In the first episode of season 17 of On The Water’s Angling Adventures, Chris Megan and Jimmy Fee joined Joe Diorio of Joe Diorio Guide Service to fish centerpin setups for Farmington River trout.
Float fishing with a centerpin is a popular technique for large lake-run steelhead and brown trout on the Lake Ontario tributaries, but it’s also very effective on smaller rivers. Joe Diorio uses a scaled-down centerpin setup to target Farmington River trout, and as you can see in the episode, the technique is very effective, even in the dead of winter.
Rods:
Lamiglas Closer 4- to 8-pound
Lamiglas SI 96LS
Reels:
Islander Steelheader
Kingpin Imperial 475
Line:
Maxima Ultragreen (8-pound-test)
Leader:
Maxima Fluorocarbon (4-pound-test)
Floats:
Raven FM Balsa Float 4.2
Weights:
Split Shot sizes BB to 06
Hooks:
Gamakatsu C14S Glo Bug size 10 (barbs crushed)
Bait:
Salmon Egg Sacs, various colors
Waders and Boots:
Jimmy:
Redington Sonic-Pro Waders
Redington Prowler Pro Boot (Sticky Rubber Sole)
Chris:
Hodgman Aesis Sonic Zip Stocking
Hodgman Aesis H-Lock Wade Boot with BOA
Sunglasses:
Jimmy:
Costa Del Mar Salt Break
Chris:
Costa Del Mar Pawleys
Misc:
Yeti Hopper Flip 12
Yeti Rambler 64-Ounce Bottle (Discontinued – Alternative: Yeti Rambler Half-Gallon Jug)
Simms Windstopper Foldover Mitt (Discontinued – Alternative: Simms Guide Windbloc Foldover Mitt)
Learn More about Fishing with a Centerpin
You can also do really well if you just learn how to nymph fish with traditional fly and reel. No special gear. No bobber needed. Just dial in to what is going on.