Centrepin Reels For Carp Fishing

'Old Fashioned' Is The Future!

If you'd have mentioned carp fishing with a centrepin reel a year or two ago, in most anglers' minds it would have conjured up images of bearded men in old-fashioned clothing, casting out with cane fishing rods.  Chris Yates has a lot to answer for!

However, whilst Yates was a bit of a 'character' in A Passion For Angling, many modern day carp anglers couldn't help but admire not only the way he caught big carp on a centrepin reel, but also how he had so much fun doing so. Nowadays, centrepin carp fishing seems to be having a bit of a revival, and it's not hard to see why.

Why Use A Centrepin Reel For Carp Fishing
Angling is an individual pursuit, so we all do things for different reasons, but one reason many anglers give for using a centrepin reel when carp fishing is that it gives them so much 'feel' for the fish. With a reel that has no gears and no clutch, your hand becomes those parts, meaning that you are in total control. Every shake of the carp's head, every surging run and every splash at the net is felt through your fingers. Who couldn't get excited at the thought of that?

Another reason some anglers choose to use a centrepin is that they want a new challenge. As anglers, many of us set ourselves targets; first double, first twenty, first thirty, biggest carp in the lake, most fish in a day, carp off the surface, etc. The list could go on and on, but catching one on the 'pin would definitely feature on many a wish-list.

Of course, as mentioned above, 'traditionalists' also like to use centrepins for carp fishing. They use them for any fishing! I can see the appeal – fishing is a tradition that is often passed from generation to generation. How nice it must be to catch a carp on  a rod and reel similar to those your grandad used. Even better if it was the actual rod and reel he used!

 

When To Use A Centrepin For Carp Fishing
Carp fishing with a centrepin is not about setting up your rods on a pod, switching on the bite alarms and tucking yourself into a sleeping bag. If you want that style of fishing, use a baitrunner!

The centrepin lends itself beautifully to stalking carp. If you can see a fish and are looking to catch that exact one, then a centrepin is a great tool. Stalking carp in the margins is breathtaking stuff. The very fact that you fish with your hands at the ready with a centrepin reel means that you are perfectly poised to strike when a carp snaffles your bait. Not only that, but you are also perfectly situated, with the right equipment, to handle those first frantic moments with the powerful finesse that a carp hooked at short distance requires.

Most carp lost when stalking are lost in the first few seconds after hooking. The fish goes wild, there is very little stretch in the line and clutches are stretched to the limit. With a centrepin, it's about YOU, not the equipment. No excuses!

Of course, carp fishing on rivers also lends itself to the 'pin, especially if you're trotting a bait in front of them, either along the bottom or on the surface.

What Sort Of Centrepin To Buy For Carp Fishing
If you've looked at centrepins for sale, you may well have been amazed at some of the high prices certain ones command. Well, the good news is that you don't need to spend a fortune on a centrepin reel for carp fishing. You are not trotting, so don't need a piece of engineering art – what you want is a good basic centrepin that will hold enough line for your needs. The choice of handles is a personal one, but I prefer ones that I can get hold of easily. Apart from that, there isn't much else to consider.

The TF Gear Classic Centrepin Reel pictured here is a good reel for those who want a bit more from their centrepin. Not only will this be more than adequate for carp fishing in the margins, but it's also an excellent reel for general river fishing and has gained quite a reputation among a growing army of followers as a good value workhorse of a reel.

CLICK HERE for a bit more information about this reel.

The Okuma Sheffield is a bit more expensive, but has had rave reviews all over the place. It holds a whopping 275-yards of 8lb line, so no carp is going to run your spool dry! With a one-piece machine cut spool and one-piece machine cut frame, it's a beautiful reel that will last you a lifetime.

CLICK HERE for more information about this reel.

The reels above are fine, if you can afford them and/or are looking for reels that you can also use on the river, but if you merely want a reel for margin fishing, why not consider a fly reel? You can pick these up for as little as £25 new. They'll be basic, but robust – perfect for those explosive carping moments! Fishtec have quite a range of fly reels – click here. Other good shops for fly reels are Sportfish and TackleBargains, both of whom offer discounted fishing tackle by mail order.

Whatever reel you choose to use, I'm sure that you'll agree that stalking carp with a centrepin is exciting, fun and definitely worth doing!

Tight lines!

Online Shops Selling Centrepin Reels
Fishtec – CLICK HERE
Sportfish  – CLICK HERE
TackleBargains – CLICK HERE

And don't forget eBay......