Got myself a centrepin for the upcoming grayling season. bit of a bargain as it cost me a ?10 :D
Anyway what line is best to use on it for float fishing? I have been told that maxima is too much of a sinker and braid has been suggested. I have found some cheap stuff on tacklebargains but is this really what I want?
Pin experts help me please.
Hey Z,
I'm going through the same process myself. Not purchased a line yet but reckon I'm going to go for Drennan "Float Fish" line. Seems to get good reviews and not too pricey. Just trying to decide which breaking strain to go for 4lb I think, maybe 5lb. Any advice would be good though.
Norm
I've never tried braid on the 'pin.
I like a floating line myself and that rules out Maxima. Norm's choice of Drennan Float Fish is a good one. I would go for 4 or 5lb mainline and this will let you fish a 3 or 4lb hooklength giving plenty of security in case of hit some bigger fish in fast water. You can always fish a lighter hooklength if you feel you need to drop down.
I tend to put a whole 100m spool on the reel, but I often trot a long way, maybe 60 yards.
I usually fish an 18 hook with single maggot, going up to a 16 or 14 for double maggot.
Alex
The usual line of choice for floatfishing was bayer perlon as it floated, was clear and had good knot strength and maxima for feeder and waggler work.
Still seems to hold true in the midlands. Using a centre pin will take some getting used too and if you do catch a big fish like Alex's then watch out for line bind afterwards. Long trotting will also cause "long winding back in again". The "real reel" of choice for trotting for the majority is Abu's 704 these days and in the past was the 501 and 506s. Have a look on ebay to see the loyalty and popularity that these old reels still have. Catching fish on a centre pin is fun though but more for the man catching a fish now and again rather than one a chuck.
Davie
Quote from: The General on October 27, 2008, 10:21:46 PM
The usual line of choice for floatfishing was bayer perlon as it floated, was clear and had good knot strength.....
Davie
My peeking about the internet leads me to believe that Drennan Float Fish line and Bayer Perlon are one and the same.
Norm
Would not be the least surprised Norm. During my long term in Brum there were tackle dealers who were fanatical about Bayer Perlon to the exclusion of all else. Now it seems the best sellers are just fashionable items.
Davie
I had ABU 505 and 506 reels and they were not bad for trotting, certainly better than an open faced reel but the centrepin is king in my opinion. It takes a lot of getting used to, but you get tremendous control over the speed and smoothness of the trot. You also can hit bites really fast, as there is no loop of slack to overcome, like can happen with a fixed spool.
I currently :P have an Aerial,Speedia and Okuma Aventis. The Okuma is really excellent for the money, but I like the old Aerial best.
If you are using quite light tackle, it is easy to bat the spool to retrieve line, rather than winding the handles. Maybe it is still a bit slower than a fixed spool, but it is fast enough for me. :)
Alex
The aim is to be in constant touch with your bait, to let your bait travel at the same speed and depth as it would do naturally. You can determine with the correct shotting of your float, just exactly how the fish are taking the bait. Overall it is probably the most enjoyable way of angling when you get it right and the fish are in the mood.
Here is a link which gives the gist
http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/Coarse-Fishing-Articles/stick_float_secrets.html
Davie
There was some discussion about trotting here too... http://www.wildfisher.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3960.15
Alex
Some drennan float on its way now courtesy of ebay. :D
thanks for the info and links guys. :D
I've used a centerpin for nearly 30 years now, never had a problem with the rate of retrieve, what's important is the rate of presentation, often trotting 60 yards and I feel the only way to get this consistantly right is with a centerpin. Hooking at 60 yards needs a quick response and again the centerpin comes out on top for me. As haresear says, with light tackle you bat the spool and I'd imagine retrieve rates to be similar to a fixed spool. As for line, don't load with too much more than your maximum trotting range otherwise it binds up, especially after playing fish. I'm using 4lb mainline these days, cheap Mullarkeys stuff. Think I've been using the same bulk spool for the last 20 years, suppose I really should replenish my stocks.
Over the last thirty years what reel have you been comparing your centre pin too Harelug and why are you having to trot 60yds to get your fish. The most popular reels for trotting have to be the Abus and maybe that is because of the huge difference in the cost of purchasing a "decent" centre pin. Being in the water and presenting correctly is to me the most important thing in any style of fishing and I would still say that the 501 style reel overall is by far and away the most efficient method of doing this and I would be a wee bit miffed at spending over three hundred pounds on a reel and having to "bat" it. Anyway the question was about line and the answer to that is one that floats very very well, has low light refraction, good knot strength and doesn't cost an arm and a leg is close to the answer.
It is not a competition to say my method is better than anyone elses it is information given through too many years learning, to encourage someone using a method for the first time.
Davie :)
This is a bit like makes of golf clubs,or footie boots,you pays your money and takes your choice.I've still got my old reels from the 50's and boy are they useless compared to todays wizards.
What few rivers I've fished for Grayling in Scotland,and this includes the Tay,you won't be trotting too far as the pegs are shortish due to the undulating bottom.I like to fish the bottom of the river quite hard,I would liken the method to being a bit like Cheq. nymphing.If you trot too far you're likely to miss the fish in the holes.Use a bait apron and keep mobile,then if you fish on a "shorter trot",the type of reel is less important.Fast biting fish like Bleak and Dace result in a lot of missed/lost fish on the strike due to slack line when using a fixed spool reel,here a tight line is vital,indeed it was the reason that match anglers ditched the reel altogether and went back to the "pole" method.
Your choice of line is also affected by the fact that a lot of rivers insist on a maximum of 4lb breaking strains,so you dont want to use anything that is too brittle,stretched,low diameter ones are to be avoided if you don't have a rod with a very soft tip.
Angling pressure usually dictates the choices at this time of year,popular stretches with easy access,can still produce but fine "match" tactics and tackle will be required,where as the quiter spots where "jungle warfare" is the order of the day,heavier gear and bigger baits will work.I have caught Grayling on 10lb line , size 6 hook and a big lump of luncheon meat for bait when fishing for winter Chub and Barbel,but for quantity,I would say size 16 hook to 2lb hook length and a maggot or twa usually does the trick.Finally,if you are not planning on eating your catch,please return them as nicely as you would a trout.
P.s personally I feel braid is too soft as a main line,you loose a certain amount of float control,as a hook length,then the Carp anglers braids of around 10lb breaking strain do the business.