Scott Centric 956-4

Reviews

1. Rated 5 out of 5

   Bartschi calls this his favorite big stick in the series, a casting monster that handles any fly line with grace and command. Somehow, it is just as sweet with an SBT or Big Nasty as with an Infinity Taper. With the latter, you can false cast 60-70 feet with dead flat loops before shooting 10-20 feet into the backing. With this type of progressive action, I would expect it to struggle with streamers and streamer fly lines such as the SBT. Somehow, it excels, casting the heavy head just as naturally as a Trout Taper or Rio Gold. Line mending and roll casting capabilities are in the 100th percentile. Also, I noticed that the Centric 956-4 generates similar line speed to the 854-4 and 905-4, the loops sizzling past my body as I swing the rod. It feels super powered, unearthly. In addition to sensational overhead casting ability, it’s great with a single Spey, which the Radian and other ultra fast rods just won’t do. What a fishing tool.

   John Duncan (Telluride Angler)

2. Rated 5 out of 5

   The first words that I wrote down were hammer driver. This rod means it. It drives the fly line like John Henry’s hammer drove spikes into rail. My favorite thing about this rod is its ability to throw a wider loop with high line speed. Sure, you can throw a tight loop, but this rod’s purpose requires it to deliver a complicated nymph rig at distance. The lower end of the rod is readily accessible and when you reach back for a long deep haul you can feel the middle and tip sections get behind the lower to smooth out the tremendous delivery this rod is capable of. The Infinity taper is superb on this rod. With an Elite Gold the feeling of slow motion line control out of the tip is mesmerizing. I feel like I can hold a backcast with this rod for minutes before I initiate the forward cast. The amount of line control you have in the air is hard to beat. The Centric 956 is a more playful rod than the Radian and the reduction in overall weight and through the cast makes it a more well-rounded big trout rod than its predecessor.

   Richard Post (Telluride Angler)

3. Rated 5 out of 5

   This is quite the boom stick. It is very smooth, extremely powerful, and unbelievably accurate from short to long distances. It does not take much before the fly line soon becomes backing in your hauling hand. I really enjoyed this rod with the SA Amplitude Infinity taper. If you are wanting to dredge the bottom of the riverbed with heavy nymphs through a run that is not seemingly attainable to properly fish, this is the tool for the job.

   Jim Harris (Telluride Angler)

4. Rated 5 out of 5

   This is a very powerful fly rod. It really pushes the limits of trout fishing. It is a tool that one might reach for if they really need to bomb casts into the wind with heavy flies. Even though it is an ultra powerful stick, it still is a remarkably smooth casting rod with pretty good feel. This line really excels with a lot of line out. The 60’-90’ range is outstanding. The rod itself is very stout, but surprisingly not heavy and balances well with a bunch of modern fly reels. I was amazed at how well the rod threw a tight loop and how automatic it felt. I cast this rod with both the Rio Elite Technical Trout and the SA Amplitude Infinity. Of the two I personally prefer the Infinity, but the Gold is still a very sweet casting line on there.

   Parker Thompson (Telluride Angler)