Review : Marryat Tactical 10' #4

Measurements :

The Common Cents System protocol was used to characterize the action, the power and the frequency of this rod :

Regarding the power, 41 cents were required to load the rod over a third of its total length, which gives after conversion an ERN of 5.05 and a #4/5 line power, just a little more than expected. With an AA of 72°, the action is fast (AA> 66 °) and remains in the middle part of this range. The frequency at 75 is typical for a 10' lenght and pledge of versatility. Anglers can use a #4 line or a #5 line, depending on their casting style and fishing conditions (wind, slyness of the trouts...), as usual. With its 1.06in maximum thickness, the handle will even suit those with large hands. The first guide is located at a distance of 24.4" from the handle, so it requires to add a removable guide to nymph effectively. This rod offers very comfortable 10' fishing, the total weight of the balanced set (BTW) is only 9.35oz : the balance is therefore better than on most rods of this length and power on the market. 

The opinion of Allan Liddle, contributor to Fly Fishing and Fly Tying magazine, member of the Partridge of Redditch Pro Fly Tying Team, Marryat Rods Pro-Team and former Scottish International Fly Fishing Team member :

"Having been fortunate enough to have fished with both of these rods pretty exclusively for the past couple of years I feel I am pretty well placed to offer a balanced a detailed review on both from the anglers perspective, more than just from a short casting test review and happy to report they are both excellent and enjoyable fishing tools.

By way of short introduction, my name is Allan Liddle and I live / fish throughout Scotland searching out all fish but specialising on wild brown trout in wild places on both running water and still from the biggest of our rivers and lochs (lakes) to the smallest streams and tiny pools often in the wildest of locations.

With this in mind, I like to use equipment that suits these locations as well as the ever changing weather conditions including the wind and the rain that Scotland is so famous for, and in doing so I also like to fish a whole range of different styles and techniques. First thing I would like to note however, is the fact Marryat Rods all come in a square case and are four piece making transport and storage very easy indeed.

On running water I tend to fish mostly upstream and alternate between dries and nymphs using ‘Klink n Dink’ or straight Euro / Czech nymph styles which the 10’ #4 lends itself perfectly to.

With a deep ‘softer’ action on the rod the Marryat Tactical allows you to fish light tippet and small flies but is equally comfortable should you require to throw something a little larger. The progressive casting action of the rod is perfect for fishing close to medium range and ‘forgiving’ enough to help counteract the runs, jumps and surges you get when fighting these wild fish. It is also strong enough to cope when these trout reach good size with some Scottish waters often producing trout in the 1 to 2 kilo (2lb to 4lb) range. That said with the average more 0.25 to 0.5 kilo the rod is more than responsive enough to ensure the fight these fish offer isn’t lost by the rod being too heavy or over-rated for this style of light angling.

The 10’ length is perfect for dries but equally perfect for nymph fishing and I love the added bonus of only having to carry one rod into the wilderness as I wander my way upstream from pool and run to pool and run with only the requirement to change leader and flies to switch between styles. This means I can approach my fishing with minimal of equipment making the approach much more flexible and allows me to be more responsive to the ever-changing fishing situations I find myself in making this particular rod my go-to choice for running water situations.

Switching over to the Marryat Tactical 10’ #5 at first glance there might not seem all that much of a difference, length the same, action very similar, appearance almost identical, however through use I have found some subtle differences that can make a large difference when out fishing.

Whilst the #4 is very good short to mid range, it can be compromised when faced with stronger winds and heavier water flows meaning that the #5 is the better option if you require a bit more distance, or weight. It can take over-lining with a #6 line much better offering you the opportunity to fish this way should it be required to punch hard into the strongest of gales. That said I find it just as easy to add a single or double haul into the cast with the more balanced #5 line and in doing so this rod has that little more ‘back-bone’ to handle such scenarios.

But it’s still progressive and a deep enough blank action to fish the way I use the #4 but you need to be mindful that you are fishing heavier so more care required on tippet strength and hook setting.

Where I feel the #5 also comes to the fore is when I use it on still water situations, often with dries searching out free rising wild fish, again light enough to get the best out of the general average smaller trout size without compromising too much when faced with bigger and better trout.

The 10’ length allows you to fish ‘Short Line’ (dibbling the fly) techniques easily and handles ‘teams’ of two or three flies with ease making this my general go-to rod for my wild Scottish Loch (lake) fishing. Equally as effective from the bank as well as from the boat, performs best with floating lines or light intermediate, becomes a little laboured if you need to fish deep fast sinking tactics and large heavy flies.

For me both rods are very good, offer a perfect solution for my style of fishing (lighter on or in the surface wild trout) and both light enough in themselves to fish this way all day without compromise (rods becoming too heavy to handle as you get tired). Despite having been around for a while, both are still very good rods and both still very enjoyable to fish."