Posted on the myfishcasting forum 20/10/06.

I have in my possession 2 X Century C3’s
both are 13 feet long but one is “LD” version or “Low Diameter”

They are very distinctive, look very functional and i can’t wait to cast them.

In fairness, i knew they had been designed with “real world application” in mind, but on first inspection they have surpassed my expectations.

They are not “overcosmetic” and in fact, they are quite simple but still classy in their appearance.
You’ve probably seen the images on the Century site of the C3, but i promise to get some better ones, along with an intense session of video on both rods.

The LD looks really good, and is rated to 200g (buffy) Cool
You never can tell, as some of these sticks can kick the old girl a long, long way. The rod is designed to produce a full “C” curve in the compression and you can be sure we’ll soon find out if it does.

Both rods arrived in perfect condition, in those superb bags provided by Century and both rods are supplied with full carbon reducers in the corresponding diameters.

BNHG rings throughout, silver/blue carbon metal themed butt cosmetic, but with simple, effective and functional plain black whipping on the guides. The tip section has a hand sized grip section for disassembly with wet hands, or for extra purchase when the sections get hot during the summer months.

Both look like real fishing rods, but they are screaming…
spank me !!
so, in the good old tradition….

spank them we shall…….

tried the LD at 13 foot yesterday. 1 minor problem detected was a slightly misaligned ring. out of sync by maybe 0.7mm, but you could see it. The larger diameter blank is un affected, so i’m assuming its just a minor mistake which crept in.

conditions were…

wet, windy, and relatively low pressure, but….

buffy: 215 meters, thats 200g to you non slayer watchers.
175g: 227 meters
150g: 231 meters

And, the rod is a fishing rod, not a tournament blank. I must emphasize that.
The rod BENDS, its like simon has sent this rod knowing we’ve been talking about this stuff, and of course i’ve been talking in depth with Terry Carrol of Zziplex about the same things.

No kidding, this rod is a breeze to cast, yes it BENDS, but if you cast with a really relaxed style, it loads, loads, loads some more and fires the sinker around you like a cannon. But, the one thing i must say i noticed is the fact that the rod was extremely quiet. If you cast, normally there is some noise, but this rod was launching sinkers 250 yards like you’d cracked off Confused It took some getting used too, and i found myself looking at the reel to make sure i was still connected. 1 crack off (my fault) sent a 175g sinker 340 meters away !!!

I can’t wait to try the C3 standard diameter now, and should get to do exactly that this week.

All the above casts were X or flat pendulum, and in further tests we’ll try OTG and high stick. I’m not too sure what to expect from this rod anymore, but people have said to me, those Century rods are too heavy, too stiff, too expensive, overconstructed, over cosmetic…

Let me tell you..

This rod is as good as any i have EVER cast, and doesn’t even feel like any Century rod i’ve cast. Its softer than a synchro, but its not. Its like a 3500 yet it casts further (for me). Its got a stiffer tip than a 3500/4500 yet its got a butt which BENDS. Its FEEL right through. I love it, i really do.
Its honestly like a Zziplex. In fact, if i’d have been blind testing, i would have NEVER said it was a Century.

I think, with this rod, you have it all.
I’ve spouted on about power, length, tip speed, weight, recovery, etc, etc and this rod has an abundance of feel to add to the light weight, low diameter, awesome locked away power reserves, and much more which i’m sure to find in time.

It is NOT a tournament stick, its not billed as one, but i reckon many of us might benefit from a swing to a rod like this cause its obviously not shy of being spanked on the field of battle.

I’m going to fish with this rod, and without sounding like i’ve been paid a million bucks for this review, it could well become my main rod for fishing if its anywhere near as good as i think it will be.

A question relating to the thread was asked by Italian forum member Pugnax…

Looks like CMExpress style; tapered, “soft”, bendy but cast well, am I wrong?

it would be really easy for me to say yes, and you would assume that, but it really breaks the mould does this one.
It does bend into a “C” and as such follows all the rules of letting the caster win at the finish no matter what his ability. I firmly believe this rod would give distance to the average beach angler as long as they let the rod do the work.

It gets effectively shorter as it loads, and yes it bends, but is soft a term i’d use ?

Probably not, and when you are just holding this rod, it actually feels like its going to be stiff, which its not. It is a moderately powerful blank which bends, stores its power well without pushing the caster around.

Cosmetically, its similar to the carbon metal design and the taper looks similar, but there we deviate.
The rod is more like a longbow. You really should try one.

If this is where rods are going, we’ll be better for it and if i was Simon Chilcott, i’d have a smile on my face right now because this rod is a winner.

I also know from my chats with TC that he believes rods are now way too much for the caster both on and off the field. This may be something that is starting to dawn on the trade and its about time in my view.
Yes, we’ll still need the fast actioned sticks and the long powerful firm tipped rods for OTG and some of the other styles, but you have to ask yourself, why 15 years ago, casters where hitting distances better than we are hitting today on tackle that was heavier, shorter and with lines much thicker in diameter. I’m not talking about the top 5, i’m talking about the average guy at club level.
Most reach 200M and stand still. WHY ?

I think as these rods that bend filter through to some of the better casters, those questions will be answered. Remember, Danny CAN bend his TT-R.
Is that one of the biggest factors in his success. You bet. That, and the determination to succeed, along with raw power probably have an aweful lot to do with it. Yet Danny had a big part in designing these C3’s.
What does that tell you ?

It tells you that he too knows, that if it don’t bend, it don’t go.

UPDATE:

retail is ?229 per each model.
Thanks Simon.

I managed to get a few stills and a few shots that show the “C” curve, which i feel really works on the LD but isn’t so definitive on the standard model.

There is a difference in action and apparent stiffness between the two models, and just as i’ve said the C3LD captures alot of the feel associated with a Zziplex, the Standard C3 stays firmly in the Century mould.

The C3 Standard Version

The standard version is very good, and it does create a “C” curve, but nowhere near as pronounced as the LD.

The C3 Standard Version + reducer 200g 214 meters.

The best cast of the day fell to the LD on the 175g. It really was awkward conditions. That cast went 217 meters.

The C3 LD “low diameter”, showing the beautiful “C” curve. distance over 230 yards and it was easy.

Like is said, the LD looks like a mere baby compared to its bigger brother which has more low end power, a wider diameter butt but certainly isn’t overshadowed by it.

The LD delivering “buffy” to the horizon. Sweet !

The build quality of both rods is superb, they are both considerably lighter in weight for the available power than most pre C3 Century rods i have cast. The standard model is quite stiff in the hand when not under compression and i feel it casts slightly better off the reducer. The bigger weights on this blank require that you take a good wide stance and have solid footing to take on the power which….
Is delivered in droves as you make the turn. For a lightweight rod thats a fishing rod this takes some getting used to. I’m certain that given time this rod could outgun anyone if they wern’t aware. It is powerful. Very powerful.
Where the LD allows the turn and rotation to work in the favour of the caster, the Standard requires a little more care. But, it does cast extremely well, and sent a 200g sinker 214 meters today.

The tips of both rods are quite firm and both are firmer than the Zziplex Primo Syncro, yet they are still quite sensitive and help to send the power through the rod and will probably hold their own on a good solid OTG cast.
This is something we’ll discover later when the rods hit the beach.

The tips are white reflective and the Standard version has a longer reflective area.

The joints are perfect !
The grip material just above each spigot joint will prove to be VERY functional, and i really like this feature.

Both rods are jointed perfectly. The grippy material above the spigot is tidy, and just in the right place to help wet hands or sticking joints in hot weather.

Ok, there will be much more, and yes Crab:, i’ll do some weights for you.
The fact is, i have to write what i feel, and now we come down to it….

Whilst i like the C3 standard, it doesn’t deviate enough from the CME mould to make another rod purchase essential. However, if you are buying a first rod and you need low down power, and the ability to pull through some medium heavy/mixed ground then look no further.

If you want a medium ground to sandy beaches stick that casts effortlessly, protects the caster and is an absolute pleasure to hold, cast, look at and isn’t hard on the wallet, then BUY a C3LD.

If i could give these rods marks out of 10…

C3 standard 9/10
C3 LD 11/10

Honestly, these are great rods, but the LD is really special in my opinion.