NEW: Century Tip Tornado LD review
It is rated 85-150g but, Simon has clearly stated…. THIS IS THE SINKER WEIGHT….
Bait carriage is extra and is allowed for.
So, in tests, we threw 200g no worries.
Century of course are playing on the edge here and they appreciate that
not everyone has a smooth style, not everyone will use baits of a standard
size and they have a test model undergoing stress testing as i write this.
They haven’t ruled out uprating the rod in the future after the rod has
seen real world applications for perhaps a year…
Unground blank, BNHG guides, VERY slim in the hand and will come
again supplied with a very high quality bag and the knowledge that
Century are currently producing some of the finest rods out there.
The model I have has a very well fitting joint. It gently firmed home
leaving approx 1/4″ of exposed spigot. The grinding of the joint is
obviously very precise.
We spoke in some detail about the matching of carbon components.
In fact, Simon assures me, the product is so good, it should perform
flawlessly within 50 degree centrigrade operating parameters.
So, pretty much if you want to use it in Iceland or on the African coast
it should fit together and perfom just as well as it does at home.
It has had NO CHANGES from the prototype model other than the
outer material used on the upper butt. The gearbox is set in stone and
it works well let me tell you. It loads like a dream.
Yes, the rod does bend. It is supposed to bend. They produce high end
rods like the TT-R which again has just proven it’s worth on the casting
field and not just in the hands of the big man.
This one is aimed more at clean, light mixed ground, matchmen and
i’d aim the rod casting wise at high swing exponents and people looking
for a smooth loading rod to improve their technique. Initially it will feel
soft if you have been using rods in the HST, TT-R, WR ilk but..
However, let me point out…
This rod WILL cast a very, very long way.
I’d be surprised that even a beginner won’t gain something from this
rod using a proper technique.
Overhead thumping will work, off the ground will work but where this rod
will excel is with long smooth loading styles.
It will be perfect for wide rotation flat arc casters and is an absolute dream
as a high swing stick.
Again, the rating 85g is a misnomer. In fact i have cast 18g 110 meters
plus with the prototype on many (not so windy) occasions.
Sure, to really excel at the 18g game it would need a very lightweight
build but…, if you had the release version, you could at least compete in
the knowledge that the rod would NOT be holding you back.
I’m going to get some photo’s hopefully today.
It is a very pleasing rod to the eye.
Hopefully, when you see them you’ll all agree that it has been produced
in a very classy yet understated and practical cosmetic fashion.
more later…
for those of you who missed the prototyping thread….
http://www.myfishcasting.com/casting_forum/viewtopic.php?t=5252&highlight=prototype
First exclusive pics…. 
16mm OD at the joint
15.5mm OD at this area…super slim or what ?
BNHG guides, simple understated black whipping.
Fine long tip, has glass content. folds back around 5 guides in
very fast tides. Doesn’t “J” towards the extreme tip.
Butt OD is around 19.5mm at the shrink tube juncture.
Stainless reinforcing ring and grip now common on Century rods.
Close up of whipping and 1 of only 2 lavender tippings.
Extreme close up the same.
The new logo for a new rod.
Opposite side.
Yes, the first Gearboxed TT, maybe not the last. rumours of Sport
models on the grapevine.
The official “sinker weight” rating. carries bait as an extra.
Logo close up.
OD “outside diameter” at the upper shrink….
20.25mm
6″ from the butt cap, the OD including shrink….
21.00mm
between the upper measurement and the lower lies the 3 stage gearbox.
| Quote: |
| Can’t believe my eyes a rod that will cast 18g through to 200g! and more importantly perform on them all. |
ok, in perspective now…lets take the last 300 yard casts performed.
TT-R, big 1″ OD rod, lightweight and responsive yet very stiff in the butt
in comparison to what Mozza probably used and if he used his M4 they
have an OD just slightly bigger than Century’s latest offering.
The old ultralite, very slim rod btw and very light rated to 150g has cast
200g for me personally a long way. 150g way over 230 meters and the
newer prototype has seen off 240 meters +
In comparison, the Zziplex Profile (a great rod btw) has hit 250 meters
for me on the 150g and that too has hit 200g a long way.
People are forgetting that technology has moved on.
We are getting comparable power in these little lightweights to rods that
perhaps 10 years ago were little more than 1-3oz bass rods.
Now, they are kicking out 250 yard performance whilst being able to
send soft baits miles without complaint.
They are crisp enough to work with the 18g too. remember, I used the
original TT Ultra Lite (as retail) to cast 125 meters in the Jersey Open.
This new rod is slim enough to move fast and it too, bends against the air
resistance and has enough steel to recover fast enough to NOT cause too
much over recovery. On 18g, we ideally need instant recovery but so
far, I’ve yet to meet a rod that can do that yet alone be able to punch a
150g 250 yards on its next cast.
This rod can.
People should give these rods a chance.
All they need to do is slow down, load up more deliberatly and then
let fly. Let the rod do the work.
These, certainly do, so why fight it.
well, now we can talk about properties often lost in modern fishing
rods.When I went upto Century to discuss this rod we had an in depth chat
about not producing something that would suck the life out of the feel
of fighting a fish.
I can tell you, this rod bends but….
it’s far beyond being a gutless wonder.
Its like a fine combination of fine soft bait rod, usable in light mixed/ clean
ground, surf, match, estuary etc whilst being able to hold onto a wired
150g sinker in fast tides.
This is where the rod is different.
It has what i would like to describe as a long tip.
In little tide, the tip just sits over, but, add tide or tension and the tip
stays long and takes a fair amount of rod with it. This means that in swell
the rod sits stable as there is more rod doing the absorbtion of any
interaction against the line.
I spoke to Dave about smoothounds often changing direction right under
the rod top and we discussed building the gearbox to suit such direction
changes without either the fish having it’s head or the angler loosing
control. It achieves that.
Now, for smaller fish like red mullet, this rod will work, but if you are like
me, you’ll prefer something altogether lighter for those.
Bream however….
I haven’t had a bream over 2lbs this season yet, but I tend to use 3 or
4 oz sinkers sometimes at 2 rod lengths, sometimes at 100 yards plus.
Bites are very, very easily seen on the rod whatever the range and for
shore bream i use circle hooks now. they just pull the rod over mate.
It’s not too long before the Triggers will show either and I’ll be using this
rod for those too.
It is, in essence, the ideal rod for channel island fishing bar the very small
and the larger species like conger.
Rays go well on the rod but…..
If you are high above the water, you wouldn’t want to be trying to lift
anything BIG.
In fact, and I shouldn’t really discuss this but, hey, what the hell…
I have done multiple tests lifting doggies, sometimes in double shots
up rocks and faces upto maybe 8 to 10 feet high.
The rod curves right over into its gearbox and …..
I think, this is a safer prospect than say lifting a doggie on a stiffer butted
rod where the rod flex’s so far then halts putting stress all in one zone.
I’m not advocating people lifting fish in this fashion but, in the real world
it WILL happen so I tested for it.
It is a REAL fishing rod. It puts the fun back into sea fishing.
Come on, we fish at range, sure.. but we don’t need 20lb line and
200g sinkers to catch pouting do we. I’ve fished for huge fish in the USA
on 10lb test and never snapped out unless something else went wrong.
Ever tried breaking 10lb line tied to a post and pulled gently back with a rod?
I have and it is EXREMELLY difficult.
This rod is slim, agile, sensitive and fun.
Fishing rod first but….
more than capable of applying big grins to anyone prepared to take the
time learning to achieve a smooth casting technique.
for those who haven’t yet hit 250 yards, this should be on your list of
rods if you have any aspiration toward improving.
Its not a magic bullet but its close.
