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[island boy]

just got myself my first pin and was wondering if you guys had any helpful tips to make my day go smooth. never casted one before and have heard that it can be a little tricky at first. any tips would be helpful. thanks.

[silverslab]

I would advise that you go out to a feild and practice a bit first, centerpin take a bit of getting used to, once you get it its becomes second nature but you need to practice and that first spool of line doesn't usually last long

[WEEFISH]

I was told to start with the rod behind me,  let go of the line as you start your swing toward the river and point rod tip to where you'd like it to land. This was helpful to me . Hope it helps you 

[doja]

Make sure your reel doesn't start spinning by its self while you are working a snag/tying new rig/or something else, or you might have more line on the ground in front of you than on the your reel. And be prepared to untangle a few birds nest as I had a few during my first few days.

[BigCoho]

just work it nice and smooth like a golf swing. That was the best advice I ever heard

[Fishmaster J]

At least the bird nests are waaay easier to untangle on my islander than my Abu ambassador!

[bladerunner]

what die hard said, and start by making a series of short casts just to get the hang of it and then try making farther casts. It'll take a few days to get use to it.

[Fishmaster J]

Another thing to consider is line weight.  Most of the pins really do cast and drift easier and much smoother if u spool up with say 15lb rather than say 20lb.  I know guys who will run 12 or even 10lb main line to get that super light, dragless drift.

[younggun]

i run 15 chameleon on one, and 12lb ultragreen on the other. chameleon flows  nice in the drift, stays stiff so u get better connection to the float, but it jumps off the reel some times

[BigCoho]

I also run 15lb chamilion, takes a day to get used to the stiffness but once you dial it in its nice line to float fish with. I have found that 12 ultra green the easyest to cast with though

[mastercaster]

Been using a pin (Hardy Superba) all my life.   The best advice I can give that hasn't been offered yet is....learn how to cast both forehand and backhand, and even directly overhead if need be....sometimes you find yourself in those situations when you're shoulder to shoulder with your buddies.  Always use your fingers on top of the reel to supply the drag, both when casting and playing fish.  The only time I've found  I have to add the palm of my hand to help supply drag is on fish in the 30-40 lb.+ range in large rivers like the Fraser or Skeena.

[mojoman]

call me crazy....but I fished and landed many Lake-run steel in Ont on a 12ft noodle...home-made c/p with 6 lb main line and 4 lb lead tied to a #16 Lazersharp Eagleclaw hook...oh...and I got tired of goo so I started using sponge in all the cool colors....there are many good memories hangin' on my wall...)



mojo kin you land 'em without handles on yer reel??

[mastercaster]

mojo kin you land 'em without handles on yer reel??

My dad, my brother who was eleven at the time, and I was eight....we were bucktailing off the Qualicum River and my brother hooks into a big spring.  We used light 9-10 foot CP rods with one handeled flyreels strung up with 10-12 lb. mono. which were set up for coho.  Can't remember exactly but if memory serves these reels had very little drag.  After several hard runs the handle broke off on a spin on my brother's thumb...he's still has the scar.

My dad took the rod, had us clear the bottom of his section of our 10' boat and stripped the fish in.  Fifteen minutes later the 32 lb. spring was netted.  As soon as the pressure was released the fly fell out of the fish's mouth.  The coiled spring that holds the tiny spinner blade in front of the bucktail had ridden up the wire so it was open as well.  No matter....it was my feeling that the ol' man could do no wrong and that fish didn't have a chance!

My brother redeemed himself the following year and caught a 33 lber. the following year in the same area...different bucktail.  He basically quit going on our fishing trips a year later.  Go figure.....his loss...my incredible gain because we'd hit the Thompson every winter and Skeena every year summer.

[Terry D]

There are plenty of helpful videos on YouTube, just enter centerpin casting and enjoy.

[poper]

Just wondering if a mooching rod is pretty much the same as center pin rod?I was at the fishing store and guy told me there was no difference betwen them just the stiffness! That you would use lighter mooching rod for your pin reel if nessasery!