When I float fish from the bank, I use a center reel on an 11 foot rod with balsa floats.
The reel you mentioned in your post is a bit heavy-er then a center.
You will find that playing steelhead on a single action reel is a blast.

Check the new Cabalas Saltwater catalog. They have a special on the combo ( Alvey Rods 10 1/2 & 12 ft. + Alvey reel of choice) There are 9 models of reels ranging from $42 - $143. The rods sell for $43 and $70.

I am thinking of getting the 700/C5 reel matched with the 12' alvey rod. The price is right. Good luck and give us some feed back.

Getting an alvey may not be the best option. I don't like the idea of being able to turn the reel side ways and being able to cast it like a spinning. this will cause tons of line twist, plus it would probably not spin like other center pins like an islander, etc....

Have used knuckle busters in the salt a lot. Lots of fun when you get a big one. Tried a Canadian friends center pin (Hardy) on the Vedder a few years ago. I got bigger overuns and backlashes than the lure went. Definately takes some practice to learn how to cast.

Anyone remember the old Spin/Fly reel? I used to have one, but haven't seen it in years. I either gave it away or someone "borrowed" it. I couldn't stand it......line twist out the gazoo.....had to use a chain swivel just to keep up with the twist.

Moocher Man,

I have quite a few Alvey reels. My son is pictured with one in the avatar. I used to mooch them until I finally swore them off. IMHO, Shimano's Moocher Plus is far superior single action salmon reel, as either a mooching or trolling reel.
The best thing I can say about Alveys is that they are unique; other than that, they are a nuisance. I cannot recommend them, unless you are bank fishing the Big C for sturgeon or surf casting for redtail.

As for "center pins", these are much different single-action reels than an Alvey. They are typically precision made reels that are made for strip casting or designed to waft a float and it's offering softly upon the waters. There are probably few (if any) northwesterners that truly know how to properly use them. For the best advice you'll probably need to talk to our brothers up north or in the mid west. DOWNRIVER and Surecatch would be a couple of great guys to talk to. Unfortunately, while some books will show you center pin reels, there doesn’t seem to be much on the technique itself. It is beautiful thing to watch but it can be very frustrating to learn on your own.

I personally like to fish single action reels (especially vintage ones), but it is more strip casting than true centerpin style. Nevertheless, around here strip casting works very well, as I am reminded by an expert steelheader who exclusively uses this technique. It consists of a typical medium action drift (no trigger) or fly rod (9-11wt?) balanced with a single action reel that is spooled with a thicker 30# test no-mem line like UG or Ande. Terminal offering is the same as any drift gear. You simply strip out the line you want to cast and then flip it where you want it to go. Then like a flyfisher you hold the line in your fingers, maintain tension and feel the drift. Strip back (into a basket if you like) and recast. That’s right, no long distance casting, just cover the water and hook them right in front and below you. Easy.

Another effective center-pin technique on smaller streams, like the Lyre or upper headwaters, is "noodling". You just pick up your long rod up and deposit your offering upstream, watch your float go by and repeat once it tails out. No casting involved.

So as you see, centerpin fishing for steelhead or salmon does not involve long distance casting but generally only brings the reel into play once the fish is hooked, which can really be a blast on a single action reel. Smaller fly reels spooled with mono work fine but the bigger center-pins are preferred for their quicker retrieve. The important thing is to keep it simple. Alveys are just to big, heavy and complicated for this kind of fishing. They were meant to be cast a mile. And aside from that, the biggest problem I have with them are the many grabby sharp edges that always made things more interesting than they needed to be.

Good luck. I hope you’re on the way to a fun way to catch steelhead.

One of my favorite pics might help answer that question....

That IS a great picture, Sky Guy! And all this time I thought your name was about the Skykomish!

we fish center pins lots up here. Imho the alvey set up would be terrible at best. You need to get a decent cnc machined reel. Okuma is about to make one available in the very near future (it was supposed to be ready for x-mas). You should wait until it is available. There will be both a bearing and a bushing model. For a rod , you want a "slow action" rod. It works better when starting the cast . Any lighter action mooching rod will work. A perfered lenght would be 10'6" or 11'. This makes it easier to cast deeper float depths.

Moocher Man, I have had the pleasure to fish with some accomplished center pin fishers from our neighbors up north in B.C. As Mooch indicated a true center pin is a finely machined reel, you probably won't be able to find a quality one for much under $200 US. Islander, Hardy, Milner are some of the names I've heard and it's not unusual to pay well over $500 for a good one. Rods for these reels resemble spey rods with short butts and long fore grips, typically 10.5 to over 12 feet long. There is a learning curve on casting a center pin but it can be accomplished in a morning without too much blood flowing from your knuckles, bring a few band-aids though. :p Everyone will holler "rookie alert" when they hear the handles buzz your knuckles. None of the ones I've seen have a spool lock so you can forget about putting one in a rod holder like in Sky-Guy's photo. All the ones that I have seen only have "free spool" and "free spool with a clicker" With the clicker "on" there is just enough tension so you can put your hook in the hook keeper and walk to the next spot with draping line everywhere but that's about all the tension there is. Everything else is single action and a lot of fun.

Sky-Guy... It looks like you're running a Shimano 2000GT or a Diawa M-One in that pic. What make/model of rod are you using? I prefer mooching reels in the salt for downrigging, but am thinking about replacing my 10.5' Shimano mooching rods. I don't care for the foam grips and am looking for an economical mooching rod with cork that can be used on a rigger.

That is a Daiwa M-one, sits on a Daiwa Heartland 10.5 mooching rod. I use this setup for all my summer fishing cause it's a blast. I dont think you have ever really fought a fish in the salt until you use a centerpin to fight a 35# king that is running straight at you and you are trying to catch up, then he dives 100 feet and your reel just whines and whines. Then do it all over again. People on other boats 1/4 mile away can hear that reel scream! ...what a fun way to catch a fish.

I spent about $120.00 on this setup. The Heartland rods are pretty strong, good backbone, have good action, and are built well. The reel is still working like it was brand new after 40+ fish landed on it this summer. I cant, and dont like to, spend a ton of money for the high end equipment because I have too many other things I need. I am a boat owner too

Also, you cant beat centerpins for their simplicity. Cleanup and maintenance are a breeze.

Sky-Guy, you just brought back a lot of memories!

Haven't used the M-One, but agree with you completely about the reels. My Shimanos still run like new and are a kick to use. Only one bloody knuckle the first time I used it off Vanc Island many years ago. Learned quickly after that.

Thanks for the info. I'll take a look at the Heartland rods.

Thanks to everyone for your input. I think that I may just save a little more $$$ and get a better quailty reel. I do use a single action reel (shimano) in Saltwater and it is really a blast. Just imagine using one in Alaska in late August, for Silvers! Been there done that...........