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

[Mike P]

I can tell you that the 11' HJ 1327 tosses and lifts a 3 oz head and Sluggo as easily as any rod that I've ever fished. It's not "just" a plugging rod. IMO it's a very versatile Canal tool. I think it can easily handle another ounce or two. But on these off tides, 3 oz is all I need to stay down.

[pmbrac]

Originally Posted by Mike P

I can tell you that the 11' HJ 1327 tosses and lifts a 3 oz head and Sluggo as easily as any rod that I've ever fished. It's not "just" a plugging rod. IMO it's a very versatile Canal tool. I think it can easily handle another ounce or two. But on these off tides, 3 oz is all I need to stay down.

yeah, that rod seems very versatile.. have't tried it yet with jigs but laying into 3.5oz plugs as hard as I can didn't bother the rod at all.. Cast real nice and has landed fish up to 30lbs on a moon tide right when I first got it.. Pretty impressive for such a light rod.. The 1328/1329 may be next on my list for jigging!

[stripermaineiac]

one thing for sure is you don't have to baby them. if you can break one of these in a cast I'd be surprised.Maybe trying to powercast an 8 oz jig but even then I'm not so sure.

[capecodkid]

Anyone care to share there guide layouts on there 11' Centurys? I'm intrigued by these since everyones talking about them.

[Mike P]

Originally Posted by capecodkid

Anyone care to share there guide layouts on there 11' Centurys? I'm intrigued by these since everyones talking about them.

I have 7 K-frame guides, starting with a 30 mm set right above the ferrule. I'm not sure whether the last 2-3 running guides at 10 mm or 8 mm.

[MAKAI]

Would a sustain 8000 be a little big for the 10 ft stealth ?

Why do I do this to myself ?

[Mike P]

Originally Posted by MAKAI

Would a sustain 8000 be a little big for the 10 ft stealth ?

Why do I do this to myself ?

The rod that the Century guys brought to the demo at the fish pier had a Daiwa Exceller 4500 on it, which is about the same size as an 8000 Shimano. It felt pretty good.

[tlapinski]

These rods seem to be getting a lot of praise from the canal / jigging / plugging guys, but how are they for eeling? I can't effectively fish an eel on a fast blank. This is why the GSB1201M still rules when I am tossing eels. How come no mention of the St. Croix Legends yet? I wrapped myself the 11' 3 -8 for heavy plugs and eels and have been extremely happy with it so far this season.
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[Saltheart]

Im talking about two rods here, the 10 and 11 foot stealths. The 10 footer (which i bought theblank atthe MSBA Show) is an all around plugging and eeling rod. The 11 footer is what i hope will be a canal rod buti don't have one yet.
This thread is about my plans to switch from a loomis 1266 and Lami xra1205 to a 10foot century stealth and 11foot stealth respectively. Why would it mentionStCroix? But since you ask , I have had zero interest inSt Croix product for a long time. Only ones i ever considered were the Ben Doers 20 years ago and i went Loomis and Lami instead at that time.

[stripermaineiac]

The Sustain 8000 works sweet on the 10 ft 6 and the 11. Nice balance.I put a Saltiga surf5000 on the 11 ftr and it is a very nice combo if you wanna go light weight.LOL and I still haven;t broke one yet LOL

[stripermaineiac]

I tried the 10 ft 6 the other night with snakes an it worked very nice.I was throwing 14 to 20 in eels.

[MAKAI]

OKAY so ummm. . . . how much is the 10 foot stealth all twisted up with low riders ?
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[stripermaineiac]

Your better off with the K frames on that rod.The low riders work better on 11 ft and up.Low price is around 325 as materials is about 225 give or take with alconites. if SIC used well add at least another 50 or so.thats with no fancy stuff in the way of wraps.Thats if the person you get to build it is a freind and eats the shipping and gives you a break on putting it together. Realistic price is around 400

[Saltheart]

A quick look at my post 24 shows there are a lot of possible builds. Guide choices can vary by app , reel and line and their placement will vary by size and frame style. I haven't worked them out yet as I want to do both the 11 and 10 at the same time. I may do the 10 sooner.I am also waiting for some data I requested from Fuji that I want to factor in. Custom rods need detailed input from the customer so at this point there are no exact layouts.

I would not see any reason to use low riders on either of these rods. You could use 1-20 ring lc but only if by some quirk 20 or 25 kw isn't better. In post 24 I list the likely guide candidates depending on the applications. kw's and mn's will almost certainly be the basic guides that may be used all the way or switched near the tip but not in all cases.

I think the numbers Stripermaniac listed are pretty good for fully custom although they may go up or down a little do to exact details of the custom builds.Artwork is extra. At this point the biggest bang for the buck are ss framed alconite guides.

[Saltheart]

I should point out that i have written a lot lately about my guess (no facts, just my guess) that Fuji will discontinue lc's (low riders) at some point unless the kw's do not prove to be as anti fouling as they predict.

[stripermaineiac]

Hey Saltheart hows that test going? Just got finished with several of those and am wondering how it's coming for you. Ron

[tysdad115]

I can say the 11" Century 3-7 oz casts very well. 3-5oz plugs and jigs no problem. Surprisingly it does handle a 2oz pencil extremely well, I was very surprised with it at the lower weights. It does load differently, slighlty stiffer but to me its not a real stiff rod. Jigs up to 5oz in full canal current are no issue, really good "feel" in the rod. I'm impressed. I have heard other rods desribed as "telephone poles" this isn't one of them. I frequent the ditch if anyones interested in trying it.

[GlobalTJB]

anyone have feedback on the slingshot 1145? Im debating the new 9' ish rod to throw lighter stuff. Ive been up in the air on this vs a gsb108 vs a cts 906.

[Saltheart]

Originally Posted by stripermaineiac

Hey Saltheart hows that test going? Just got finished with several of those and am wondering how it's coming for you. Ron

I am hampered by health issues for the last several weeks. I hope to get back to this project soon but right now I am laying low.

[Mike P]

Originally Posted by tlapinski

These rods seem to be getting a lot of praise from the canal / jigging / plugging guys, but how are they for eeling? I can't effectively fish an eel on a fast blank. This is why the GSB1201M still rules when I am tossing eels. How come no mention of the St. Croix Legends yet? I wrapped myself the 11' 3 -8 for heavy plugs and eels and have been extremely happy with it so far this season.
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The Stealth series is supposed to be fairly parabolic, whereas the HJ series (now called the Sling Shot series) are moderate/fast rods.

Actually, the 11 HJ that I have isn't markedly different from the 10-1/2' MH Legend and Mojo rods from St. Croix. Besides being a couple of ounces lighter. Very similar tapers.

[1dozenraw]

Wondering if Saltheart is A) OK and B) any further on with the 10' Stealth wrap and research? Hope your OK. Thanks.

[bart]

Saltheart, In your opinion, can the 11 ft'er lob a big shad( 5oz)? Thanks...

Whoops, just realized this is a 5 month old thread and tlapinksi listed the rating so I'm guessing it can no problem...

[Saltheart]

Got to be specific. The Century 11 foot 1327...No problem. The 11 foot Stealth2, although rated 1-5 , 5 OZ is too heavy IMO.

[Rob Rockcrawler]

Reading this thread is pumping me up for the rod building class.

[Saltheart]

Sat morning will be here in no time!

[bart]

Thanks, Saltheart.

[Saltheart]

Originally Posted by 1dozenraw

Wondering if Saltheart is A) OK and B) any further on with the 10' Stealth wrap and research? Hope your OK. Thanks.

I'm doing much better thanks. No A Fib for over 6 weeks. Doctor says don't get too disappointed if it comes back until after 6 months but so far so good. He says if it still good after 6 months I'm likely fixed permanently.

I worked out the builds on the Stealth 1 for spinners. I have not done anything about conventionals. I decided on all KW's in Alconite. I opted out of the KT and KL single foot guides and also out of the MN guides (all were considered as running guides) as there didn't seem to be any advantage to them over the KW's. If Someone were only going to use a small spooled reel with very thin braid to increase line capacity , I might go with 8's as running guides and then I might reconsider the Kt's but still might choose KW's. It would be a sound build though with size 8 KT's.

I also looked into using one size 20 LC but decided against that and opted for a 25 KW to get the height and the extra 5 MM on the ring just means it will be a hair closer to the guide but still pretty far out there for most reels. However , a single LC 20 or HV 20HH would also be viable options for the stripper but 20HH guides will be hard to find now (even when they were available they could only be found in Hardloy or SiC , not Alconite) and I would not use an LC on a 10 footer with this action. Some guys might but not me.

So that about sums up my work on the Stealth 1 as Spinners. I have decided not to give out specific guide placement info anymore ( here or on SOL) as the NGC builds change a little for each reel and reel seat placement (and I got tired of arguing about it ) . With the info here , if you know what you are doing at all , you can build a good casting , high performance rod.

[stripermaineiac]

Fun sometimes is,t it saltheart. I love it when someone ask,s advice then argues it LOL.A note to all. Those of us that build rods share so you have a place to start. If you want us to build you a rod just ask.All rods will be little different as each reel seat is placed a little different so guide spacing and end performance will vary in each rod.We're happy to help anyone anytime.Striper Maine-iac

[1dozenraw]

Thanks for the replies. Keep 'em coming.

Saltheart... glad you're better and staying better. I had a year of cancer treatments and surgeries and now I've had a year of clear tests so, as they say, "I can feel ya".

Have you or anyone fished this blank... or cast it for a good while? I would like to know what it does best, what you who built it intend to use/fish it for? How and what weights and lures or jigs or eels and plastics it casts best. I guess what I am looking for is why these are so well liked (if they are), what they are liked for, pluses, minuses? Are they better as a spinning blank, conventional.. or both ways is fine. I LIKE INFORMATION!!. It's how I learn. Thanks for all the help... and I will be looking to have it wrapped.

[chefchris401]

Can't wait for the class on Saturday and meeting everyone.

I got to play around with the rod a little while we were on block, our fishing buddy had one.

The rod is extremely light, great plugging and bucktailing rod. Tons of backbone. Throws everything from 1/2 oz bucktails to 3 oz plugs with no effort.

Small riggies were too much for it.

I would say anything over 3.5oz is pushing it.

Unfortunetly the fishing sucked the week we were there but the rod has landed fish up to 38/40 lbs.

I can't wait to build this rod as it's going to be my go to light plug and bucktail rod.
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