I resolved this problem, it was very very simple. Instead of assigning it via a tag in the cell, it was much easier to just create the picker view in the cell.
-(UITableViewCell *) createPickerCell{
UITableViewCell * cell = [self.tableView dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier:kPickerCell];
self.picker = [UIPickerView alloc] initWithFrame:CGRectMake(0, 0, 320, 163)];// new line
self.picker.delegate=self;
self.picker.dataSource =self;
[cell addSubview:self.stylistPicker];
return cell;
}