During my spring break I am possibly planning on coming out to the Forks area to stay with a freind. Last spring my break was in early march, so I firgued that it would be the same this spring. Well low and behold it is April 9th through the 16th. My goal is to catch a native steel on my center pin. MY question is, would my timing be to late in the season to even bother coming or would I still have a chance to get a native? If so do you guys still get fresh fish or are you getting droppies? Thanks.

There will be rivers within 50 miles of Forks that will have fresh run fish in them.

Should be a perfect time to find out why they call 'em "knuckle busters".

Great point Mooch. Come on over downtime cause thats what we all get is "DOWNTIME" for a sore shoulder and knuckles after a tangle with a big nate.

Oh, Good Luck should be pretty decent in April!

DOWNTIME,

Which centerpin are you using?

Man, my Hardy Silex just doesn't do it for me like my old Winona did. Loved her thumb control and dainty weight. Cast like a dream too. Drag washer for backlash control and a pawl click that was music to my ears. And how about those dual rims for jaw-dropping palming power. So Sweeeeeeet.
Too bad she never had the chance to wear some of these nice new hi-tech braids they've got out today.

Good luck tying into one out here.

Many of the fish we got last weekend were on a 10 1/2' Convergance with Shimano 4000. We were backtrolling plugs mostly, but what a blast. The reel would just start screaming!

Whoduv ever thought it, Steelhead on Knucklebuster!

Hey mooch I have three center pins. A islander, an apex which was made in Ontario, and a Hanson made in Michigan. Those silex reels are cool reels, total old school. I've got a freind from Wisconsin who moved to washington to guide there in the winter around the forks area, and up in Alaska in the summer. I figured this would be a good time to test my skills on some of your fish. I'm just shaking to hook a native or two on my pins.

Ah yes indeed, Gutz. The tried and true Moocher Plus. Excellant mooching reel, good troller too. I never leave home without one.
Just you and the fish, 1 on 1 (1:1), mano y mano.
Of course, the 14" take up per rev doesn't hurt either. And how about that drag? ArhArhArh!
Come to think of it, it's not really all that fair, but they sure are fun.

Wonder if I could get one on one of those Snoopy rods?

Totally retro! and video worthy too.
Oddly, you won't see much of that out here. We're way too provincial out here for that!
Maybe you and Surecatch will get something started out here?
Don't worry about the fish though, dem hawgs have got their feed bags strapped on for you even as we speak. If nates are anything like the brat season we've had this year, watch out. Better start doing thumb push ups right now and saving your palm for battle.

Gutz,
I was just thinking how I never could get that Winona to pull bugs. The one thing it didn't have was a anti-reverse mech; it was free spool only. But don't think I never considered it. Woulda worked too if I could've found someone to row. Oh well.

Mooch sounds like you really like them Winona's. Read your post sorry to hear about the ill fate of yours I run across them from time to time if you would like I could holler at ya next time I come across a nice one. I have fished with the one I have a couple times out in the salt-chuck other than that it sits on the box it came in all polished up on my shelf looks real purty that stainless really shines.

stlhdfishn,

Now that's down right considerate of you. Sure, give me a holler if you see one. I've got one now, but it's over the hill.
Wow you've got the box too?
Saw one up at Bob's in Forks but it was green. Nice condition though.

Thanks again.

I couldnt agree with you guys more about the pleasures of fishing with centerpins. I love the way the outgoing clicker sounds on my Daiwa. Sometimes I will pull some line out on it just to listen and reminisce of last summer's battles with Kings and Coho. It's fun, go try it.

I have never fished mine in a river, maybe I will have to bring it along next time.


That's what I am talking about!

My next 'pin will be an Islander, you boys ever seen those? Shiakes! ....nice reels.

I have a brand-new Winona in the box

One my long-time fishing partners uses one exclusively ... he's been trying to pry it from me for a bit as his collection wears out.

Bidding's gonna start awfully high for this

I don't run any true centerpins, but I equip my silver anglers in AK with some inexpensive fly reels that they must palm to slow the fish ... oh my do we have some fun despite the war wounds!

Oh yeah, that run timing thing ...

Here's Maverick and I with a fish from April 7 last year

Bob-
I had a customer come in about 10 days or so ago holding a CHERRY Winona.

He looked at me, told me that his dad had given it to him. He was also told by his father that it was an old fly reel...so the customer proceaded to ask me how to use it.

I was hoping that when I told him it was designed for fishing terminal tackle he would decide he did not want it and then ask if I knew anyone who would buy it.

The first thing that went through my mind was "Hmmmmmm...I wonder how much Art would pay for this puppy?"....but alas, the customer had no interest in selling it eventhough he had no use for it.

Good 'ol Art ... sounds kinda morbid, but it's gonna be a great run to see who lasts the longest, him or his reel

All in good fun!

I think I may have to tempt him on his spring dates this year, think I'll spool her up and put it on my rod. Can't say that I'm gonna take out the hacksaw to my new Sage's reel seat though like I watched him do on the Zipperlip a few years back when he showed up with a new 1143 and he didn't like the reel seat trigger in the way of holding that goofy reel!

He's caught more 20 lb. fish on that thing though than most will on their entire collection of std. reels in a lifetime!