Sea Fishing and Sea Angling Online: Mick Ball Pro Build DB9/11 9'6" Fly Rod

Mick Ball Pro Build DB9/11 9'6" Fly Rod
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Mike Thrussell on 01 January, 2006 01:15:00
 
BUILD FORMAT
These 2-piece rods are  exclusively hand crafted by well known Doncaster custom
rod builder Mick Ball.  The test rod was rated for 9 to 11 weight lines making
it ideal for UK saltwater  fishing for bass and pollack, and I'd also bring it
in to play for long range  mackerel and scad. This line weight range is also
perfect for fishing the surf  line overseas for everything from surf perch to
barracuda, and off the boat for  permit, smaller tarpon, sharks, sailfish and
dorado.
Mick uses only top quality Seymo and Fuji fittings throughout. The butt has 
the option of two types of butt cap. There is a standard short screw in cork 
butt cap for normal fishing, but also a longer 5-inch screw in fighting handle 
to replace the short version when the rod is to be used for the bigger fast fish
 that can run deep.
The reel seat is a Fuji DPS graphite pattern below a full wells cork grip. 
There is also a cork fighting grip above the main handle for the angler to use 
for comfort and to apply more pressure when fish need to be worked up from down 
deep.
There are two stripping rings on the butt, these being a low profile frame 
type, and the tip is armed with eight wide chrome snake rings to maximise 
shooting ability. The rod is carbon black with beautifully finished aqua marine
 blue whipping thread tipped with silver.
PERFORMANCE
I tested the rod with a  9-weight line to start. The rod has a medium action,
the tip pulling over and  then tightening as the mid section power arrives.
Picking the line up off the  water, you'll feel the tip pull tight, then the
mid section takes over to  accelerate the line upwards and high. Two false
casts to extend the line, then  shoot. The tip turns over cleanly to propel the
line high and straight. Although  this isn't the lightest blank in the line
weight I've come across the  performance is excellent. After a few casts to get
used to the rod I was casting  and shooting the full 110-feet of line, though
the day was calm and still and  obviously working in my favour. There is
though, more than enough power in this  rod to get a good long line out in to a
head wind if you're fishing the surf  line for bass.
I then swapped to a 10-weight line, and this does obviously slow the rod  down,
but the power flow remains clean and decisive. An 11-weight line though  is, in
my opinion, one weight to many, but it will depend on the type of caster  you
are. I hit rods pretty hard, so the 9-weight suited me fine, and the  10-weight
was still comfortable, but if you're a fast powerful caster the  11-weight will
probably overwork the rod.
You will find that rods in this line weight category will begin to tire you 
after repeated casting for a couple of hours. The DB9/11 is though, comfortable
 to use for longish periods. Using just one false cast to extend the line before
 shooting and a slightly earlier powerful forward hit of the rod is enough to 
shoot almost all the line out in good conditions and minimises your expenditure
 of energy.
For fighting fish, the butt has plenty of backbone, and that long handle 
extension is an absolute dream. I found it also adds a touch more balance to
the  rod as well.
A rod I rate highly. It's well built, casts well in all conditions, and 
responds well to fighting big fish. It retails for £179.99, including the long
 fighting handle.
For more information contact:
Mick  Ball, Custom Rod Builder, 26 Marlborough Road, Townmoor, Doncaster, South
Yorks  DN2 5DF. Tel: 01302 738774.