talk to me about center-pinning

[Sam Roffe]

The Tennessee style cork and rings. I like them. I have two CP rods with them. Versatile. Just have to make sure you keep them tight. Be a real show having your reel fall off in your hand when fighting a steelhead.

 

[Westcoast]

Ok, kind of an unusual situation... but you might be the right person to ask?

A dear friend gave me what she thought was a fly rod. She had actually built it herself, for her dad, 40-some years ago, following his specs. Is this a centerpin? Quite stout, 10ish feet, odd handle, casting rod style guides. Not sure why the reel seat is so far back. She grew up in BC, and he mostly fished the Dean.
View attachment 145959
After reading this thread, I don't think I'll be fishing it (not really a steelheader!) but I'd like to display it in my tying room for sentimental reasons

So: if I pick up a vintage reel on ebay... is a mooching reel the same thing?
What would be appropriate float style & terminal tackle for Dean steelhead circa 1980?
Thanks for any info!

It definitely looks like a bc style of centerpin rod. In 1980 the most popular centerpin reel at the time would be a hardy silex. The silex supers or jewels were the most treasured. They can be picked up for a fairly reasonably price from the uk on eBay. I still fish a super made in the 30’s and it competes with the best of them today for west coast steel heading.

 

[Westcoast]

I was under the impression that the reel seat was

Ok, kind of an unusual situation... but you might be the right person to ask?

A dear friend gave me what she thought was a fly rod. She had actually built it herself, for her dad, 40-some years ago, following his specs. Is this a centerpin? Quite stout, 10ish feet, odd handle, casting rod style guides. Not sure why the reel seat is so far back. She grew up in BC, and he mostly fished the Dean.
View attachment 145959
After reading this thread, I don't think I'll be fishing it (not really a steelheader!) but I'd like to display it in my tying room for sentimental reasons

So: if I pick up a vintage reel on ebay... is a mooching reel the same thing?
What would be appropriate float style & terminal tackle for Dean steelhead circa 1980?
Thanks for any info

That real seat is a sliding seat so it can be adjusted. They were usually fished about 4” up from the butt. Seems today people mount them mid to top of the handle, they seem very concerned about balance in their outfits to limit fatigue . I guess back then, steelheaders had stronger arms.
These are some of my current outfits

 

[Cowlitz Bottomfeeder]

I’ve been using a 10.5’ St Croix rod with an Okuma reel spooled with Pline to fish jigs or squirmy worms in lakes to fish for jumbos. We’ve been fishing out of the drift boat on the middle seat with two partners fishing fly rods. Fishing three fly rods out of a drift boat is a recipe for disaster. I can fish a 1/8 oz jig and cast further than a fly rod with a nickel sized indicator. I’ve fished it at Flaming Gorge with nymph patterns. Works best for steelhead fishing with a large float and half ounce jigs.