Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: Jewelz on February 11, 2012, 09:26:48 AM

Title: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: Jewelz on February 11, 2012, 09:26:48 AM
What's a good starter rod and reel?

I was looking into a Okuma Aventa reel because it is relatively inexpensive ($170) but not sure about the rod. Trying to keep it under $400 total.

Suggestions please.
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: Geff_t on February 11, 2012, 09:41:42 AM
Trophy makes a great rod for around $109.
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: azafai on February 11, 2012, 09:51:41 AM

http://www.brettsplaceonthebay.com/okuma-aventa-vt-s-1563fr-15-3pc-float-centerpin-rod/

http://www.fishusa.com/Okuma-Aventa-Center-Pin-ReelFloat-Rod-Combos_p.html

http://www.fishusa.com/Okuma-Aventa-Float-Rods_p.html

Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: Jewelz on February 11, 2012, 10:11:14 AM
Wow! Combo's for $225 is really cheap! That might be a go!
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: Jewelz on February 11, 2012, 10:31:16 AM
I'm also seeing rods with slip rings and fixed reel seats... advantages/disadvantages?
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: HOOK on February 11, 2012, 11:01:53 AM
the advantage of slip rings is that you can place your reel anywhere along the cork grip so the setup is as comfortable to fish as possible. Alot of guys fish with their cp reels quite close to the bottom of the cork, the Sage rod i had was like this and it was a pretty good placement
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: Jewelz on February 11, 2012, 11:04:07 AM
Are the slip rings just as secure as a fixed reel seat?
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: naka21 on February 11, 2012, 11:06:12 AM
go check craigslist.... a guy has 3 combos each on a trophy with a custom don campbell reels which i heard are solid, worth a look
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: HOOK on February 11, 2012, 11:09:25 AM
never fished a rod with sliding rings, mostly because i have witnessed a couple reels fall out them so i dont trust them. hopefully some of the guys around here will chime in that fish slide rings exclusively on their pin rods.  :)
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: prairiefire on February 11, 2012, 02:25:12 PM
Look online for used. You can find a good deal if you can wait it out. Riverside Fly and Tackle have Rapala R-Types for $125!!! :o
Not sure on the quality but pair that up with a Trophy or an Amundson Rod. You should be able to get a setup just over the $200 mark.
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: Fish Assassin on February 11, 2012, 02:33:45 PM
never fished a rod with sliding rings, mostly because i have witnessed a couple reels fall out them so i dont trust them. hopefully some of the guys around here will chime in that fish slide rings exclusively on their pin rods.  :)

Used to own a center pin with a sliding reel seat. Hated it, reel never secured. Has a tendency to come loose. Finally brought it in a tackle shop to change over to a fixed seat.
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: cohoaaron on February 11, 2012, 02:45:38 PM
Saw a good deal the other day at the boat show....Nikka has trophy xl royale rods on sale for 65$  
And i have heard great things about the okuma aventa....another good reel to look at would be an avon royale supreme or an old jw young seldex reel but you would have to look around ebay or craigslist for one of those just my 2 cents :)
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: opwins on February 11, 2012, 05:59:33 PM
Spend some money on a good quality reel (milner, islander, kingpin, old avon, hardy, etc), then get one of the rods mentioned.  Once you try it and you enjoy it (you will :-) ) then you can always upgrade the rod if you choose down the road.  There is a big difference between a quality pin vs a cheap pin, just my thoughts....
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: steely02 on February 11, 2012, 06:09:43 PM
I have had the okuma aventa cp for fives years now and haven't had a problem with it yet. For the price it is a great reel
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: Jewelz on February 11, 2012, 07:25:39 PM
R-type eh... Haven't heard of that one before. Might go check it out.
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: coho killer on February 12, 2012, 09:55:03 AM
slip rings are awesome, except for my reel flying off my rod hitting a rock and landing in the water :(
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: HOOK on February 12, 2012, 10:23:33 AM
im actually amazed not one single guy/girl has posted good things about slip rings seeing as i see so many people using them on their pin rods. I have even seen a few people using them on levelwind rods which puzzled me  ???

CohoKiller - what happened to you is exactly what i have witnessed a few times over the years
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: Sandy on February 12, 2012, 11:24:17 AM
ditto on what hook said about the slip rings: they make sense allowing a novice pinner to tune the reel location to suit their developing style. I would then change to a hybrid or fixed seat, that is if going custom. 
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: Jewelz on February 12, 2012, 10:29:16 PM
Thanks guys for your input. I'm gonna go and put them all in my hand and see which one speaks to me...
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: steelie-slayer on February 12, 2012, 11:27:28 PM
i have the amundonson rod, okuma pin setup. nice rod, compareable in action and feel to the sage 3113, but i dont like how the reel seat is plastic. It moves a little and sometimes with a big fish flexs and kinda worries me it'll break  ::) . the aventa is a nice reel, spins easy and long and casts a mile with little weight. But mines starting to make a slight noise, proably just bearings which dont cost to much for better ones. Definatly a solid setup. oh and freds has some new pin rods which are supposed to be really good rods for like $150.
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: matrix111 on February 13, 2012, 08:27:01 AM
try this site. http://centerpinangling.com/centerpinreels.html
 I have bought an Okuma raw reel from them. Owner is nice guy to deal with.  Then i matched it with Amundson 11'6" rod. My cost is $300.
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: cohoaaron on February 13, 2012, 09:51:53 AM
What model # is your amundson?
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: matrix111 on February 13, 2012, 11:30:11 AM
2113M $80 but i got it on special for $65.
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: cohoaaron on February 13, 2012, 12:57:15 PM
How do you like the rod? Is it light enough for pinks?......where the heck did you get it for $65?? I need to know. Thanks
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: matrix111 on February 13, 2012, 02:34:17 PM
it is pretty good IMO, esp for the price, i can't complain. I got it at Steveston Marine during their boxing week. I saw a comparable one at Army Navy for $120 2116M model but really cannot tell the difference.
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: Jewelz on February 15, 2012, 02:40:39 PM
Has anyone had any experience with the Okuma Sheffield or the Raw II?
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: Jewelz on February 20, 2012, 10:50:38 AM
So I went to Riverside Tackle and got the R-Type. Because I'm just starting I couldn't bring myself to spending over $110 more on the next level up, which is only the Aventa. So I got the R-Type for only $140 taxes in. If I decide that I need to upgrade in the future I don't think ill have too hard of a time selling it to another beginner. Anyways, thanks for everyone's input. I'll let yall know how it works out!

Oh btw, I spun it for the first time and it went for 1 min 50 seconds... Don't know if that's good or bad, I'll have to find out!
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: chris gadsden on February 20, 2012, 10:56:16 AM
So I went to Riverside Tackle and got the R-Type. Because I'm just starting I couldn't bring myself to spending over $110 more on the next level up, which is only the Aventa. So I got the R-Type for only $140 taxes in. If I decide that I need to upgrade in the future I don't think ill have too hard of a time selling it to another beginner. Anyways, thanks for everyone's input. I'll let yall know how it works out!

Oh btw, I spun it for the first time and it went for 1 min 50 seconds... Don't know if that's good or bad, I'll have to find out!
Enjoy playing your first steelhead or fish on your new purchase., I am sure you will enjoy it, don't get discouraged if you get the odd back lash. I still do the odd time and have used one for many years.
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: Jewelz on February 20, 2012, 11:08:46 AM
Thanks Chris! Now I just need to hit the river!
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: HOOK on February 20, 2012, 11:59:54 AM
looks like a pretty nice pin reel especially for its price. Is it bearing or bushing though ? I wasnt able to find it online but i was able to find some footage of it being used and it looks very smooth  ;D I also think it looks better than the Aventa
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: Jewelz on February 20, 2012, 12:08:21 PM
It has ABEC 7 bearings.

I tried looking for it online as well and couldnt find much either except for the YouTube vid with Italo.
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: cohoaaron on February 20, 2012, 01:36:15 PM
Hey do you think you can put some pictures up? Ive yet to find any online!
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: Jewelz on February 20, 2012, 02:36:46 PM
There you go.

(http://images.craigslist.org/5I75G25Ff3G23m93Iec2k9eee8730df6716a1.jpg)
(http://images.craigslist.org/5F85H65Ja3kf3Na3H3c2k7a9c2a3cf58e1e52.jpg)
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: cohoaaron on February 20, 2012, 04:55:00 PM
Nice reel! I like the look of that way more than the okuma. Once you start using a c-pin it is hard to go back IMO.
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: Jewelz on February 20, 2012, 06:06:16 PM
That's what I've been hearing! But then again I'm sure my level wind will have some place in my arsenal... Isn't it hard to bring in those big chinooks on a center pin?!
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: steelie-slayer on February 20, 2012, 06:18:32 PM
That's what I've been hearing! But then again I'm sure my level wind will have some place in my arsenal... Isn't it hard to bring in those big chinooks on a center pin?!

yeah it can sure be a nucle buster, but not really that hard if you have heavy enough line and heavier rod.
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: cohoaaron on February 20, 2012, 06:26:19 PM
Ya this is my first year with my pin....i cant wait to try it with springs but i know the risk i am taking ;D
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: fishnjim on February 20, 2012, 07:16:17 PM
140 with taxes in seems like a great deal for a new pin.  unsure if any others can be bought for under that?  anyone know?
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: Jewelz on February 20, 2012, 07:27:07 PM
That was the cheapest locally by far. Ebay is the same price for an Okuma Aventa. You can ofcourse get no name brands for about $50, but who knows how they're made...
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: fishnjim on February 20, 2012, 08:49:22 PM
thanks!  where is the clicker on that rapala reel?
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: naka21 on February 20, 2012, 09:33:07 PM
if your not wanting to spend alot of money i would consider looking into a good used reel..... like an old avon or seldex 2
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: Jewelz on February 21, 2012, 04:15:31 PM
thanks!  where is the clicker on that rapala reel?

I guess u would call it the back?... It's a knob you turn left or right to engage or disengage. 
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: Jewelz on February 21, 2012, 04:18:23 PM
if your not wanting to spend alot of money i would consider looking into a good used reel..... like an old avon or seldex 2

Give me a month or so and I'll let yall know whether or not its worth buying. It'll either be a piece of sh*t or the best purchase ever! We'll have to see...
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: HOOK on February 22, 2012, 01:07:55 AM
that reel looks like a mixture of a whole bunch of other pin reels when it comes to looks. If it truly has Abec bearings then it should run just as smooth as a reel worth alot more. I see JW Young, Islander, Kingpin right off the top of my head, i also think those are the same bearings that come stock in an Islander reel.

first fish i landed on my first pin reel was a 45lb whitey and it was just as easy as using a levelwind, of course you need to know how to make your gear work in your favour. Levelwinds lend themselves best when your fishing tight quarters, need to cast really far or when its so crowded its just easier. I dont fish a pin anymore because i dont fish gear more then a few times a year (more if sockeye open) but they are way smoother when it comes to drift fishing especially for certain presentations.

good luck with the new setup  ;D
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: Jewelz on February 23, 2012, 08:30:08 PM
So I purchased a Fenwick HMX Mooching rod to go with my cpin. I was in my front yard practising my cast cause I've never done it before... its more difficult that I thought it would be. Does anyone one have any tips?
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: joska on February 23, 2012, 08:55:59 PM
use the search function. so much information, youtube is a great learning tool as well.
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: Every Day on February 23, 2012, 09:04:48 PM
So I purchased a Fenwick HMX Mooching rod to go with my cpin. I was in my front yard practising my cast cause I've never done it before... its more difficult that I thought it would be. Does anyone one have any tips?

Get it spinning first.... that's pretty much all you need to know.
Almost a batting motion and let go of the reel right at the end of the backswing...
My first cast was pretty terrible, after that I've been decent. Few birds nests today, but also hit a fish first time using one  ;D
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: naka21 on February 23, 2012, 10:52:11 PM
youtube it..... i believe theres a couple of good videos. Also use more weight when your first starting out as it is easier to cast. I remember taking my pin to the river for the first time and thinking what have i just wasted my money on lol .....   
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: Jewelz on February 23, 2012, 11:00:16 PM
So I went on Youtube and its all about the Wallis cast or modified wallis cast, is that what everyone does here?

When I was practising in my yard I was getting the reel spinning and then continued the cast. I guess I just have to practice, practice, practice. I'm up to about 30ft! Woohoo! :P
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: steelie-slayer on February 23, 2012, 11:24:18 PM
easiest, most used cast is called the 'bc cast' i believe. You load the rod back like a baseball bat holding the reel, then just before the rods fully loaded back let go of the spool wait a second and cast it out and make sure to stop the spool just before your gear hits the water, or you WILL get a tangle and smack your fingers good. At first it is hard to get the learning curve but just watch others, ask someone that seems good at casting for tips and practce lots. And dont try to cast across the whole river at first, short casts are easier to learn.
When i first went to pin, i hated it and couldnt even cast 20 feet without birds net, now its super easy and flowy and no problem casting across the river.
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: silver ghost on February 24, 2012, 12:49:09 AM
Are you selling it already? http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/rds/spo/2861838894.html couldnt help but notice the same photos. Would you not reccomend it?
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: Sandy on February 24, 2012, 06:38:24 AM
youtube it..... i believe theres a couple of good videos. Also use more weight when your first starting out as it is easier to cast. I remember taking my pin to the river for the first time and thinking what have i just wasted my money on lol .....   

Yea, remember seeing a guy get a bait ball, weight float and line,up around his ears; he took it camly enough unwound everything, scowling abit. So I went further uptream to practice, else I might have pushed his limits of tollerance. ;D
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: Jewelz on February 24, 2012, 08:05:14 AM
Are you selling it already? http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/rds/spo/2861838894.html couldnt help but notice the same photos. Would you not reccomend it?

Yeah that's me! I only did that so I had somewhere to link the photos to this website. I know I know, there must be another way....
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: Geff_t on February 24, 2012, 10:32:14 AM
i reccomend the islander searun or steelheader!

I would stay away from the searun as it is a piece of you know what. The steelheader is way better with no problems.
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: Jewelz on February 24, 2012, 03:00:42 PM
I'll work on the side cast first. Then once I can do that with no problems, I'll move on to the Wallis.
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: hue-nut on February 24, 2012, 09:43:57 PM
Yeah that's me! I only did that so I had somewhere to link the photos to this website. I know I know, there must be another way....

its called photo bucket
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: Jewelz on February 25, 2012, 06:12:26 PM
I must say, after spending an hour or so in the field, I really love casting a centrepin. It feels so... What's the word... Artful.
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: Jewelz on February 26, 2012, 05:42:41 PM
So the Rapala went back to the store. After playing with it for a week, it just had to go. The clicker is not strong at all. It won't even hold a 1/2 ounce worth of shot. I could only imagine it getting annoying and frustrating on the river. So it went back and I upgraded to the Okuma Raw II. It was between that, the Aventa and the Raven. Hopefully I made the right choice. The boys at Riverside Fly and Tackle were just great, will definitely return there. Anyways, I'm going to the river tomorrow wish me luck!
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: Nitroholic on February 26, 2012, 05:54:55 PM
What do you need such a strong clicker for
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: cohoaaron on February 26, 2012, 06:21:51 PM
that okuma raw is a pretty cool looking reel....let us know how it performs
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: Jewelz on February 26, 2012, 06:34:34 PM
What do you need such a strong clicker for

Just walking around. It won't hold the weight. So if u wanted to walk to another spot, you would always have to put the pouch on in order for the reel not to spin.
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: hue-nut on February 26, 2012, 07:04:59 PM
Just walking around. It won't hold the weight. So if u wanted to walk to another spot, you would always have to put the pouch on in order for the reel not to spin.

my buddy has a Kingpin like that and it is super annoying
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: silver ghost on February 26, 2012, 07:12:09 PM
Yeah I can relate to that. My old reel would do that when walking around, super annoying. Even the slightest touch by a tree branch or shrub would be a nightmare. After switching to the islander, never had the problem again
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: steelie-slayer on February 26, 2012, 07:34:12 PM
i have the aventa which has a weak clicker, but theres a trick to the weak clickers. Use an elastic band and put it over the reel and rod and it holds and doesn't slip.
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: naka21 on February 26, 2012, 09:34:55 PM
i have a purist that has a really weak clicker but i dont find it really makes much of a difference..... when travelling i just loop the line around the reel seat and problem fixed when trecking through the bush
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: naka21 on February 26, 2012, 09:36:03 PM
oh my bad not the reel seat but the back of the reel..
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: Jewelz on February 27, 2012, 09:20:25 AM
Well the clicker on the Okuma Raw II is better, but still not sufficient enough for me. So here's how I solved the problem... I made this little contraption! Works like a charm!

This is how it looks like off:

(http://i1161.photobucket.com/albums/q511/Julius_Simihag/IMAG0059.jpg)

On:

(http://i1161.photobucket.com/albums/q511/Julius_Simihag/IMAG0060.jpg)

Stored:

(http://i1161.photobucket.com/albums/q511/Julius_Simihag/IMAG0061.jpg)

Sorry for the huge pics!
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: matrix111 on February 27, 2012, 10:00:40 AM
That's the same CP that i have. Nice looking reel. I use rubber band and loop it around the reel and rod, problem solved. How much you got it for?
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: Jewelz on February 27, 2012, 10:25:26 AM
$225.
Title: Re: Want to get into center pinning....
Post by: Geff_t on February 27, 2012, 11:05:57 PM
The Steelheader is a battle Tested reel and one of the best out there IMO. The Searun problems kept me frustrated for almost a year but its now worked out and the searun seems to have all the bugs worked out aswell i own 2 of them,and a steelheader

 I was not willing to work the bugs out. You would figure for the price that we paid for the searun, it would not have any problems what so ever. I mean I bought a Milner Kingfisher and it was a thing of beauty with absolutly no problems. I still own a steelhead, one of the old gold ones that came with the blue reel cover and it is a great reel. It hardly gets used anymore because of the Milner, but if someone wanted to trade a kingfisher for my old gold steelheader with a 3 digit serial number  then I would not hesitate to trade.