Ark Rods... Anyone Using Them?

[AmmoGuy]

Ran across Ark rods, and they look and spec very nice.

However there's little to no info about them here or elsewhere. 

 

Anyone using them, or have experience with them? 

[Tywithay]

TT reviewed a few of their models and they got high marks. I have an Invoker Pro spinning rod and it's crazy good for the price (I got mine during a TW sale, Memorial day is coming up). It feels more sensitive than my similar action IMX Pro, though some of that may be that it's more comfortable to fish because of the reel seat. My only beef is the grips are a little skinny, but the EVA is high quality. 

[swhit140]

I checked one of the Invoker Pro casting rod,  I didn't like the micro guides on the rod, so I returned it. 

[Tywithay]

24 minutes ago, swhit140 said:

I checked one of the Invoker Pro casting rod,  I didn't like the micro guides on the rod, so I returned it. 

The Tharp series uses the same blank as the Invoker, but with K series Fuji guides. Might be a better fit.

[AmmoGuy]

13 minutes ago, Tywithay said:

The Tharp series uses the same blank as the Invoker, but with K series Fuji guides. Might be a better fit.

The Tharp series is what caught my eye. Specifically the "Hammer" and the "Grinder". 

Sharp looking rod, and good selection of models.  

[new2BC4bass]

3 hours ago, AmmoGuy said:

The Tharp series is what caught my eye. Specifically the "Hammer" and the "Grinder". 

Sharp looking rod, and good selection of models.  

Rod diameters are larger than the norm.  I have a Money Maker and B-Hittay.  The B-Hittay...especially...has quite a large diameter.  Rod weights aren't bad.  The Money Maker runs about average.  The B-Hittay is a composite and so isn't a light rod at 7'4".  Actions look to be true to me.  Got out once with them about 2 months ago for a short time.  Can't really comment on sensitivity.  I almost always practice with a spinnerbait.

 

Guide size is small, but not the really small size.  Shouldn't have a problem if you use leaders on your braided lines.

 

Author of one review of this series prefers to fish jigs, yet his favorite (of about 6 that he tried) was the B-Hittay.  I am looking forward to getting out more with these rods...and a few others...sometime this year.

 

 

[Hower08]

I bought a lancer pro 7'6 heavy for punching I liked it enough I ordered an invoker pro for standard duty pitching and flipping. These rods fish well above there price point. I may even order a spinning rod to replace one of my Fenwick walleye rods which is sensitive enough you can feel a fish look at it i

[RichF]

I picked up 3 Snipers when TW had them on closeout.  I like them a lot.  Light, powerful, and sensitive enough.  I'll be picking up an Invoker Pro at some point.

[AmmoGuy]

Anyone have a “Hammer” from the Tharp series? It’s rated XF, but in the product video he says it’s one of the most versatile rods in his line. 

7 hours ago, Tywithay said:

My only beef is the grips are a little skinny, but the EVA is high quality. 

Ugh. That could be a deal breaker. I have gorilla hands. 

[AmmoGuy]

For the fun of it, I called them up to ask some questions. 
 

Fantastic customer service it seems. Talked to me for 20 minutes, offered a ton of info, even pulled some rods to measure specific dimensions for me. 
 

For anyone wondering, he noted that did the same ratings, the Tharp series tends to be just a hair softer than the invoker Pro. 

[Jig Man]

I have bought a lot of rods that they make.  Right now I have 4 in my boat.  They make a lot of rods for a lot of different rod companies.  They made Falcon before they took the boat to China.

[AmmoGuy]

31 minutes ago, Jig Man said:

I have bought a lot of rods that they make.  Right now I have 4 in my boat.  They make a lot of rods for a lot of different rod companies.  They made Falcon before they took the boat to China.

Any thoughts on any particular models? 

Do you have a 7' MH/XF or a 7'3" Mag MH/F? 

[Jig Man]

Most of the rods that I have bought from them have been unlabeled or are labeled with other brands.  I know the owners and get to go down every year and buy what I want.

[AmmoGuy]

3 minutes ago, Jig Man said:

Most of the rods that I have bought from them have been unlabeled or are labeled with other brands.  I know the owners and get to go down every year and buy what I want.

Gotcha. 

I might try one of the two I mentioned as an all purpose rod... but cant decide between them. 

[JustJames]

Depends on fishing technique, I don’t like ark rod (invoker) 7’1 M/XF for finesse fishing. The tip is not soft and quite heavy. The blank is 1/2” thick and the weight is on a heavy side. The reel seat is a good quality and actually the same as Majorcraft speedstyle. That rod would make a good senko/fat Ika rod, pretty sensitive and super fast tip. I sold it since I don’t fish anything heavy with spinning.

[AmmoGuy]

14 minutes ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

Depends on fishing technique, I don’t like ark rod (invoker) 7’1 M/XF for finesse fishing. The tip is not soft and quite heavy. The blank is 1/2” thick and the weight is on a heavy side. The reel seat is a good quality and actually the same as Majorcraft speedstyle. That rod would make a good senko/fat Ika rod, pretty sensitive and super fast tip. I sold it since I don’t fish anything heavy with spinning.

 

Thanks for that info. Is that the only one you have experience with? 

[JustJames]

Yes and I sold it after a few weeks. I didn’t say it is bad it just not fit my type of fishing. 

[AmmoGuy]

Update...

 

Just got in two Arks. 
Both Invoker Pros. One 7’ MH/XF and a 7’ MH/M Glass. 
 

First impressions... “meh”. 
The glass rod is like 3/4” wide in front of the reel seat, and because of that actually has a completely different reel seat than the other rod..which isn’t that big of a deal, just different. However, the blank is not straight. Looking down the rod, it has a visible curve about halfway down the blank. Going to call ark and see what they say, but it’s going back. 
 

The MH/XF seems ok. The action is about right. It’s a nice tip, that quickly gets into good backbone. 
It seems heavy weight wise though. Just going by feel, it weighs more than my Tatula and Carbonlite of similar ratings. 

The handle is OK, but not great for my hand. EVA feels high quality. 
For $100 I’d prob say it’s a good choice, for $150, I don’t know that I’m super impressed right now. 
 

Aesthetic wise, they look ok. Not as eye catching in person as they are online in my opinion.  

[AmmoGuy]

Well... Upon further inspection, both rods are a no-go. 
 

Ark told me the composite rod not being straight was just a characteristic of composite rods...??‍♂️?

 

But due to the other issues, they told me to send them back to Tackle Warehouse. They were quickly responsive, and said these issues are not common. 
 

Multiple chips on the guides, What looks like “bubbles” in both blanks, “glue” on the blank above and below the seat, and a few other fit and finish oddities...

 

Well. I gave them a shot. Looks like more Tatulas for me! 
 

[Hower08]

I've had no issues with the two ark rods I bought are very light and sensitive 

[AmmoGuy]

1 hour ago, Hower08 said:

I've had no issues with the two ark rods I bought are very light and sensitive 

Thanks for the input, I guess. 
 

The two I purchased both have multiple defects, aside from other aesthetic items like ferrules not centered on the blank, and labeling applied crooked. 
 

Every other rod with the Ark name on it might be amazing. That could very well be the case. ??‍♂️
 

Unfortunately, my small sample size of two has caused me to look elsewhere.