I got asked by a local river guide to build a 9' centerpin for him to use on smaller streams for steelhead. This is way out of my normal element, so I could use some ideas and even direction. All of his present rods are built on a Rainshadow IF904, yep, flyrod blank. It has the perfect action he is looking for. Having never built a centerpin or fished with one, I am stumped. He wants a Tennessee handle with sliding rings for the reel. He says he adjusts the reels position to the clients arm length and ability. May use another blank manufacturer (MHX) for this build, but will most likely stick with the action he likes right now. Please toss some ideas and insight out there for me. He also mentioned that the rod should have traditional long space guides? All the rods I build, and this all sounds Greek to me??

This may not help at this moment in time, but the Volume 14 #6 issue of RodMaker will have a comprehensive article on building Centre-Pin rods. It'll be out in about 3 weeks.

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He is probably talking about tall frame guides. Centerpin reels, due to their diameter of 4" to 5"+ (plus the reel foot) hang down off the handle quite a bit. The taller frame guides help gather the line and keep the line on the "correct" path.

Lots of CP rods are built with the sliding rings. Some guys don't even use the sliding rings and elect to use electrical tape to secure the reel to the cork grip.

FWIW.....CP fishing is deadly. No drag on the reel allows for a near perfect drift (if done corectly). Drifting sacs, flies, worms etc is very effective with the CP.

Thanks Jesster. Spot on.

No problem Tony. To expand on the CP topic...depending on the climate fished in........many builders don't build with smaller than an 8 or 10 guide. Fishing in upstate NY(or other cold climates) for steelhead in snowstorms and ice outs causes the guide eyes to ice over/shut. The larger the eye of the guide, the less likely it is to freeze. Some spray Pam cooking spray on them or rub chapstick on them to minimize the icing over. I think there is even a guide paste marketed for less ice.

Another reason to use sliding rings or elec. tape is for balancing. Centerpinner's are like gearheads. Most have 2 or 3 reels and when a new one comes out, they wait in line to get them. With the constant changing of reels, the balancing point of the rod changes. Imagine having a 13' -15' centerpin rod with incorrect balance and you are constantly fighting a heavy tip. Sliding rings allow for the movement fore/aft of different reels to achieve balance harmony.

I am by no means a CP expert, but am fascinated with the technique...or maybe how effective it is??


Good luck.

I have a STX1143-MHX 9 1/2' MHX 6-12 that I built as a bottom bouncing/lure chucking rod and I actually used it with my CP this fall and it worked well.
I would think the STX1142-MHX 9 1/2' 4-8 would be perfect for a small stream CP rod in the East.

Regards
Dave

Fishing is Life the rest is just Details