Shakespeare Freeflow Centrepin Reel – Old-School Fishing Without the Old-School Price

I’d fancied having a proper go at centrepin fishing for years. There’s something pleasingly simple about trotting a float down a Fenland river with little more than a rod, reel and handful of bait.

What I wasn’t so keen on was spending £200 – or considerably more – on one of the classic centrepins just to find out whether I actually enjoyed using one.

That’s what led me to the Shakespeare Freeflow Centrepin Reel.

And, having used one, I’m not sure what spending another couple of hundred quid would actually give me.

Simple, smooth and surprisingly addictive

The Freeflow feels reassuringly solid without being heavy. The CNC-machined main body and spool keep things rigid and precise, while the reel weighs just 243g, so it sits nicely on a traditional float rod without making the outfit feel cumbersome.

The 110mm / 4.3-inch spool is a useful size for general river work, but the thing you really notice is how freely it runs.

Give the spool a flick and it seems to spin forever.

That’s largely thanks to its two extremely smooth Japanese ball bearings, and it comes into its own when you’re trotting. Get the flow working for you and the reel feeds line beautifully, allowing a stick float or Avon to travel naturally downstream.

For fishing Fenland rivers and drains, that's exactly what I wanted from a centrepin.

Not just for the river

I bought mine with river fishing in mind, but it’s proved surprisingly versatile.

A centrepin is great fun for close-range float fishing on lakes and ponds, where you simply don't need a conventional fixed-spool reel. It also makes an interesting option for stalking bigger fish.

Hook a decent carp under your feet on a centrepin and you'll certainly know about it.

The Freeflow also incorporates a freespool function, while Shakespeare supplies it in a smart cloth bag for protection between trips.

So, is it worth buying?

If you already own several expensive handmade centrepins, perhaps the Shakespeare isn't going to tempt you away from them.

But that's rather missing the point.

For someone who wants to discover traditional centrepin fishing without committing £200-plus to the experiment, the Freeflow makes a lot of sense. It's robust, lightweight, beautifully free-running and does precisely what I need it to do.

I originally bought it because of the price.

I’ve kept using it because of the performance.

And for an experienced angler with more sense than money, that's about as good a recommendation as I can give it.

Looking for affordable fishing tackle in March, Cambridgeshire, across the Fens or further afield? Fenland Tackle Exchange specialises in dependable tackle for anglers who'd rather spend their money on fishing than fashion.

#FenlandTackle #FenlandFishing #FenlandTackleExchange #WhyPayMore #fishingUK #CambridgeshireFishing #NorfolkFishing