Spey rod, center pin reel, etc.

"RalphH" schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:IRblc.328840$Pk3.325545@pd7tw1no...
I have no trouble casting one hundred feet plus with a centre pin reel and
weight. I know some anglers who claim they can cast farther with a centre
pin than with a level wind style bait caster.

If you use sufficient weight, then it is not that difficult to cast quite a
long way using a centrepin. Normal trotting gear ( or "rolling legers",
which are/were also used)is however more or less "weightless", and a
completely different casting technique is required. Experts can cast a rig
like this using only two medium sized split shot as casting weight. Or even
a single lobworm ( night crawler). The reel must be set revolving at the
right speed, a split second before the cast is let go, as otherwise light
float gear will not even overcome the inertia of the reel. Apart from which,
the bait will fly off anyway, as too much force is required to turn the reel
spool at all when casting a very light weight.

Centrepin reels can be used to cast light weights a very long way, but this
is rarely done nowadays, as only very few people can do it.

I have heard of "mooching", "noodling", and several other techniques used
for steelhead. The descriptions of the techniques leads me to believe that
quite a bit of weight is used when casting. This is not at all the same
thing as using light float gear with the same reel.

George´s description of the "overhand lob" also suggests that a fair weight
was being used to cast. This must be so, as it is simply not possible to set
a centrepin reel revolving by casting when using a very light weight. This
is what makes it so difficult to do. The timing, and the force applied are
absolutely critical. This requires very many hours of practice.

The equipment I use for casting flies in the ocean is not similar to either
method. The side cast reel does not revolve when the tackle is cast. Line
comes of the reel over the lip of the spool, which is at ninety degrees to
the rod, in the same way as it would come off a stationary spool reel with a
bail arm. The reel I use has no bail arm. It is twisted back ninety degrees
after the cast, and then functions as a normal single action centrepin. (
Centrepin reels with mutiplying gears are however also used). Line is
spread with the index finger.

The first four reels shown here ( "Odessa", "Underspin","Spincast" and
"Condender plus) are Open face, closed face, open face, and open face fixed
spool reels.
The fifth reel ( "Golden Eagle")is a "normal" centrepin, and the sixth is a
"Lincoln" side cast reel.

These are all fairly cheap examples.

http://www.trinderstackle.com/en-gb/dept_106.html

Using weight, I can cast almost as far with a good centrepin, ( revolving
spool), as I can with a multiplier ( "Baitcaster", also revolving spool). I
would not however use such a reel with a level wind mechanism.

The reel here ( unfortunately no picture) is similar to mine
http://www.fishingbig.com/fishing_ta...epin/2127.html

This is also similar, http://www.fishing.co.uk/article.php3?id=1965
athough I have a custom centrepin, and a couple of "Match Aerials". I use
these for long trotting, stret pegging, and laying on. I also used them for
some distance work, but very rarely nowadays, and not for some time.

There is a lot more info on centrepin fishing here;
http://www.fishing.co.uk/article.php3?id=1749

The technique used for distance casting with these reels is known as "The
Wallis Cast" after the gentleman who perfected it. There is a good
description here;
http://www.fishingmagic.com/news/art...N=1774&SP=&V=1

This technique, or similar with minor variations, is the only way to achieve
any distance using a centrepin and light tackle, and in recent years has
started to become more popular again. There are still not many people who
can do it well.

This is one of my beachcasting reels
http://www.fishingbig.com/fishing_ta...lier/1735.html
although I use a slightly older, modified, and tuned
model, with no braking systems.

When using such reels, I spread line with my rod thumb. My casting
multipliers have tuned and balanced mag alloy spools, and the bearings are
also specially tuned for extremely light running. My multipliers are used on
top of the rod. My centrepins are used under the rod. Although when used in
a similar way to a baitcasting reel, they may also be used on top of the
rod, although this is extremely unusual nowadays. ( It was once fairly
common though).

Different ring spacings are required for the various methods, and the rods
are also designed with various actions in order to accomodate the various
casting techniques required.

A couple of my boat multipliers have level wind mechanisms, as it is
essential to spread the line when pumping heavy fish from the deeps,
otherwise the line will bite into itself, and cause problems. When using
nylon and light spools, the contraction of the nylon is also sufficient to
crush or severely deform light alloy or carbon fibre composite spools etc,
which is why my boat reels also have heavy steel spools, which are much less
suitable for casting.

For the type of light float fishing ( trotting) I described, a soft rod is
not much use, as it is simply too difficult to set the hook at distance with
such a rod. Light, fast, crisp and responsive rods up to fourteen feet are
used for this.

TL
MC