"Sully" wrote in message
...

I have to ask a realllly basic question. Just what is meant by a "center
pin fly reel"?

A centre-pin reel is the oldest and simplest
form of reel: a spool on an axle (with a handle,
we suppose.) Thus all single-action fly reels are of
this type (whether caged or not.)

In tackle stores today, centre-pin reel usually
means reels like those used for mooching
(drifting with herring bait) in salt water. They
are merely bigger and stronger than the
commonest reels of 150 years ago, of the
same design, a spool on an axle.

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs (Ottawa, Canada)