farmer56 here,, has any one ever used fish307.com to order a rod???? looking to find a century stealth s-1 1205 spinning rod.... also any one with exp. with that model .....10' 1-4 oz. rating thanks dennis
While not familiar with that model, Century have an outstanding reputation for making very high class surf blanks. Though because of the differences in styles, their US models are different to the UK models, the US models are more 'C' curve, than 'J' curve.
Good blanks, and usually very well built with higher end components, quality and performance before price ticket.
Hope that helps.
Jeri thanks for the reply.. my biggest concern about rod is that it is not too stiff,, i like fiberglass rods because with my casting so called "style" fiberglass is more forgiving .... so the two rods i'm looking at is the century stealth or ODM genesis .. i know these are not fiberglass but i think they have a softer action to help my casting style ... thanks dennis PS anybody ever use fish307.com to order from ???
As said, the Stealth range are made specifically for the US market, and are more 'C' curve, meaning they are more through action, than tip/fast action of 'J' curve; which is the predominant build of their more European style surf rods for distance casting with appropriate styles. The power of carbon blanks over older fibreglass designs, is often balanced out by slowing your casting action down a little to compensate.
Jeri great explanation .... even my 65 year old farming brain can process that . thanks again dennis
for a budget option with specs/action you seem to want, keep an eye out for Abu Garcia Workhorse 10' Surf
it's the short-lived (late 90's???) Abu version of Ugly -- better blank/handle/seat, IMO (surprisingly decent for a cheap rod)
and the worst, cheapest steel-insert guides... which is fine for low-effort rebuild
by any chance is that a 2 piece rod ..... thanks dennis
Farmer, no idea at all about that site, but if you want some real intel about how Century's perform for your style, call Ryan White at Hatteras Jack Outfitters. Third generation shop owner, casting champion, rod builder, Century dealer, and nice guy.
Quote from: farmer56 on January 10, 2022, 05:54:33 PM
by any chance is that a 2 piece rod ..... thanks dennis
if you're asking about the Abu Workhorse -- YES... very similar to old Howald Ugly BWS-1100(1102?)
same specs; lighter in hand; better handle; worse guides that SCREAM for upgrade
just another (IMO, better) option, if you like the affordable composite w/ solid-glass tip
all getting harder to find & decent used ones cost more than original MSRP
farmer56 here ... well i have to report on the rod . i was not used to a 10' rod .. you do not side cast!!!!!! lucky the anglers to the side of me just sat back ,and for my benefit did not break out laughing, the learning curve was sharp but i swallowed my pride and kept casting ... the rod is right for me because the rod bends-flexes to help my poor casting style ..... i would not call the rod one bit whippy
but had just a nice arc flex throwing a 3 oz piramid weight ... i caught one pompeno "spelling" at gulf shore alabama ... it was small but my wife and i did not see anything else caught ... so moral of story crappy casting can work .... farmer56 out dennis
Great that it worked out because that was a risky move. Those things are pricy, What if you didn't like it?
Hatteras Jack has them too, finished or blanks. I was at the 2022 ICRBE (rod blanks and component show) in Winston-Salem NC. over the weekend and I talked to these guys. A very nice group located on the OBX in NC. It was a great show and if anyone is interested in seeing a lot of blanks, components, seminars, competions and world class builders, I urge you to make the trip next year. A great event and I won't miss another one!
https://hatterasjack.com/products/the-stealth
https://www.icrbe.com/
Quote from: philaroman on January 11, 2022, 04:15:18 PM
Quote from: farmer56 on January 10, 2022, 05:54:33 PM
by any chance is that a 2 piece rod ..... thanks dennis
if you're asking about the Abu Workhorse -- YES... very similar to old Howald Ugly BWS-1100(1102?)
same specs; lighter in hand; better handle; worse guides that SCREAM for upgrade
just another (IMO, better) option, if you like the affordable composite w/ solid-glass tip
all getting harder to find & decent used ones cost more than original MSRP
I've been fishing the "Thrasher Whip" and selling a few. It's about as close as you can get to the Ugly Stik, without the weight. Uses the Howald process but its a composite and it is not heavy. I built mine full length at 13'4" but the designer of the blank told me he cuts his down (from the butt) to 11' and it fishes great. It's become my 1# pompano catcher.
Very soft tip. Made in USA!
https://thrasherblanks.com/shop/ols/products/the-whip-11
Quote from: farmer56 on March 01, 2022, 12:00:48 AM
farmer56 here ... well i have to report on the rod . i was not used to a 10' rod .. you do not side cast!!!!!! lucky the anglers to the side of me just sat back ,and for my benefit did not break out laughing, the learning curve was sharp but i swallowed my pride and kept casting ... the rod is right for me because the rod bends-flexes to help my poor casting style ..... i would not call the rod one bit whippy
but had just a nice arc flex throwing a 3 oz piramid weight ... i caught one pompeno "spelling" at gulf shore alabama ... it was small but my wife and i did not see anything else caught ... so moral of story crappy casting can work .... farmer56 out dennis
Good report. I'm always looking for the 'C" bend slower action blanks that are easy to cast!
great point oc1 ,,,, but living in the middle of nothing there are no rod shops stocking them... also this would be just another long list of questionable buys ... experience is a cruel swear word ... sooo why not add to the list !!!!! Jeri was a big help .... Breadfan your thrasher sounds like my style also ... after seeing multiple rods with each angler i will have to buy more ... will be talking to you latter for more specs. thanks again for all the advice and support farmer dennis out
breadfan question can you get the whip in two piece ....
Yes, I'm pretty sure it only comes in 2 pc. Thrasher was at the show in N.C. over the weekend and I picked up 3 more of them. They are a 50/50 split. the website is a little lacking in details, if you need more, I can measure one of them for butt diameter and weigh it.
Breadfan ... let me get thru the next two weeks ... i will look at the rest of the surf casters and talk to them .. possibly one would let me cast once ... the rod i have says 1 to 4 oz. ... been throwing 3 oz. bought 2 oz and 4 oz also will try all weights ... 3 oz. was no strain on rod i know it can handle more .... i need to quiz rest of the anglers about rod oz. ratings , one to know the max. oz. they ever needed here . two will a high oz. rated rod not cast 2 oz. well , three will you not be able to detect bites .. the steath rod i have gave a nice indication that i hooked a fish .. rod was siting in a sand spike . the tip just bent nice , fish on ........ thanks again ex-farmer dennis
I select a rod whose maximum lure weight is the lure weight I intend to use. If you go by the minimum lure weight the rod will feel like it is not loading and unoading.
well just got back from beach again , was using the brand fishbites saltwater sand flea bait . seemed very tough to get on hook , but when i reeled in one of the two hooks was bare . i did not see any action on rod tip , now i will admit there are other distractions to look at that walk by on the beach , but am i using too heavy of pyramid weight .... was using a 2 oz. today very little tide waves ... would frozen shrimp be better for pompano , live bait not an option this trip ... the rod calls for 1-4 oz. .. 3 oz. casted well 2 oz. casted well ..... so do pompano act like in minnesota small , as we say pesky perch, rob bait but cant set hook .... love the rod now , and fred would love this i'm using one of his dam 331 reels .... ok i'm beginning to ramble but i love this surf casting stuff ,, ex-farmer out ....
Shrimp would be much better. Also blood worms if you can find them. Look into mole crabs, They aree thought to be the best pompano bait. There might be some right there under your feet but you need the wire basket thing to catch them.
For pompano, We use sand fleas (mole crabs) clams, and crab knuckles cut from live blue crab. Fish bites are Ok but I have never had great success with them. I see all sorts of reports where they catch fish but I also think its a lot of hype. However, a little tiny piece on the hook along with your "real" bait is good, you normally have something on the hook since the Fish Bites or Fish Gum is hard to remove. As far as weight, that should not matter how heavy it is. I use a double dropper loop rig with a Sputnik weight (or spider weight) at the very end of the rig. It anchors it to the sea floor and keeps your bait above the sea floor and it also keeps your lines taught, when you get a bite, you know it. It also aids in setting the hook, circle hooks are perfect in this setup. In the gulf Sputniks are not used as much because there isn't as much current as say, the Atlantic, but I would use them anyways. I want my rig anchored to the bottom so I know exactly what is going on. Also keeping your rigs in place keeps you from getting tangled with other peoples lines and your own if you fish multiple rods like I do. I fish anywhere from two to four rods set in 5ft PVC rod holders. But some do prefer the pyramid sinker, it rolls around a little bit and some think it works better, to each his own. In the Atlantic, a Sputnik is almost a must. I can't tell you how many times someones line has tangled me up from using a pyramid sinker.
Farmer, if you're fishing spikes, put some size 4 or 6 circle light mutu circle hooks from Owner or Gami on your rig. I like the two hook rig as Bread states. If you can't get sand fleas (mole crabs), try people shrimp. I try to not use bait i wouldnt eat. Frozen MIGHT work but gets mushy quickly. Leave shell on (no one ever shelled a shrimp for a fish to eat in it's natural habitat), and use a piece about the size of your nail pinned through both sides on the hook (so the hook penetrates all the way thru the bait). Especially if you are using braid, this rig catches little bites you'd otherwise didnt know happened in a spike.
hey guys thanks for all the great tips... fished the big pier today .. Randy would be happy .. i was using a penn 1/0 in a narrowed tiburon frame he made possible and someone on the pier new what i had ... will get back to you guys about the ongoing struggles of the green farm-boy attempting to play surf casting expert ... i'm not quit to the novice stage yet ... thanks again ex-farmer out
Dennis, you should look into the possibility of putting static magnets in that reel. Magnets take all the hard-earned skill out of casting and you become an expert overnight.
farmer56 here .... side track on the gulf ... just ate a pound of royal reds ,, a first for me why do i live sooo far from a coast ,, fresh sea food is fantastic ... i thought since i started this post i could side track ... but after my gut settles back to the stealth rod reviewing ,,, slash americas home video contestant ... ex-farmer soon to be surf casting who knows what ????? the saga continues dennis out
Perfect! keep the reports coming brother! pics!!!!!!
Quote from: farmer56 on March 04, 2022, 02:03:36 AMhey guys thanks for all the great tips... fished the big pier today .. Randy would be happy .. i was using a penn 1/0 in a narrowed tiburon frame he made possible and someone on the pier new what i had ... will get back to you guys about the ongoing struggles of the green farm-boy attempting to play surf casting expert ... i'm not quit to the novice stage yet ... thanks again ex-farmer out
A couple of things to perhaps consider. Firstly, a lighter and smaller more modern reel might have a lot of benefits to casting with a modern rod like a Stealth, something like a Penn Fahom with magnetic cast control already fitted. This would allow you more fishing time, than sorting crow's nests, and as ability in casting progresses, you can dial out the magnetic control.
Another factor might be to find a clear piece of ground inland, and have time just practicing your casting against markers in the field, then you can actually hone up the skills before wetting a line. This is something a lot of our inland clients do before arriving for their 2 week surf fishing holidays, as they then don't waste time remembering how to cast.
A last element to your development in surf casting - a saying which helps a lot: "Nice and smooth, to let it cruise."
Jeri i may have not been clear . i'm using one of Fred Oaks D A M 331 quick spinning reels on the century steath rod ... thanks for steering me right .. my pier rod is a 7' lamiglas 1/2 -1 1/2 oz. northern/musky baitcasting rod with a 1/0 senator with the XN tiburon kit from Randy vinntage tackle ...only dropping bait strait down 50' above the gulf ... whiting and pompano target fish . gulf is only 60 degrees now locals want 67-68 degrees .. locals have said slowest action in years ... will send pics. end of month when i go see son ...
Quote from: farmer56 on March 05, 2022, 11:31:21 PMJeri i may have not been clear . i'm using one of Fred Oaks D A M 331 quick spinning reels on the century steath rod ... thanks for steering me right .. my pier rod is a 7' lamiglas 1/2 -1 1/2 oz. northern/musky baitcasting rod with a 1/0 senator with the XN tiburon kit from Randy vinntage tackle ...only dropping bait strait down 50' above the gulf ... whiting and pompano target fish . gulf is only 60 degrees now locals want 67-68 degrees .. locals have said slowest action in years ... will send pics. end of month when i go see son ...
Thanks for the clarification. Though perhaps again a more modern reel might improve your performance with the Stealth - as a Penn Spinfisher LC, which is specifically designed for surf casting with the taller spool, and reduced lip friction on the spool during the cast, which can be a truly distance robbing aspect.
We are seeing a lot of diverse weather patterns around the world this past 6-12 months, in southern Africa, we have been having drought for the past 3 years, now this year really excessive rains inland, and the Zambezi river is 7m above normal levels - that's about 23-24 feet in old money. Madagascar has been hit by 5 big cyclones in about 6 weeks, and one big enough to carry on across to Mozambique and Zambia causing huge flooding. Australia currently experiencing huge rains and floods. Big storms in the north Atlantic hitting the UK - 3 in one week. All pretty much as a result of La Nina systems in the Pacific, which are this year not confined to the Pacific Ocean.
Our waters in southern Atlantic have been super warm this past two months, with loads of species normally associated with the warmer waters in the north, and a lot of our traditional cool water species have disappeared beyond casting range from the shore, to be replaced by these northern interlopers. Not really complaining as we are now getting Bluefish and Leerfish, which is a nice change. The Bluefish are causing problems for the locals as they are just getting strikes on the bait, then nothing- reeling in and finding no hook!!!
dear breadfan. Oc1, Jeri ,Thorhammer, by the end of march , "i will be back home ,,, "schooled with all the knowlege" from the locals here . next year back at gulf shores al. i will have 2nd. rod only for surf,,so i will start new thread on what i think i kneed but more important listen to the exsp. you guys have in the real world also ... i have my pier rods down .basicly 50 ft. down to water. so casting is out unless you want to tangle everybody down wind ... i have enjoyed the interest you all showed in my journey to not quit novice , wanting expert surf caster .... dennis