Hey Guys,

Wondering if any of you have any advice on getting a Center Pin Rod and Reel?

What length / line rating should I be looking for to fish Steelhead in Washington?

A 4 piece rod would be awesome but seem to be a rarity.

Thanks for any help,

Josh

Shimano makes an 11' 4" Clarus center pin rod that is a 4 piece rod. it's 4-8lb. I bought one cause it was on sale for $60 a while back at cabelas. I used it for free drifting eggs at barrier once or twice. Hoping to get a reel for it this year.

Four piece rods are a lot easier than you might think...especially because I have yet to see a factory center pin rod that is even remotely appropriate for steelhead fishing around here. They're all way too light...and a 4-18, or 6-12, is way too light for winter steelhead. Might be able to get away with it for humpies or small river summer runs, but you want something bigger for winter runs.

Since no one makes a pin rod that's 12' long and rated for 8-15 or 8-17, your best option is to have one spun up out of an 8wt. spey blank...and as luck would have it there are plenty of four piece options out there in that range.

That's what I use, for what it's worth, and mine have caught a pretty good pile of fish.

Fish on...

Todd

Hey Todd,

Any Spey/Switch Blanks in particular that you like?

I have no problem wrapping my own.

I grew up flyfishing and now am dabbling into gear fishing.

I mostly flyfish so line ratings with gear rods are not something I am familiar with. Is the line rating on a gear rod for the tippet size that the rod will protect or for the mainline that it will handle well?

What is an appropriate line rating for winter time steelhead?

Also a 13 foot rod seems like it is a bit long (maybe not?) but something 11 to 12 feet would be about perfect.

Thanks again for any help,
Josh

Josh, I use a 12' 8# that I get from a guy in Oregon...but most outfits make spey blanks in that range.

Rating on a gear rod is mainly lined up with what it will fish well and not bust the rod at, too!

I like 6-15 or 8-17 for winter steelhead.

Fish on...

Todd

loomis make a multi purpose float rod 12'3 10-17# not pure centerpin rod but it will work with any pin reel for winter

i got a 13" 3power GLX for sale if ya want

Rainshadow......XST1562.....3 piece.....13', 6 - 10#, works good for me....

The Batson 1562 maxes out a little too easy for larger fish. I've been thinking 8wt range from a spey blank, but I keep having people tell me about using Sage 6126's, and a 6wt spey blank just seems too soft in the back end. A Sage One 8126 or at the least the 7126 seems like the most suitable option.

i have a rainshadow 8wt wrapped to be a pin rod, done by the man himself! beautiful beautiful rod!

im going to tell you right now, spey blanks seem to make the best pin blanks... proper length, proper power for fish in this area, and 4 piece. sometimes i wonder if they cast better because the way a spey blank is designed to load up and shoot skagit or scandi line...???

keep in mind a 13' rod is more like 12' from the reel. i would go NO LESS then 11'6" unless you strictly fish from a boat. personally i like a longer blank because it seems to load up and toss further easier. and if you are standing in water the longer rod helps extra much with your casting.

bank fisherman - 12' + imo
boat fisherman - 10'6" imo

reel - raven matrix special edition, BEST bang for the $$ casts medium to heavy weights just as well as some of the reels twice the cost. wont cast super light weights quite as well. but seeing as we are fishing winter steelhead here you shouldnt be "ultra light"
if not the matrix SE then get a reel with a bigger spool for line retrieve.

for a gear rod i use 8-15 or 10-17 ... i like stouter then some people because i rather not be severely under gunned if i hook a large fish. nor do i want to exhaust a big fish with a light rod and risk lactic acid build up in the fish.

I am in the process of building up my own personal pin rod. Mine is a 13'0" 6-12 lb North Fork Composites (HM) blank. Should be plenty for our little Oregon steelhead.



13'0" seems like a good length for most rivers.

Sexy rod!

I'm planning a more elaborate build for my next pin rod.

Shimano Clarus has a 13 foot rod that is rated 8-12 # Test for $100 Dollars. Seems like a good deal? Anyone have any experience with this?

In Canada they seem to run there reels at the base of the rod. I assume that this is personal preference, but theoreticaly it would make sense to me as it would help to banace the rod tip up.

@Steelhead Stalkers- Sweet Rod. Do you like those grips? I have been curious about trying something like that to see if they are better on my hands.

@outrnm- Thanks for the offer- I am guessing that a GLX is out of my price range.

Lamiglas just released the "BC series" Centerpin rod, it is called the CA113MHCP. I fished it yesterday, it is an excellent rod. It is 11'3", which is BC fishermans favorite overall length for Steelhead fishing.
The butt section is longer than the last CP rod they had, it is 12" from butt cap to center of reel seat, great for us one hand Centerpin fisherman. I am very happy with the design and feel of this rod, I had discussed the design with the builders and they nailed it.
It is a black blank with a red reel seat and a bit of red wrapping.

Here is a sweet recipe to start with if your interested in a custom made.
Forecast F1338-4 cut 15 inches off butt
Forecast BC Center Pin Rod

Component Part Number Part Description
Rod Blank Model # F1338-4DB Cut 15" 12" 4 pc. 8-12 # Dark Blue
Weighted Butt Cap: CBS2.0 with CBS-INS Counter Balance System 2.00 oz
Rear Grip: BR7-375 EVA with X flock wrap
Rear Grip Cover: HST1.38
Reel Seat: TRI-AH12MTR-TC/PG Threads Down
Reel Seat Shim: Shim/16/WG .515" OD 3.0" Length
Fore Grip: BR7-375 with EBABC20 front Eva with X flock wrap
Fore Grip Cover: HST1.38
Winding Check: AWCCO374-TC Aluminum Winding Check w/cut out .374 I.D. - TC
Hookeeper: TCHKS Small Hook Keeper
Tip Top LTCPNT08R05.0
Guides (see below for size and quantity) LTCFNG08 Batson Forecast UD with TIN Gold Zirconium ring
Guides (see below for size and quantity) LTCUDNG

Guide order from the tip top Guide Guide Placement - In inches from the tip top
1st LTCFNG08 4.25"
2nd LTCFNG08 9"
3rd LTCFNG08 14.25"
4th LTCFNG08 20.25"
5th LTCFNG08 27"
6th LTCFNG08 34.5"
7th LTCFNG08 43.25"
8th LTCFNG08 51"
9th LTCUDNG10 59"
10th LTCUDNG10 68"
11th LTCUDNG12 78"
12th LTCUDNG16 89"
13th LTCUDNG20 104"

PM sent

I use a Fenwick Elite Tech ETSS132MLC-CP...

13' 8-12lb ML.. decent rod for around $125-150..

If you're looking for a shorter rod, I know quite a few people who are happy with a Rainshadow XST1382F(11'6")... Though, that's a 6-10lb rated rod, that might be a little light out there.

I prefer to have some ass in the rods I use and not play grab ass with fish. However it's all personal preference. Just get a kick outta guys who run 2-6lb or 2-8lb rods over here.

it looks like this, it is beautiful! everyone who has seen mine in person will tell you that no picture can do it justice!

If you like to fly fish, I say buy a Curado....When I am not fly fishing, I go for the easy route. Why make it hard both ways? I would at least start with a level wind before a centerpin.