Whats Your Method to Catch Migratory Fish?

When it comes down to fishing for migratory fish, what's you're method? During the season(s) there's a large variety of fishing styles. For some , most you've likely seen or used before, while others will make you scratch your head when you see others do it on the water. Styles from spincasting, baitcasting, tenkara, fly fishing (single-hand, switch or spey) and the most sought after method, center pin aka float fishing.

I'll go into some details on float fishing you may have or haven't seen it before. Please note that it's not entirely like bobber fishing.

Float Fishing Aka Center Pinning:

The first center pin designs came out in the early 1800's from Scotland; of course, where fly fishing originated. In many ways a center pin is an over-sized fly fishing reel that has no machined drag. To fight fish, you palm the side of the reel and you play the fish the old school way. So the way the "pin" works is it has one or two bearings in it that provide a smooth drag-free drift. This method is the best for roe, worms or any live bait that makes the perfect presentation floating in a moving body of water. I have personally used buggers, streamers and weighed sub-surface flies that can be super effective if your presentation is perfect. Of course, you have to do certain things when using weighted baits to keep that presentation perfect to get strikes.

A pin is usually rigged with mono line, but there's all kinds of ways people rig their pins so I won't go into details.

They have different weights, from 2.0 grams to 10.5 grams, for different applications, to depth of water, to even types of fish you're after. Then you have your shot line under your float that consists of having split shot spaced out, again, depending on how deep you're going and how fast the water is. The shot weight is from .13g to .35g, so these weights are relatively small. The idea of a shot line is to keep the line under your float straight with the current, while keeping your float on the surface straight. When you have your shot line rigged up to the water you're fishing, you then put on a swivel and attach a piece of line that your bait is on. You usually want to use a lb-test line that is less than your main line so if you get a snag, you're leader breaks off and you don't lose your shot line. Rigging a shot line takes time and you don't want to lose it when the bite is on.

Casting:

Casting a free spool reel can be very difficult if you haven't used a baitcaster. It's similar in that you have to stop the reel from spinning once the bait has hit the water, 'cause you know what happens when you don't stop it: rat's nest of line tangle.

The common cast, where you just pull the rod as far back as you can and then swing and free spool the pin reel. This is very similar to level-wind casting. The cast needs no instruction as this is the most common style of casting. You can get 100ft+ on a good power cast with good technique. The problem is that a lot of river banks do not allow you to make a full back swing. The next two casts are the solution.

The short cast can be used when you have the least amount of back swing room. If done properly you can get 40ft+ out of this cast with relative ease. Start by holding your lead weight in your left hand, and pulling back to get a good bend in the rod tip. Obviously, your right hand will be breaking the reel. Release the lead and gently swing the rod to point towards your objective. Allow the reel to free spool until the moment your gear hits the water, then apply the breaks. This is a jewel of a cast, absolutely the easiest cast to do. I like to do it when my arm is getting tired from the common cast. This cast can also be done overhand with practice.

The Wallis cast is a good way to do the short to medium distance casts. The Wallis cast allows you to make a precise elegant cast within 60ft. There is a little more effort in this cast than with the short cast, but it's a lot easier on your body than the common cast. I prefer to use this cast the majority of the time as there aren't many places or reasons to cast farther than that. This cast takes the most practice. First, start your back swing slowly then grab the line with your left hand. When your back swing is fully loaded with the lead weight, pull down with your left hand to get the reel spinning and cast at the same time. Don’t let go of the line, but simply guide the spooling line onto the reel and gently guide the line back towards the reel until the reel is spooling line freely. Make sure to stop the reel as soon as your gear hits the water.

That's some basic center pin info. Just a warning it's extremely addictive once you get over the bumps.

Casting Info www.canadianriveranglertv.com