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Event Article:
2006 ICAST Rod Coverage |
ICAST Coverage Day 2 (Rods) - Perfectly matching reels in application,
balance, and style (continued)
Berkley:
New for 2007 is a complete
redesign of the popular Lightning Rod. These rods are now lighter, faster, more
balanced, and stronger than ever before. Berkley didn’t only upgrade the
performance of the rod but has also improved the rod's overall appearance as
well. When you see it you’ll notice the components are much flashier than
before, including the thread wraps, guides, reel seat, and more.
The Lightning Rod gets a makeover
Though improved in both
performance and appearance the price point of these rods are still excellent
coming in at a retail price of only $34.99 to $39.99!
The rod features improved
components
Even the reel seat has been
modernized
Fenwick:
Inshore anglers will have even more rods to choose from this year since Fenwick
has jumped into the saltwater game by producing an Inshore series. These rods
display great craftsmanship and are very detailed in design. Most noticeably
these rods feature Corkalon Grips, which is quite unlike anything that we’ve
seen before.
Whoa... the Corkalon looked just
like cork/wood handles from just 3 feet away
This unique grip looks
like cork but is actually a type of EVA made to resemble natural cork. Aside
from the unique Corkalon this rod uses quality
Fuji components all around such as SiC guides for durability
against braided lines. Fenwick designed these rods to be technique and fish
specific and comes in many models ranging from 6’6” all the way to 9’ rods,
priced at about $199.99 to $349.99.
The look of cork, with the comfort
and ease of maintenance of EVA
AiRRUS:
Congratulations are in order to Ken, President of AiRRUS. That's right, AiRRUS
has done it again, winning Best of Show for Freshwater Rods with their latest
offering, the Pulsar GL. (For those of you counting that makes 4 ICAST Best of
Show Awards!) This rod is very exclusive in many different ways that’ll take a
PhD to explain in detail but we’ll do our best here.
Congratulations Ken! That makes 4
Best of Show Awards!
The AiRRUS Pulsar GL
incorporates AiRRUS’ filament winding, second generation NANO technology, and S2
glass fibers, all put together into one rod, different sections, to product the
perfect action for bass anglers.
The new Protecta hook hanger
design
The Pulsar GL takes the best of
the Ultra and takes it up a notch
The Pulsar GL uses AiRRUS’
innovative split trigger reel seat, TiCH frames and inserts, and sport a new
Protecta rail hook keeper. As you can see in our photos that the grip is made of
graphite which means you grip onto the blank itself at all times, providing
superb sensitivity.
The handle is all graphite, you
would think it might be slippery, but actually it is both comfortable and easy
to grasp
The butt cap helps balance out
this rod nicely
The fully exposed blank through
reel seat design from the Ultra XL remains
Next
Section: Quantum, Fin-Nor, and Van Staal
