Never used a centerpin reel but may want to build a rod to go with the centerpin.

What types of guides ? i assume that it is the same guides as a casting reel?

Thanks,
Mo

High frame single foot supper slick! I have a few with REC recoil guides for winter, they allow you to break the ice off a little easier.

Look at the reel you will be using, mine is approx 5-6" in diamiter and feeds line from the outside so you can see the need for high frame guides.

Good luck.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/10/2009 03:43PM by Eric Viburs.

Well, lots of guys have different ways of doing things I guess. I've built my share of float rods and have picked the brains of some very well regarded float rod builders over the years. High frames are not needed at all. I use the REC's as well and like them for their ability to not freeze up as fast as an inserted guide but a good mid frame guide works very well. Adjust you butt guide accordingly and there is no reason to go with something that sticks off the blank very far is what I was taught. A centrepin reel is basically an upside down baitcaster....

"There is a principle which is a bar against all information,which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance--that principle is contempt prior to investigation."
- Herbert Spencer

Since these reels pay-off line like a spinning reel I would suggest single foot spinning guides.

If I didn't clarify that, yes, go with single foot guides. When cast off the spool, the reels actually mimic a baitcaster more than a spinning reel if you ask me...

"There is a principle which is a bar against all information,which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance--that principle is contempt prior to investigation."
- Herbert Spencer

I have not used a centerpin and reading the above is a bit confusing. Does the reel spool turn sideways when casting so the line comes off like a spinning reel? or does the spool simply rotate very freely like a baitcaster? (in this case up side down)

A center pin looks like an over size fly reel. Most of them have a shaft mounted on the backplate that slides into two bearings on the spool itself. The reel is in a continous free spool and is controled by finger pressure on the spool , you fight the fish by palming the spool. There are casts that take the line off the side of the spool but for the most part the line feeds off the reel like an upside down bait caster.

I have had very good results using Forecast VS or VS3 guides

If you need to obtain a natural drift in moving water there's nothing better .

I have been running centerpins for 25 years now and the old standard are Fugi SIC high or mid frame guides.
YSG's & TLVSG's are the most popular. Batson M series guides work nicely as well. I'm not a fan of the wire guides like the REC's or the Netccraft Flexilite guides but I have a buddy that likes the Netcraft guides. Myself, I'm a traditionalist when it comes to guides and like the looks of the SIC's and Batsons guides.
My last build was done with M series Batson's and my next is going to be built with TLVSG's.
If you are going to use any of the wire guides, use an SIC tip top.

Regards
Dave

Fishing is Life the rest is just Details

Andy,
The Alvey reels function like you discribed, similar looking, but built differently.

I spent all winter building float rods for angler's in Steelhead-Alley, and every rod that I built had Fuji TYSG guides on it. Personally, I don't like the RECoil guides on a winter-time float rod. When the temperatures fall below 30* the guides sort of go "dead"... and do not seem to have the same bounce-back properties as they do in warmer weather. Trivial? Yes... but a customer would surely notice it, and I'd surely hear about it at some point.

Depending on the type of cast that the angler is going to use (preferrable a Wallis type cast) larger guides are not required.
Danny Ross summed it up pretty well with: "A centrepin reel is basically an upside down baitcaster....". The line does not oscillate like a spinning reel; it more or less comes off spool like a baitcaster - straight at the stripper guide.
I mostly use 20j's as my stripper - unless the rod will double as a Noodle rod with a spinning reel mounted to it.

Good Luck!

EDIT* Additional thought and spelling errors :-)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/11/2009 05:37PM by Brian Morrow.

Double Post - Sorry



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/11/2009 05:35PM by Brian Morrow.