Daiwa Tech – Certate ARK x TD Commander Warhammer Combo Review

Review by Jack Worthington

Over the years I’ve tried many different rods and reels, of various shapes, sizes and brands, but I can definitively say that the Certate 4000D-ARK and TD Commander Warhammer is the best softbaiting combo I’ve laid hands on so far.

My previous go-to rod, the TD Slugger, was my favourite for its borderline overboard amount of grunt and power, ideal for sending big softbaits off the rocks. With it’s 45g max recommended cast weight, The TD Commander Warhammer ticks all the same boxes in terms of strength and power, while slimming down the weight and upping sensitivity.

The thing that stood out to me initially since cracking the Certate out from its box was the rigidity and smoothness. Play and flex was absolutely non-existent. That’s all well and good, but pretty much any reel you get is going to feel good or somewhat decent out of the box. The question is whether it will stay like that, and for how long?

Suffice to say, the reel has stood up to some fair battles so far. Three months down the road and the reel still feels exactly how it was the day I bought it. In the past three months it’s seen some heavy use, both in NZ tackling big snapper off the rocks, and more recently, on the flats of Seychelles casting at various reef and trevally species. 

The key features of the reel I enjoy are the magseal protection, extra large monocoque main gear, and most importantly silky smooth drag. Definitely a winning combo in my books.