Very rarely do I got wowed with a new fishing rod. It seems about every week a new entry into the rod building market jumps on board with re-invented buzz words, hi-tech gizmos and a song and dance that would put a carnival barker to shame. The word “revolutionary” is so overused that nothing is really revolutionary anymore.

The Ark Sniper Casting Rod, however, has really impressed me this season. It’s made by a new rod company that teamed up with Randall Tharp to create a high-performance rod that could be offered at a reasonable price point.

I’ve been testing the 7-foot, 3-inch magnum medium-heavy model with both jigs and boot-tail swimbaits. Several of its features have vaulted this rod into my everyday lineup.

Here’s what you need to know about it.