Sensitivity: Sensitivity for this stick is slightly above average for what I'd expect at this price point. Kind of a welcome surprise really. As you know, fishing that Ned Rig is a slow process, and there were times when I got caught weeds. Thanks to the IVP76MLXS, I could easily sense when this was the case and knew when to bring it all in to clear out the mess before casting back out to work the bottom searching for that subtle "tick" of a bite.

Fig 1 : The chart above illustrates the deflection characteristics of our ARK Rods Invoker Pro IVP76MLXS against the historical averages of similarly powered rods we've tested over the past twenty years

Power: ARK Rods lists the IVP76MLXS as a "medium-lite" power stick and back in the lab, it charted almost identically to our historical averages of other finesse style rods. In fact, aside from overall weight, this stick tested out very similarly to a two power G.Loomis stick, our former baseline rod, the DSR 822S NRX. Out on the water, the IVP76MLXS sets up very nicely on hookset and that extra length really comes in handy when those crazy fish try to get under the boat! Power and leverage with this stick is very good.

ARK labels the IVP76MLXS as an extra-fast taper rod

Design & Ergonomics: 7'-6" is becoming common place amongst casting rods but is still relatively new for spinning - in the realm of bass fishing anyway. The IVP76MLXS is light in hand and easily balances with just about any spinning reel especially given the fact typical hand placement when holding a spinning combo is at the front edge of the reel seat. This puts the weight of the spinning reel behind your hand and on the opposite side of the rod's tip. This is so much more impactful than trying to balance a casting rod where the reel's weight is applied right where you're holding the combo - like standing at the middle of a see-saw.

A decorative winding check caps off the handle assembly

That animal print wrap around the blank though superfluous really adds to the character of the stick and gives it a kind of higher end feel. Grip material is very minimal, as it should be on a spinning rod, and ARK does a good job of adorning the stick with just enough red thread wraps, winding checks, and graphics highlighting points of interest.

Open ended hook keeper convenient for drop shot weights and Texas rigged plastics

Price & Applications: ARK Rods elevates their Invoker lineup to "Pro" status while keeping its price point the same. Each rod in the series, including the IVP76MLXS, retails for just $149.95. This stick makes a wonderful tool for light line, finesse applications from drop shot, to dragging a split shot across the bottom (like a finesse Carolina rig), and more.

ARK Rods continues to surprise me with the value they're able to provide at this price point

Conclusion: It continues to surprise me how ARK Rods can provide so much value at a price point like this. I guess by sticking with proprietary (i.e. generic) components, manufacturing costs can be kept down which they in return pass on to the customer. Adding their now signature, unsanded, wrapped look to the blank ARK delivers a "pro" style look to their refreshed lineup and would be a solid performer at almost any price point, but at $149.95 it is definitely worth a cast.

Looking for a ARK Rods Invoker Pro IVP76MLXS?

Try TackleWarehouse