MDbassin

d**n way to kill my inner scientist lol

I will say guys I got it set up so it works as advertised but i did some testing tonight. Same rod, same line same lure. I cast and after every cast I would back things off a little until I would get a little backlash then go back so all 3 reels are set up the same then I threw 5 casts and did the math. This wasn't completely scientific as I didnt have a measuring wheel or anything but I went off the IPT on each companies website and these were the results. CURADO DC - 31 IPT and 45 handle cranks is 1395 inches. TATULA SV 29.4 IPT and 50 handle cranks is 1470 inches. LEWS CUSTOM PRO 30 IPT and 50 handle cranks is 1500 inches. So the difference is in my testing anyway is only 6-8 ft and the DC is still the loser on this one. 6-8 ft isnt a big deal so it's not that bad but it's not what you keep seeing on youtube and everything of it out casting reels by 20 ft.... the K maybe but other non shimano reels no. So for this price point in shimano I'm sticking with my Chronarch MGL's

I was just wondering. The purpose is solely cosmetic I really like the green handle and drag star on the DC ( think my time on the Marines are to blame for me liking the OD green look) and all there is on the K is the cast control knob. Thought it would look pretty cool to have a black and od green reel

Shimano got back with me and was no help whatsoever. My email asked can I put the Curado DC handle and drag star on the Curado K. And there response was "those reels are different sizes the DC is 150 and the K is 200"..... well no dip sherlock I know that and that didnt answer my question at all Update: got another response and they said yes lol dont know what was up with the first email

I sent them an email they are just taking forever to get back so I figured I'd ask on here

Are some parts interchangeable. Like can I put a Curado DC handle and drag star on a curado K?

I'll have to give that one a look then

Is the Tatula SV a CT platform? So what's the point then.... they make this DC to be a set and forget no matter what change in lure weight you have the DC brakes are supposed to slow the spool down regardless. So using it as a conventional BC just mean I over paid for a Curado K with a fancy whine and less line cap

@jbsoonerfan I wanted to make sure i was setting the brakes up right cause apparently you dont use the brakes and spool tension knob on the DC reels like you do on a normal baitcaster. But from my experience you still have to treat it like a normal baitcaster which if you set a normal one up right it wont backlash in the first place. So basically its a baitcaster with a fancy sound lol

Fred Roumbanis uses there reels so that should tell you something..... dont buy them lol

I've tried and tried to love the Curado DC and I just cant. For that price I should of got another Chronarch. I follow the instructions to the T eve watch videos on how set them up and over run everytime even on setting 4. Sometimes even a full on backlash. I have to tighten it down way past what is described to get it to the point it wont overrun anymore but at that point I'm not getting the distance I should. I got the same distance on my curado k and even more distance on my lews custom pro. I feel like I paid for a K with less line capacity and a fancy whine sound. I cant believe I sold my Tatula SV's for this. I never had a problem with the SV daiwas and got the same distance. I just wish Daiwa reels werent so dang bulky and uncomfortable to hold. I'll be sticking with my Chronarchs and Lews..... I guess I need to pick up a K or 2 again now too.

Some specs on the rod I tested out first.... 7 ft 3 in Medium Heavy Fast action. Ark labels this as there "All Purpose Casting" rod. I was looking to see if I could find a rod company to take the place of my Dobyns. I have absolutely no problems with my Dobyns rods but I am always looking to see if there are better things in the price ranges that I pay for equipment and I was intrigued by the new Ark Reinforcers. So since I was looking to replace Dobyns with Ark I figured I'd test it next to a Dobyns.... Enter in my Dobyns Champion Extreme HP 744 7ft 4in Heavy fast action. Both rods are made in China. Ark is 46ton Graphite Dobyns is "proprietary high modulus toray graphite"... now let the comparing begin. In terms of fit and finish it's a tie both rods are flawless, no extra epoxy anywhere, everything is nice and tight they are what you expect when you pay for a rod in this price range ($330-$350). In terms of components.... overall I'm giving the nod to Dobyns on this one but let me explain. The ark does win in the Reel seat and handle department tho With AAAA grade cork compared to Dobyns AAA grade the Ark cork is smooth throughout no open or deep/wide sections of grain where as the Dobyns may have one here or there. The Ark cork feels more solid and like it will hold up longer. The Reel seat once again the Ark wins it has the Soft touch coating which to me feels like a thin coat of rubber like on a phone case its amazing and very comfortable the reel seat has a swell towards the back that fits the hand perfectly when when palming the reel and on top of that the trigger is smaller with no hangover past the pinky where as the Dobyns has just tur generic Fuji reel seat that seems like most manufacturers are using. Where the Dobyns wins and is the reason why I pick it as my winner for components is the Guides. For 1 there are more Guides on the Dobyns and keeps your line on top the blank when under load where as in my testing the line fell under the blank on the ark. And to add the Dobyns uses high quality Fuji guides with what I'm assuming (since they use them on the Champ xp and sierra) are alconite rings. Where as the Ark uses generic titanium guides. Also the structural integrity of the Dobyns guides is better. They are thicker and the feet are swept back more giving the guide more support and the ark they are super thin are the feet go straight up and down I see them getting bent easily. Hook keeper.... Dobyns The Dobyns has a closed hook keeper off to the side and the Ark has an open keeper in line with where your line will be and literally right in front of the reel seat hood.... the open keep is great on a spinning rod to hold your drop shot weight but with it being completely open I see baits coming unhooked easy compared to the Dobyns.... down side of the dobyns keeper is its closed and if using on a texas rig rod you will have to take the hook out of the bait which will tear it up after so many times but hey bag of plastic ls are only a couple bucks NOW TIME FOR WHAT EVERYONE WANTS TO KNOW. Action and power Now this is all subjective as some people like stiffer rods and others like a nice soft tip. So I'm not gonna pick a winner I'll just explain. The Ark is the most powerful Medium Heavy I ever fished. I know Dobyns under rates there rods but the "Heavy" Dobyns feels like a finesse rod compared to this Ark. The tip is stiff but when pitching around a jig I was till able to get good distance and still accurate. If I had to give my opinion... as we all know a Dobyns Heavy is a MH and MH is say a Med+, etc. The Arks..... go up the MH is a Heavy and a heavy is a XH. That being said the Dobyns Fast is more like a extra fast and the Ark is even tho its stiffer it's a true fast. When under load the Ark had a smooth curve a little bit further down the blank compared to the Dobyns hard L with in the first 4-6 inches of the tip. But all that being said the Dobyns had the softer tip. Sensitivity.... honestly they are the same I'm sure if you had a science lab with tools and meters and reader of all types you could find a clear winner but in hand they are identical. I used the same equipment in my test (Shimano Chronarch MGL with 50lb power pro tied directly to a 3/8 oz Beast Coast Tungsten jig) I have what I call "the gauntlet" it's a long wooden box with a mix of terrain types theres a section of dirt, small rocks, big rocks, and a small section of carpet I tap and run the rod tips on to feel. And at the end is a subwoofer and I put the rod tios on the speaker and feel vibrations. I literally felt the same thing on both rods if it wasnt for the Ark having a little bit more comfortable grip I wouldnt of been able to tell what rod I was holding. Balance. Tie Everyone knows that Dobyns is known for being one of if not thee most balanced mass produced rod in there price points. And they both balanced about 3-4 inches in front of the reel seat. If you have the rods or seen pictures the balance point on the Dobyns is at the "O" in Dobyns on the logo and the ark is at coincidentally at the "O" in Reinforcer on the blank.... with the Chronarch on they balanced right at the top of the screw down hood on the reel seat. Weight.... technically speaking the they are tie but the ark squeaked it out. The ark came in a whole .2....... that's 2/10ths of an oz lighter but the Dobyns is an inch longer. The Ark has a wrapping the whole length of the blank where as the Dobyns has a kevlar wrapping for the first 2 feet. I assume the ark could shave some weight if they did away with a full length wrap but not much. Cool factor... Ark The Reinforcer although basic in looks I really like the slick matte black and silvery charcoal grey look with the cork. The Dobyns is Flashy with its black, silver and orange but I'm a sucker for that charcoal grey. And the wrapping the length of the rod has a cool design if you look close and if you look closer there logo is in the wrap as well Warranty and customer service. For these rods lines specifically it's a tie for the whole lineup each company offers as a whole.... Dobyns Both of these offer a lifetime warranty and a replacement fee of around $100. With ark if it with in the first year there is no fee. As a whole. Dobyns offers this warranty (with price variations depending on rod model) to all there lines except the colt series.... ark.... everything else is a 5 year. And I dont know if this is the case for ark if it is they dont advertise it but with dobyns they offer a no hassle warranty so if your rod breaks and it's your fault like you closed it in a door or tailgate you cut it down to the little 6 inch section that has the logo and model info along with the replacement fee and they send you a new one. As far as customer service both are friendly and fast to respond and you will likely get Mr. Gary Dobyns himself or Mr. Louie Zhang (owner of Ark Rods) himself. Overall it's hard to choose they are so close in performance and each has there high points and if you dont care about being a 1 company guy or have extra money get both....especially the reinforcer spinning rods with there exposed blank reel seat on them to give you more blank contact. But if you are a 1 company kind of guy or whatever. If I'm going for comfort I'm going Ark. If I'm going performance I'm going Dobyns.... not that the Dobyns is more sensitive or anything I'm just used to how they fish (which I'm sure I could get used to the Ark) and the guides the guides are just better and more durable on the Dobyns. But for now I'm keeping them both lol. Hope this helps anyone looking at the Ark Reinforcer. They are a great rod for the money and hard to beat

So here's the other question. I own several Dobyns Champion XP and Champion Extreme HP rods. For rods from these American made companies in the same price points ($250 Champ XP, $350 Champ Extreme HP) would you recommend a switch or or are any dobyns better or is it about the same?

Other than the St.croix legend tournament and up (that's the only one I know of) what other rods are American made? Blank and all. Not just assembled in the US with a blank manufactured in china. I've heard Cashion rods are but figured I'd ask for any others

Never fished an ark rod. The reinforcer rods look real good and I like the lengths and actions they offer. I'm familiar mostly with dobyns and st.croix tho. How does the reinforcer compare to other $350 rods like the Champion Extreme HP from dobyns? Or just in general how does ark fish do they tend to over or under rate there rods.... does a MH fish like a MH? And what's with the "Regular" action? They have XF, F, MF, Mod throughout there lineup but what is regular.

I own a stradic FK and a Ci4+. I'm adding a 3rd spinning setup and just dont know if I should go with the new FL or the current Ci4+ or wait for the new Ci4+ (if they are even releasing one this year)

They have a trend of every 3 years revamping there lineup and the stradic ci4+ has been out for 3 going on 4. So I'm just going by shimanos tendencies is all.

Should I pick up the Stradic FL or wait for the Ci4+ version that will hopefully come out this year?

The P2 pinion is new for this year I believe.... the Pro TI came out last year

Not with 9 in screen

I am using a lowrance hook2 7 triple shot. I'm in the process of upgrading to a 9 inch screen and higher quality unit. Just cant decided between helix 9 or elite ti2 9 lol

Can anyone explain how to me how this works? I got the fist of it but does it save it to the sad card I put in the unit? Do I need to do anything on the computer or does the unit itself do and store everything? Does it show things like bottom hardness and vegetation along with contour lines like humminbirds autochart live does?

Another question why is there such a price difference between the units? Elite ti2 9 $1000 helix 9 MSI G3N $1500

From what I can tell anyway the new elite ti2 3 in 1 active imaging is lowrance version of mega imaging

I did some research the elite ti2 has c map genesis live which maps your water. So what's the other features on the helix like the switch fire? And in lowrance the fish reveal smart target view? And any other little features and add ons?