Finally bought a C-Pin.

[UBDSLO1]

Well, after going back and forth on what to buy, talking to people and visiting different forums, I finally settled on a Raven Vectra SST3 Titanium C-Pin. Has the "up-dated" handle and spool, with maximum porting to the spool. Also bought some Siglon FF 10lb line to go with it. Sure hope I like c-pinning. Any casting tips and how to avoid serious line tangles?:D I'm taking my spinning rod with me just in case.:o :D

[UBDSLO1]

If I do like c-pinning, I'm goin to try it out for other fish, how about blue gills or halibut??? Musky, perch, smallmouth, whitefish, etc.:D :D :D j/king guys.

[cruncher]

I was looking at the same reel. It looks sweet and looks like my Evotech. I'm just getting into pinning too, so let us know how it works. My buddy is building up a shorter 11' 6' rod for smaller waters and I think since that reel seems lighter than most, it may be a good fit.

What rod will you be using it on anyway? Like to hear of your experiences since I don't expect to hit the water any time soon unfortunately.

[quest32a]

Also bought some Siglon FF 10lb line to go with it. Sure hope I like c-pinning.
Just a heads up, the siglon is not a strong 10lb line. If you use a 8lb fluoro leader you may have some issues with the main line breaking above the float. It can get expensive.

With the 12lb Siglon F that I have on now, I can only use 8lb leaders or less. If I go up to Pline 10lb Fluro I break off above the float. Just thought I might save you a few headaches down the road.

I learned to cast on smaller streams where line twist wasn't a huge issue. I sidecasted for a few weeks until I got comfortable with my pin. Now I can BC cast ok, Wallis Cast ok, and normally I just give my line a firm pull and get it spinning as I cast.(no line twist issues with any of those casts) That seems to work best for me. I know there are better distance casts out there, they are just harder to control.

Good luck, I have found centerpinning to be very effective. These days I find it difficult to pick up my drift rods.

[shotgunner]

Just a heads up, the siglon is not a strong 10lb line. If you use a 8lb fluoro leader you may have some issues with the main line breaking above the float. It can get expensive.


easy now... dont give up all the tricks.... its a sad day when a couple nice floats aren't salvaged ;)

[UBDSLO1]

I was looking at the same reel. It looks sweet and looks like my Evotech. I'm just getting into pinning too, so let us know how it works. My buddy is building up a shorter 11' 6' rod for smaller waters and I think since that reel seems lighter than most, it may be a good fit.

What rod will you be using it on anyway? Like to hear of your experiences since I don't expect to hit the water any time soon unfortunately.
cruncher, I hope to try the pin out this weekend, I'll post a full report later. I will start with a Wild Junk, er I mean Wild River St. Croix, 11' 6". Right now I looking into different rods, I like the new Lamiglas float rod model #X13LS. It's a 13', 3 piece rod. Hopefully I'll be getting a custom made float rod tied up sometime soon.

[UBDSLO1]

Just a heads up, the siglon is not a strong 10lb line. If you use a 8lb fluoro leader you may have some issues with the main line breaking above the float. It can get expensive.

With the 12lb Siglon F that I have on now, I can only use 8lb leaders or less. If I go up to Pline 10lb Fluro I break off above the float. Just thought I might save you a few headaches down the road.

I learned to cast on smaller streams where line twist wasn't a huge issue. I sidecasted for a few weeks until I got comfortable with my pin. Now I can BC cast ok, Wallis Cast ok, and normally I just give my line a firm pull and get it spinning as I cast.(no line twist issues with any of those casts) That seems to work best for me. I know there are better distance casts out there, they are just harder to control.

Good luck, I have found centerpinning to be very effective. These days I find it difficult to pick up my drift rods.
quest, thanks for the heads up. Are you using the Siglon F, or the newer FF? The FF is the "up-dated" line, it is supposed to be stronger, etc. The reason I got the Siglon, it seemed to be "the choice" of a lot of pinners, so... But if I have any line breakage probs, I'll be changing pretty quickly.

[BigAl]

I have asked Santa to bring me Okuma Aventa Float reel for Christmas just to try it. The couple of weeks ago while fishing Manistee River with my usual set up 8.5 G-Loomis GL2 MH rod coupled with Shimano Stradic 2500 I talked to the guy fishing next to me with some strange set up: spinning rod with a fly reel. He explained that if wasn’t fly, it was Okuma Aventa fly reel. I am not sure that I understand the difference, so I am going to post a different thread in regards to this matter. I would like to understand if it really worth it or it is just another marketing thing. Any way, we fished for two hours; I got 2 browns (released - less than 15 inches) and this monster steelhead bouncing a single egg off the bottom using 3 way swivel. The guy got one Coho floating a wax worm under the bobber with his fancy set up. Should I be upset if for some reason Santa changes his mind and bring me another Stradic instead of Okuma Aventa (they are in the same price range)?

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[UBDSLO1]

The Ups lady left me a package today at the house, so at lunch time I went home and... Inside the box was my new Raven Vectra and SiglonFF. I'm like::D :D :D :D The reel is awesome!!! Along with being lite, almost too lite. This is gonna be fun.

Al, the c-pins and fly reels are different. C-pins spin with no resistance at all, fly reels (on spinning rods) are used for more chuck and duck plus have drags.

[UBDSLO1]

I spooled the reel tonite with the Siglon. This c-pin is sooooo smooth. The thing I'm most worried about, is tangles. I know I'm going to forget that the reel doesn't have a drag, and pull back to set the hook, and wham-o', a c-pin that is spinning into orbit.:o :D And not to mention the casting part. But I'm ready to try this and it does look fun.

[stlhdr19]

heres a good method to reduce line twist on your center pin.. start by useing slip style floats( drennen pikers or zeplers work best for me) if you know what depth youll be fishin set your float then about 18 inches above cut in a small ant swivel into your line. By useing the slip floats and the swivel should help with line twist greatly

[stlhdr19]

you guys with your 10 and 12 lb main lines..... you dont need that heavy crap 8lb main line is just as good as the bigger crap plus by running six pound for your shot line and 4 lb for the tippet you present less of a drag and thinner line is less likely to be seen in clear water. Let the rod do the work and give the fish a sporting chance. anyone can fight a fish with heavy line but it takes a real fisherman to control a 15lb steelhead on 4 lb line........just a thought:D

[quest32a]

you guys with your 10 and 12 lb main lines..... you dont need that heavy crap 8lb main line is just as good as the bigger crap plus by running six pound for your shot line and 4 lb for the tippet you present less of a drag and thinner line is less likely to be seen in clear water. Let the rod do the work and give the fish a sporting chance. anyone can fight a fish with heavy line but it takes a real fisherman to control a 15lb steelhead on 4 lb line........just a thought:D
:rolleyes:

Light line has its place, but not always. It is not often I use 4lb line, but I do on occasion. Heavier flows where you are hooking fish downstream with other people around, you don't have the option for that light of line.

[Alpha Buck]

you guys with your 10 and 12 lb main lines..... you dont need that heavy crap 8lb main line is just as good as the bigger crap plus by running six pound for your shot line and 4 lb for the tippet you present less of a drag and thinner line is less likely to be seen in clear water. Let the rod do the work and give the fish a sporting chance. anyone can fight a fish with heavy line but it takes a real fisherman to control a 15lb steelhead on 4 lb line........just a thought:D

It also takes a real fisherman to want to land that 15lb steelhead before it is dead.:lol:

[stlhdr19]

i never had one die on me yet....

[stelmon]

i never had one die on me yet....

That you know of at least:lol:

Hey Ub,
you might need to meet me somewhere and show me that reel. I am purchasing my spring creek rod as soon as I come back up. As for the pin, it's going have to wait:rolleyes:

[UBDSLO1]

stelmon, yeah, no prob. just let me know when you're coming, you have my number I think.

I went down to the river yesterday, and did around 100 practice casts. I do the "hold the line in the left had" kinda cast. Got it down pretty good, but I'm going to need a "few more" to master it. Plus I had some pretty good line twist going on.:rant:

[stelmon]

Yea, I got your number! I might be up to tippy in a few weeks. I'll let ya know!

I am looking at the eclypse or sheffield. Just need to make up my mind.

[quest32a]

Yea, I got your number! I might be up to tippy in a few weeks. I'll let ya know!

I am looking at the eclypse or sheffield. Just need to make up my mind.
I have the Eclipse Dan, a very nice reel for the money. Esspecially in the heavier flows. It has a tension adjustor knob and is very easy to break down once you know how to do it. For really slow flows it is not the best reel though. The startup is a bit slow in the slower(really slow) water. For 95% of the spots I fish it is a great reel.

BTW, once you start fishing with a pin you will never want to go back to just fishing bobs with a spinning outfit. So much less work... Good luck with it!

[stelmon]

John,
What type of rod do you fish with that pin?

I really like the eclipse but haven't seen it in action. From what I heard it's pretty good. However, at 230 bucks I want to know for sure i'll like pinning. I have a feeling I will. I am going to look at the shefield before I make my final decision. I believe the sheffield is a little less expensive but I have to research that a little more. .

Thanks John for your imput:)

[quest32a]

John,
What type of rod do you fish with that pin?

I really like the eclipse but haven't seen it in action. From what I heard it's pretty good. However, at 230 bucks I want to know for sure i'll like pinning. I have a feeling I will. I am going to look at the shefield before I make my final decision. I believe the sheffield is a little less expensive but I have to research that a little more. .

Thanks John for your imput:)
If you like to fish bobbers you will like pinning. BTW, I didn't mention that the customer service from Raven is great as well. I couldn't figure out how to take mine apart(it is actually really really easy) but I put a question up over on Quest and I had one of the guys that distrubuted them in the US and Canada contact me within a day. Really nice guy, I can't remember his sn over there but I still have the pm if you want it. He can probably give you some more info on the Raven line of reels.

The rod I have is a custom Loomis. IM6 butt section, IMX midsection and a GLX tip. Its a pretty sweet rod, just make sure when you look at rods that it has enough power for a hookset 30 yards downstream. Some of the other rods I had looked at were really nice but kind of wimpy for the Joe, Grand and such.

Good luck with it Dan and have fun. The 1st few days you will be lost with it, but after that it gets pretty easy. Mending is sooooooo much easier with a centerpin reel and long rod.

[stelmon]

The rod I have is a custom Loomis. IM6 butt section, IMX midsection and a GLX tip. Its a pretty sweet rod, just make sure when you look at rods that it has enough power for a hookset 30 yards downstream. Some of the other rods I had looked at were really nice but kind of wimpy for the Joe, Grand and such.


That's great to hear about customer service. That's one thing that has taken me so long to make my decision about rod choice. Every rod I have tried out is wimpy and not much back bone at all. The Raven Spring creek float rod is really nice with enough back bone but with some good bend to it when fighting fish. I am sure they would work on the smaller rods but like you I am looking to pin on bigger river such as the Big Man, the Mo and hopefully the grand this year.

Thanks again, John!

[stlhdr19]

WoW.... I have an eclipse too and i dont really care for it. Dont get me wrong, its a good reel but i have had problems with it freezing up in the winter or it will stick while drifting floats. i also heard that your not supposed to tear them apart cause for some reason when you put them back together, the bearings dont seat right and the reel will never spin right again. Have any of you guys heard of that...... anyway im going to the sst3 raven. All the guys i fish with use sst reels and they love them and i heard that the sst3 is even better.

[stlhdr19]

have you guys ever thought about using a custom rod. I live in lansing and kinda work at a fly shop in town. The guys there do all custom built rods. The blank they like to use is Cedar blank. I have one in 13ft and ive hooked fish up to 80yds down river. the rod is very soft but has a good backbone. the only dowmfall is that it is a slight bit heavier than most other rods... just a thought.

[quest32a]

have you guys ever thought about using a custom rod. I live in lansing and kinda work at a fly shop in town. The guys there do all custom built rods. The blank they like to use is Cedar blank. I have one in 13ft and ive hooked fish up to 80yds down river. the rod is very soft but has a good backbone. the only dowmfall is that it is a slight bit heavier than most other rods... just a thought.
Most the guys I know use custom rods in one form or another. And actually since I tore my reel apart it is running as well as it ever has. I have had no problems on the subfreezing mornings with it either. I have heard though on some pin reels that you aren't supposed to break them down, but I have had no problems.

BTW, like I said I do like the eclipse.... but I would definatly prefer one of the custom jobs. I still have my eye on a Hale.... just need the funds:)

[UBDSLO1]

Mending is sooooooo much easier with a centerpin reel and long rod.
Can you explain this to me??? Is this like c&d, pull the line in by hand, cast with that amount pulled out? Thanx. I reel in everytime, but mending seems faster and easier.:confused:

[quest32a]

By mending I mean keeping your offering(float) in the most direct contact with your rod that you can. Keeping the line from beating your bobber downstream which causes the bobber to float down faster than the current. There is no real good way to explain it, but if you bobber fish you are probably already doing it all the time anyway.

It seems in certain conditions that you have to constantly mend your line so that you don't end up with too much line on the water.

Make sense?

[UBDSLO1]

yup. Wasn't exactly sure. I guess what I said before would defeat the purpose of the pin.:lol: