Daiwa Ardito-TR Travel Casting Rods

[rtwvumtneer6]

I've been thinking about buying a travel rod to keep in my vehicle, or for times when I fly and can't take a Bazuka.  

 

I've found some real cheap-o's and some that are very high end, then I discovered the Daiwa Ardito...

 

Curious what $130 gets you in a travel rod?

[JS8588]

I own 3 of em. Quite a bit.

[rtwvumtneer6]

3 minutes ago, JS8588 said:

I own 3 of em. Quite a bit.

That's encouraging.  Can you be any more specific?

 

Suppose my biggest concern is the build.  Durability of guides and connection points.  

 

What rods are you comparing it to?  

[king fisher]

I highly recommend them.  I own four of them.  I fish them side by side with my Tatula's and don't notice any difference in sensitivity, casting distance, or strength.  I have owned my medium power one, for five years now.  I have used it for numerous techniques in both salt and fresh water.  I have landed double digit bass, and many saltwater species up to 50 lbs on it.  I do think the medium is more like medium heavy, and the medium heavy closer to heavy than medium.  Many bass fisherman tend to believe multi piece rods are more fragile.  Salmon anglers fish heavy weights, in strong current and land large fish

with no problems on multi piece rods. 

[Diggy]

I have the 7'6" casting rod and I can't really complain. Aesthetics are nice, sensitivity is good and the travel case is solid. It fishes like a one piece to me. 

[JS8588]

18 hours ago, rtwvumtneer6 said:

That's encouraging.  Can you be any more specific?

 

Suppose my biggest concern is the build.  Durability of guides and connection points.  

 

What rods are you comparing it to?  

 

I exclusively fish 2 & 3 piece rods. For most of last season, the 7'6 ML XF Ardito was my primary rod. I also used a TFO 7' ML Traveler & towards the end of the Summer/Early Fall, an Orochi XXX Slend Light 2 piece. The Ardito & Orochi were about equal in sensitivity with the Traveler being somewhat behind, probably due to having more "paint" on the blank vs the clear coat finish over the Ardito & (most of) the Orochi's unsanded blank. I'm fairly confident the Orochi, the Ardito, & Phenix Redeye rods are all made in the same (Chinese) factory because the blanks look (and from my experience, fish) identical. 

 

The Orochi XXX definitely is the highest end rod with Fuji K guides & a nice, even somewhat stylish, reel seat. The TFO Traveler is next in the fit & finish department with the Ardito coming in last. The guides are simple Fuji Aluminum Oxide affairs & the reel seat gives you the impression something might come unglued* with enough time & use. That said, it is the least expensive and I didn't experience any issue with it after dozens of trout, crappie, bluegill, & bass. It even held together after a fall off the dock that trashed/bent the Penn Clash II 2000 I had paired it with all season.

 

*The casting rods have a much sturdier feeling reel seat than do the spinners. I have a 7'6 MH Casting Rod iteration of the Ardito but I've only fished it once thus far. Agree with the above comment that it's more of a Heavy than Medium-Heavy.

 

I did manage to twist the stripper guide out of place when taking the rod apart some time at the end of August. I did notice the guide wrap was a little loose when I first received the Ardito in March & absent-mindedly using it as a leverage point for takedown was for sure MY mistake. That said, I decided to send the rod to Daiwa & see what, if anything, they could do for me as part of the 5-year Warranty. I was fully prepared to pay for repair/replacement.

 

Let me say, Daiwa responded to every email through the process. I've heard CS nightmare stories about them before, but that was not reflected in my experience.

 

They told me they wouldn't be able to repair it to factory standards and would send me a replacement (at no charge) as soon as one became available. I received a brand new rod the first week of October.

 

Hope that helps.

[rtwvumtneer6]

@JS8588 

Yes it does.  Appreciate it!