loosely remember the Wallace cast having a similar principle to the double haul in fly casting? But could be miles out with that? Either way I've got a while to practice it before hitting the river/s again.
 
Jon

You don't necessarily need to do a wallis cast with a walton pin (or similar equivalent), and you don't even need to do the easier cast of pulling line from between the rod rings - as the reel pivots around you can cast exactly as you would a fixed spool reel.
 
I have the mk2 version and love it...it is quite a small pin and compliments a short rod perfectly (paired with a Peregrine stalker)...I use it for stalking carp and yet to catch a barbel with it but plenty of Chub. Only negative from me is the line twist if you turn the spool for casting although it is not so bad with braid. I have not experienced any wobble when playing hard fighting carp and it is a joy to use
 
Thanks Steve I didn't explain. I was meaning with my regular centrepin. It would be good to learn the Wallis cast. One of the aspects I live about fishing is the always learning. Old dogs and new tricks (speaking of myself!)
 
Ahh right, apologies. Well good luck with it - hopefully you pick it up and don't end up breaking a rod over it like I did!!!
 
Alan Palmer said:
I have the mk2 version and love it...it is quite a small pin and compliments a short rod perfectly (paired with a Peregrine stalker)...I use it for stalking carp and yet to catch a barbel with it but plenty of Chub. Only negative from me is the line twist if you turn the spool for casting although it is not so bad with braid. I have not experienced any wobble when playing hard fighting carp and it is a joy to use
Click to expand...
Didn't they iron out the wobble a bit with the MK2 ? I would have loved one of these but tried several of the 'sidecast' pins including a Lewtham Quest which had a lot of wobble when playing fish. The manufacturer upgraded the reel foot ( and charged me for the privalege after their initial inferior design ) but still there was an amount of wobble. The best system I ever found as regards to eliminating the wobble was a simple design ( ain't all the best ones ! ) on the Shakespeare Lincoln pin. Sadly the pin is a bit narrow and I didn't get on with the brake system the reel has ( no ratchet on them ).
 
I have one which I used when I fished the kennet, it is the Mk11 and yes it is possible to feel a bit of movement when playing a fish using pressure on the edge of the drum but it wasn't much and didn't really detract from the pleasure of using a pin.
As I only used it for static ledgering I didn't really suffer any line twist using mono. Its a lot easier to use than trying to learn to Wallis cast, and feels really well balance on a 11ft barbel rod and is a please to play fish on. I used it for 3 seasons with no problems and still use it occasionally for float fishing for carp.
 
Interesting subject, I was considering purchasing a Rolling Pin, but tbh the comments on here are putting me off a bit.
Firsrt I dont really like any Pin under 4 inch dia, dont know why, just dont, I have a Rapidex and just about get on with it , just.
Secondly,the seat wobble seems an issue, The Mk 1 Rolling pin had the size, but also the seat wobble, the Mk 2 had more or less cured the wobble, but didnt have the size .

Its a pity all around, as I think the Ray Walton pins are quite attractive to look at , especially the black ones, plus they have the sidecast advantage, which although would not get used a great deal by me, would be handy on occasion.

Back to the drawing board for me, my aged , trusty and slightly battered Gypsy D"or will no doubt keep me going until I find something different, Its been a reliable companion since I was about 14 yrs old, so 50 years usage and still working well says something for its reliability.

Dave
 
Thanks for your thoughts. I actually just bought a Bruce and walker rolling pin off here. just arrived today and looks great. I. figured I'll give it a go. I haven't used it yet but personally like the smaller size initially. I. would of preferred the black but only silver available. I'll keep you posted on how it goes will be on lakes for a while. What I'm trying to understand is the difference between the Bruce and walker rolling pin and the mk 1? Apart from the manufacturer in guessing the turning mechanism is different.
 
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