Ark Sniper or Abu Garcia Villian 2.0?

[DanG]

I am shopping for a new spinning outfit to be used mostly with medium sized swimbaits and blade baits with braid mainline and flouro leader for smallmouth.  It will get some worm and spinnerbait use as weel for largemouth. Lures primarily in the 1/2 oz range.  Have read what reviews I can find and have narrowed it down to the 2 rods named in title .  I am not able to locate either road locally so will be buying online.  Does anyone have experience with both?  Any recommendations between the 2 (with some explanations) would be most welcome.

[hwright38]

I don't have an Ark, but I can say the Villain 2.0 is hands down my favorite rod. The thing is a beast. Super sensitive but still very strong (I've beat mine to hell and back). For a general do-everything rod, I honestly don't think there is a rod under $400 that's better than the Villain. 

[kstephes033]

For the techniques you explained and the weights of them I would highly recommend going to a casting rod and not spinning. Spinning will lack in a lot of areas for those size baits, and you will be much more accurate with casting gear as well. You will get better hooksets, more accurate casts, better line management, better gearing for those techniques, more power with the reel and rod not being overloaded, etc... I can’t comment on either when it comes to spinning gear, have had or have both in casting and both are nice rods, light, well balanced, comfortable. Spinning wise if you are stuck on it I personally would get the ark strictly because of the handle, much more comfortable for me to have the full grip with the way I hold spinning gear. But again I would recommend casting gear, either of the rods in the 7’3” MH versions with something like a Daiwa Fuego, Tatula, Shimano Curado k, SLX, or whatever in a good all around 7.*:1 ratio would work for all the mentioned techniques. 

[new2BC4bass]

On 1/17/2019 at 2:40 AM, hwright38 said:

I don't have an Ark, but I can say the Villain 2.0 is hands down my favorite rod. The thing is a beast. Super sensitive but still very strong (I've beat mine to hell and back). For a general do-everything rod, I honestly don't think there is a rod under $400 that's better than the Villain. 

That is quite a recommendation.  Personally I would love to be able to try both in a Medium power rod.

[Dreveal]

I have an Ark ML spinning rod that has quickly become one of my favorites. I use mine for fishing weightless plastics, ned rig and fluke type baits for smallmouth. It is light and has a very fast tip. When I was looking for a new rod, I emailed the company a couple of times to ask questions and they were very quick to respond. This rod compares well to my Avid's and it is one that I like better than the Loomis E6X that I have.