Century Carbon Metal Express

[Phil the Float]

There have been 2 versions of this rod out so far.

The first version had coasters and the second version will have a moveable reel seat. This review is for the first version.

First of all you will notice that the shrink tube used for the handle will give you a much better grip than the standard stuff. It feels like suede (SP??) but it isnt. with wet hands you can grip the butt much better.

The rod is 13' 9" long, 3" longer than the normal carbon metal. The tip is that little bit stiffer. You can cast with reel down or reel up, I prefer the reel down position myself with the reel strapped in by the coasters about 4" to 6" from the butt.

The casting range is about standard for this type of rod at 100g to 200g. It also has a reflective tip which the old Metal didnt but these new CME's and the new CM now has.

The bite indication is first class, all I have caught with it so far are doggies and whiting, small whiting, as usual, rattle the tip. The tip stays fairly straight even in a wind, it is a bit expensive with the cheapest I have seen so far is just a gnats do-daah under £250.

My overall impression is brilliant, it does what it says on the tin but, it is not for everyone, some people might not be able to cast with.

As to casting styles, I normally use an aerialised off the ground cast, I can't do a pendulum YET but no doubt in the right hands it can achieve great distances!

[Old Smoothound]

Nice post Phil ... very informative ...obviously taken by the Century... brilliant rods i agree, but I have a Zipplex 4500, plus a load of other rods, so no more room at the Inn so to speak!

Plus have just emptied my piggy bank.

[Phil the Float]

Originally Posted by Old Smoothound

Nice post Phil ... very informative ...obviously taken by the Century... brilliant rods i agree, but I have a Zipplex 4500, plus a load of other rods, so no more room at the Inn so to speak!

Plus have just emptied my piggy bank.

Me too and I am thinking of getting a the normal CM as I forgot to add that the CME is regarded as rough(ish) ground rod. And yes I do like century.

I have owned a tip tornado UPTIDER -- loverly rod very light but powerful

Conoflex Nemesis -- stiff and heavy
Conoflex Nemesis SLR2002 -- Not as stiff and heavy as the original nemesis
Penn venom -- soft and forgiving

Rhose are just the beachcasters.

I own a quantum Crypton bass rod that is rated 2oz to 6oz and that is my general summer sea float fishing rod

Greys GRX spin 1/2oz to 1 1/2 oz, normak light pike spin, normak fly rod

2 penn 525 mags various fixed spool reels for my summer float fishing and spinning duties.

All I want now is more than 23hours in a day so that I can go fishing more often!

[Hooker]

Im thinking of a 4500 zippy smoothy if i get the money in the new year . . .
Whats it like eh?
The conoflexes i have now are quite light and i want something more heavy.
Have you seen what the zippy 50/50 is like???

[Old Smoothound]

Originally Posted by Phil the Float

Me too and I am thinking of getting a the normal CM as I forgot to add that the CME is regarded as rough(ish) ground rod. And yes I do like century.

I have owned a tip tornado UPTIDER -- loverly rod very light but powerful

Conoflex Nemesis -- stiff and heavy
Conoflex Nemesis SLR2002 -- Not as stiff and heavy as the original nemesis
Penn venom -- soft and forgiving

Rhose are just the beachcasters.

I own a quantum Crypton bass rod that is rated 2oz to 6oz and that is my general summer sea float fishing rod

Greys GRX spin 1/2oz to 1 1/2 oz, normak light pike spin, normak fly rod

2 penn 525 mags various fixed spool reels for my summer float fishing and spinning duties.

All I want now is more than 23hours in a day so that I can go fishing more often!

MMMMmmmm I thought I had a lot of rods Must list them in secret so her dosen't find it, cos she would be shocked!

[Phil the Float]

The only zippy that I have used is an old(ish) I think either 2500 or 3500, they remind me of the tip tornado, but only slightly stiffer but as light.

I may have said in another forum that it is best to stick to names that you know and trust.

[slimness]

i tend to leave the conoflex alone, as floaty will agree they tend to snap

[Hooker]

SNAP

Which one???

Iv never heard of them snapping at all, maybe the ones that snapped wernt looked after

[Phil the Float]

Originally Posted by Paul lingham

SNAP

Which one???

Iv never heard of them snapping at all, maybe the ones that snapped wernt looked after

What happened is that he cut the butt down to turn it into an uptider, he said to someone on Mumbles Pier, watch this one fly, snap CRACK at the join, he watched as the tip section was sliding down the line into the water. You mustn't laugh, well not much.

OK OK I know I dropped a rod over the side as well but I got it back

[slimness]

Originally Posted by Phil the Float

What happened is that he cut the butt down to turn it into an uptider, he said to someone on Mumbles Pier, watch this one fly, snap CRACK at the join, he watched as the tip section was sliding down the line into the water. You mustn't laugh, well not much.

OK OK I know I dropped a rod over the side as well but I got it back

who got it back