Nice fish Deeter.Never done center pin, I'm more into Spey, Isn't center pin more like fishing Bait under bobbers? (*Hint hint...) Swinging traditional spey flies or marabou streamers is the thing to do around here, it works great.

A lot of guys are pin fishing in the Lake Erie tribs. It is my understanding that center pin fishing keeps the fly down for a much longer drift. I haven't done it yet but maybe someday soon.

Pinning = fly fishing gone bad..

I can't wait to get my center pin rig. I first used one last week. I don't know why you fly boys are so worked up over this. Out here in the east, we respect any legal form of fishing that catches steelhead. I've got no problem with center pinning, I just hope that If I'm fishing a hole amongst them, that they shorten their hero drift so it doesn't run over my slot.

To the non-believers,

Do you consider chucking and ducking a cannonball with flyline fly fishing?

It's all good in my book.

Hey Deeter--not the biggest fan of center-pinning myself, but got nothing against the people who do it. Regardless, congrats on your first steelhead--they aren't easy to catch no matter what method you're using.

FYI, though: a "three-salt" fish means it spent three years in the ocean, not that it made three trips. Also--not to rain on your parade--but if that fish in the photo is the one you're referring to in your "nothing more satisfying" sentence, that fish is likely a one-salt or two-salt fish, not three.

A steelhead that has spent three full years at sea is generally over thirty inches, sometimes 35. In other words, you don't usually hold three-salters with one hand! (If you're referring to another fish than the one in your photo, then never mind.)

In any case--welcome to Oregon. Come back any time.

TB

Wow, nobody has posted on this topic in a while. The bottom line is this: Center pinning IS the most effective way to legitimately catch steel. Many so called "fly fishermen" are simply lining fish, and are bitter over the fact that they have been exposed and are getting out fished. Stop fishing the shallow riffles and using heavy sink tips. I used fly fish for steel and I thought, that because I only foul hooked a few fish, that I was fishing the right way. You should NEVER foul hook a fish, or have a hook on the outside of the mouth. With the pin, EVERY fish caught is a biter.