What reel to get?

[CDNChrome]

Hi guys, I've been fishing for steelies on and off for about two years and after my very first opener this year (where I landed my first beauty on a centrepin reel) I got hooked and decided to take the sport more seriously. I've been using a friends gear and just recently purchased my very first float rod, a 13'6" raven RV9, now I'm looking for a good quality centrepin to go with it.

I've read so many good things about the Islander and I wouldn't mind spending the initial amount for a quality reel that will last but I'm open to other suggestions (been trying to find a used loomis as that's what I was borrowing and I really like it). Also if anyone has a reel to sell let me know.

Thanks

 

[DaveC]

Always be carefull buying a used centerpin. If your sure that your into it then buy it new. I have a kingpin myself and love it. But there is lots of reputable reels out there. My friend Mike makes a decent centerpin reel...$400 new. If you would like to see them i could pm you his website.

 

[ChaseChrome]

Sorry for stating the obvious and, perhaps, pushing a brand...but I do believe, for the price the Iron Header is a fine Canadian reel...

View attachment 11482

 

[ChaseChrome]

Fish the fly brother...I wouldn't pay more than $250 for a cp...imo

 

[Porkpie]

Call angling outfitters in woodstock, he generally has some used loomis reels. They are a fine reel, I have had the original tournament drifter since they came out. The loomis is just a rebranded drifter. If not you can't go wrong with an islander.

 

[fishing89]

I personally have a rapla classic drifter. Great starter reel, and ive landed tons of steelies on it this season.

If you have the money, I love the kingpins. They just look incredible. Like others have said, you cannot go wrong with an islander. But I prefer the looks of the kingpins.

Having said that, I have used some other guy's pins (islanders, pins, okumas) and I found that while they DO look nicer and perhaps spin a bit better, none were FAR superior to my $150 Rapala.

 

[Knuguy]

I have seen the term 'mooching reel' used to describe what, to my untrained eye, looks like a centerpin. Are the one and the same, or different?

 

[staffman]

A mooching reel is different, in that you cannot cast it like a CP and it does not have the free run feature that all CP reels have.

 

[Knuguy]

Ok, thx. That clears up that!

 

[NADO]

Ive never heard anything bad said about the islanders, you cant go wrong if you go that route. I have a sheffield and its a great reel for the price; I drop it, get sand in it, dunk it in the water and it still has a smooth spin. Im not sure what the islander is like but what I dont like about most high end/low tolerance reels is that if you get a single grain of sand in them it completely messes up the rotation.

 

[[email protected]]

i have an okuma aventa, a nice reel, its the next one down from nado sheffield, like nado said, you can abuse it and it keeps on ticking, the key to any reel, cheap or expensive, is maintenance, you take of it, it'll take care of you

sad thing is, i've only used it once since the opener, been concentrating on the fly

 

[ChaseChrome]

i have an okuma aventa, a nice reel, its the next one down from nado sheffield, like nado said, you can abuse it and it keeps on ticking, the key to any reel, cheap or expensive, is maintenance, you take of it, it'll take care of you

sad thing is, i've only used it once since the opener, been concentrating on the fly

"sad????" Smart thinking man...

 

[[email protected]]

"sad????" Smart thinking man...

heeh yea, it was a christmas gift from the girlfriend, have only used it all last year

 

[CDNChrome]

Finally took the plunge.....here she is!

Caught my eye and once I had it in my hand I couldn't let it go. Spins forever...IMO way better than the islanders I was testing but I've heard they are having problems with their anodizing and may not be shipping out the best product right now. Either way I kinda liked Kingpins more to be honest. Let me know what you think. Now I just need to buy a cheap fixed reel salmon rod to fight those brutes, don't wanna break my custom RV9..

 

[CDNChrome]

Finally took the plunge.....here she is!

Caught my eye and once I had it in my hand I couldn't let it go. Spins forever...IMO way better than the islanders I was testing but I've heard they are having problems with their anodizing and may not be shipping out the best product right now. Either way I kinda liked Kingpins more to be honest. Let me know what you think. Now I just need to buy a cheap fixed reel salmon rod to fight those brutes, don't wanna break my custom RV9..

 

[Roberto]

Hi guys, I've been fishing for steelies on and off for about two years and after my very first opener this year (where I landed my first beauty on a centrepin reel) I got hooked and decided to take the sport more seriously. I've been using a friends gear and just recently purchased my very first float rod, a 13'6" raven RV9, now I'm looking for a good quality centrepin to go with it.

I've read so many good things about the Islander and I wouldn't mind spending the initial amount for a quality reel that will last but I'm open to other suggestions (been trying to find a used loomis as that's what I was borrowing and I really like it). Also if anyone has a reel to sell let me know.

Thanks

Hi guys, I've been fishing for steelies on and off for about two years and after my very first opener this year (where I landed my first beauty on a centrepin reel) I got hooked and decided to take the sport more seriously. I've been using a friends gear and just recently purchased my very first float rod, a 13'6" raven RV9, now I'm looking for a good quality centrepin to go with it.

I've read so many good things about the Islander and I wouldn't mind spending the initial amount for a quality reel that will last but I'm open to other suggestions (been trying to find a used loomis as that's what I was borrowing and I really like it). Also if anyone has a reel to sell let me know.

Thanks

hey bud,
ive got that exact setup , rv9 with an islander. And i have 3-4 other centerpin combos as well. Take it from me and trust me on this one. get a decent used islander float reel and it will serve you well and do exactly the same as all the other over priced centerpins. You will never be disappointed .

 

[staffman]

robbyc that reel is a Kingpin Imperial not an Islander. I'm sure your outfit fishes well for you.

 

[Roberto]

robbyc that reel is a Kingpin Imperial not an Islander. I'm sure your outfit fishes well for you.

i never said any reel was an islander. i suggested to the OP to get a used islander for 200-25o and he will be happy. it will do the exact same thing as all the other over priced reels will do and the money he saves he can put it into gas so he can do more fishing trips. If your talking about the red reel above my post , than yes, that is a king pin. But, i never claimed that to be an islander. Ive never seen a red islander, do they make them in red????

 

[rocheleauc]

i never said any reel was an islander. i suggested to the OP to get a used islander for 200-25o and he will be happy. it will do the exact same thing as all the other over priced reels will do and the money he saves he can put it into gas so he can do more fishing trips. If your talking about the red reel above my post , than yes, that is a king pin. But, i never claimed that to be an islander. Ive never seen a red islander, do they make them in red????

Yup

 

[CDNChrome]

Sweet looking islander, and set-up. I think you guys are mis-interpreting what I wrote.....I asked previously what reel I should get. Couldn't find a decent used islander out there so I went on and bought the kingpin pictured above....Sorry for the confusion.