The new Centuryt Stealth blanks means tough rod/reel decisions will be coming up

[Mike J.]

I have the century 12'6 144 for fishing outside the canal paired with an empro A and like it alot. As far as conventional or spinning, I asked Ryan from Hatteras Jack and he said the century's have a soft spine and you could literally switch reels on the same rod and not worry too much. I might give it a whirl and see what happens. My other rods are Lami's. The lighter weight is nice when comparing them.

[Mike P]

I find the taper of the 11' Century model that I have to be much more like the taper of the All Star GSW 1267/2 than the XRA 1322.

It's the version rated 2-5 oz, and I disagree that it'll be too fast to fish for long periods. It loads really easily, and it's like the St Croix models in the respect that less is more, when trying to get the best casting performance out of it. I've jigged with it as well as thrown plugs at breaking fish.

rphud, the catalog ratings on the GSB blanks are the biggest jokes in the rod building industry. The L blanks should be rated 3/4 oz to 3-1/2 oz, and the M's about 1-1/2 oz to 5.

Also, the continuing preference for the GSBs over the XRAs over the last decade, IMO, is due in main part to all of the internet hype about XRAs breaking. I see 1322s get abused almost every tide, along the Canal, and have formed the opinion that they're not at all that easy to break. But once a blank gets tagged with the "fragile" label, it's hard to break that, but in point of fact, the 1322 is the most powerful 11' blank that Lamiglas makes, at least in their one piece models. I've owned all 3--the 132 1M, the SSU 132 1MH, and the XRA 1322. I sold all of the 1Ms that I've owned and the one 132 1MH Supersurf. I've kept my two Arras, though.

[Swimmer]

Originally Posted by Mike P

Also, the continuing preference for the GSBs over the XRAs over the last decade, IMO, is due in main part to all of the internet hype about XRAs breaking. I see 1322s get abused almost every tide, along the Canal, and have formed the opinion that they're not at all that easy to break. But once a blank gets tagged with the "fragile" label, it's hard to break that, but in point of fact, the 1322 is the most powerful 11' blank that Lamiglas makes, at least in their one piece models.

Currently I have six XRA's, five in use, one laid up due to my misuse/abuse at he ditch. I don't have a problem with thier sustainability in any way shape or form. Thinking, just thinking, due to all the hype about a BIG Dave special.

[numbskull]

Can't speak for the Allstars.....I was in a flyfishing phase during their heyday......which also teaches you a lot about the importance of blank tapers.

If I was to get an 11 foot Lami for the canal it would be a 1322, not a 1321M. For the rocks, I'll take the 1321M. Perhaps Century/CTS will change that, perhaps not. Certainly the 1322 sets a high standard as a canal plugging stick and the 1321M sets a high standard as a Montauk rod.

My point is not that the CTS and Century's are not good rods. Rather it is that the options already out there are very, very good when rebuilt with braid specific light guide systems.

My other point is that, just as with flyrods (and a lesson I am just relearning), although faster action rods cast farther they require more effort and a faster stroke to do so. Slower action rods slow you down, and slowing down can be a very good thing when throwing bulky plugs or rigged eels hour after hour through a long night.

When you test cast a rod, how light it is and how far it throws is what you notice. When you own a rod, how well it fishes and how often you reach for it is what you notice. The two are often not the same.

[Mike P]

Originally Posted by numbskull

My other point is that, just as with flyrods (and a lesson I am just relearning), although faster action rods cast farther they require more effort and a faster stroke to do so. Slower action rods slow you down, and slowing down can be a very good thing when throwing bulky plugs or rigged eels hour after hour through a long night.

When you test cast a rod, how light it is and how far it throws is what you notice. When you own a rod, how well it fishes and how often you reach for it is what you notice. The two are often not the same.

I don't know, George, I find the opposite to be true. Maybe it's just a matter of casting style. I cast medium/fast rods with much less effort than I do parabolic rods, and I find the exact opposite to also be true about footholds--I find it much easier to punch a cast out from shaky footing with a medium/fast taper rod, like an All Star, Mojo, or my latest Century. It's much harder to load a parabolic rod, at least for me, and the cast involves more of my body. I really need to step into a cast to get the maximum distance out of a softer rod.

[Tagger]

What's the warrantee with the century .. If the product isn't backed up (lami) I don't want it .. Leaning towards St. Croix because they replaced a rod for me this past year (no questions asked) .. Mojo no good any more ? I broke my allstar 1208 this spring on a fish.. Love that rod as it suits me throwing light (red fins) and heavy (duckys ,,jiggs)..

[Surf Caster]

Very interesting thread as I've been debating between a GSB 120 1M, a CTS 10 footer, and waiting to see one of these new centuries to be an all around 10 footer for me.

Its very hard to turn away from the GSB as the "all around, beat the snot out of it" blank. However, the faster action of my Legend is something I'm really starting to like and is really making me check out every option in this process.