Your Start to Centerpin Fishing!

Centerpinning is an extremely effective way to fish for all kinds of river dwelling species, especially steelhead and salmon! To get the most out of the technique, you'll need to make sure your gear matches the task. This doesn't mean spending a lot of money, but rather making sure that your gear is well paired. At Drift, we're here to help make your adventures a success, that's why we put together this breakdown of what you'll want to consider when starting your centerpin journey!

The Rod

Centerpin rods are much longer than most other types of fishing rods, ranging from about 11' to 15' on average. The extra length of these rods helps precisely control your drift by allowing you to keep more of your line off of the water, allowing you to avoid getting caught up in currents that would otherwise impact your drift. Generally a rod around 13' to 13'6" is a good starting point, as it's not so long that you can't fish small waters, but will still give you good line control on bigger systems. If you're only fishing smaller, or larger, rivers, you could consider going to either the shorter or longer end of the spectrum.

Like most rods, centerpin rods also come with power ratings. These power ratings are important as they impact how you'll fight fish, and how you'll cast. If you are fishing mostly smaller Great Lakes rivers for steelhead, then a lighter power rod (around 4-8lb line rating) will be more flexible and allow you to fish more delicate leaders, and cast lighter weight floats more easily. On the other hand, if you're fishing heavier floats, or for large fish like salmon, then something more powerful would be preferred, call it around the 8-12lb line rating.

Shop all centerpin rods here

Raven IM6 - Softer, all around rod	Raven IM8 - Stouter, more powerful rod

The Reel

Centerpin reels are very unique, they are made to be completely free spinning to allow the line to dispense at the same speed as the current. Higher end reels are balanced more precisely and often feature higher grade bearings that run smoother. Larger diameter reels like a 4 3/4" or 5" diameter will pick up more line with every handle turn and more effectively balance longer rods, making them ideal for larger rivers. Smaller reels in the 4 1/4" range may be easier for some folks to handle, especially for those with smaller hands.

Shop all centerpin reels here

Raven Helix - A great first centerpin reel for any angler!	Islander Steelheader - Canadian made, and super durable!

Main Line

There are multiple different lines that you can use on a centerpin, but we always recommend nylon mainline (mono). Nylon lines float, allowing you to mend (reposition your line) when it gets caught in an unwanted current. There have been anglers over the years who have gone to braided lines on centerpins, however these can absorb water and freeze in the winter, and they can fray on icy guides. As a good starting point, we like mainlines in 10-12lb sizes as they are easy to manage and won't break before your leader, saving floats and $$$! High visibility lines are popular for anglers fishing busy rivers as it's easier to track which float is attached to your line, however if you're fishing elsewhere we like a more subtle clear line for most applications.

Shop all main lines here

Sufix Seige - Super tough, great all around	Sunline Fine Float - Nice and soft for great handling

Terminal Tackle, Floats, and Leaders

Terminal tackle includes your float, shot, swivel, hooks, etc. Below is a list of tackle that will set you up well to fish most rivers. For more personalized advice for your needs, feel free to give us a call or pop into the shop and we'd be happy to advise!

Shop all Terminal Tackle here

Shop all Floats here

Shop all Leader Material here

Raven FM Floats - Great all purpose option	Float Tubing - For attaching your float
RIO Fluoroflex Strong - Super thin leader material	Raven Micro Swivels
Raven 7 Part Split Shot Dispenser	Baits - Flies, plastics, jigs

The above list of gear should have you well set for almost all of your Great Lakes steelhead and salmon needs! If you need any assistance in getting going, please get in touch and we'll be happy to go over your needs with you!