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Rod Review


 

Best Value Alert : Ark Rods Invoker IVK610MLXS

 

Date: 3/21/18
Tackle Type: Rod
Manufacturer: ARK Rods
Reviewer: Cal






Total Score: 8.67 - BEST VALUE AWARD

Introduction:
With each passing year at ICAST, we come across a new (or at least new to us) rod company or two that bares closer inspection. At ICAST 2017 this distinction went to ARK Rods out of Port St. Lucie, Florida. Established in 2016, ARK Rods already has a full suite of bass sticks with five (5) series in all ranging in price from $90 through $200. With actions and powers designed with input from BASS Elite Series Pro Randall Tharp, each series features contemporary styling with mainstream blanks and sensible, no-nonsense components. Today we take a look at a stick from the series that started it all for the company - introducing ARK Rod's Invoker IVK610MLXS spinning rod.

 


There's a new rod company in town.

 

ARK Rods Invoker IVK610MLXS Specifications

Material 40 Ton Toray Carbon Fiber
Length 6'-10"
Line Wt. 4-10lb
Lure Wt. 1/16 - 1/2oz
Pieces One
Guides 7+Tip (SS Frames/Zirc Inserts - Tangle Free Micro)
Rear Handle Length 8"
Power Rating Medium Light
Taper Xtra-Fast
Rod Weight 3.7oz
Origin Made in China
MSRP $149.99


Introducing Ark Rod's Invoker IVK610MLXS spinning rod.

Impressions: Ark Rod's Invoker IVK610MLXS is a six foot, ten inch (6'-10") spinning rod built on a blank rolled with 40-ton Toray Carbon Fiber and built out with generic guides featuring stainless steel, tangle free frames with zirconium inserts. The reel seats are graphite and resemble Fuji seats, but are also no-name brand like the guides. What ARK Rods is offering here is a purported high end blank built up with generic, no name brand components so they can offer the entire package for the mere price of $149.99.


This rod quickly paid off fishing Roboworm's new Ned Worm.

Real World Tests: Needless to say, I couldn't wait to get this stick on the water to see just how well that blank performed. I paired it with our recently acquired Quantum Smoke S3 25 Spinning reel spooled with 10lb Sunline Supernatural and included it several test trips we had planned to close out 2017.


The very attractive and comfortable reel seat.

Casting: The IVK610MLXS is rated with an extra-fast tip, so I was expecting a quick response on flick of the wrist type casts. I was not disappointed. The stick responds equally well to quick side arm and back hand casts as it does to low speed pitches to target. Strangely enough, I don't recall making many standard, over the head casts for distance, but any spinning rod worth its epoxy can handle those duties.


The reel seat lock nut is decorative and functional.

Sensitivity: Of course, where the epoxy meets the blank with any stick, but especially a stick built on a high end blank with generic components comes is sensitivity. I intentionally handicapped the IVK610MLXS by fishing it with nylon monofilament because I feel this is still the line of choice for the majority of fisher people out there and the ARK Rod's Invoker series is priced at a point that targets a large audience.


The top of the handle assembly is finished off nicely.

While I didn't feel like this stick performed up to the standard of high end sticks I've fished in the past, I can say its sensitivity is more than what I'd expect from a stick priced at $149.99. That's really what counts here.

Next: ARK Invoker Power

 

   

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