Marryat Tactical Pro #5/6 fly rod review

The Tactical Pro 9' #5/6 has an anodised aluminium up locking reel seat, AAA cork reverse half wells grip and is built on a matt black blank, with Fuji SIC and REC Recoil TM titanium/nickel guides. Black whipping with a turn of red thread and white alignment dots pick out the joints and make for a no nonsense, professional finish.
The rod is light and responsive with a fast recovery but a smooth progressive action that allows for nice loops at low speed and elegant presentation casts. When a long line is aerialised the rod bends into the butt and delivers distance with ease.
It's non reflective finish and progressive action is perfect for rivers and stillwaters delivering a fly with delicate precision at close range and having enough grunt to effortlessly cast a whole flyline (if that's your thing).
I have only two negative points: 1) The grip is a little too thick for my liking, but 30 minutes with a fine sandpaper sorted that out. 2) The rod tube is square with a zipped flap, square tubes are more easily crushed and the zipped flap offers little protection at the end. For a rod of this price I'd expect a better tube to protect it. These are small niggles and it certainly wouldn't stop me from recommending this rod, it's really very good.
Retail price at time of writing £500
Available from www.flytyingcompany.co.uk​