Airrus Rods. This rod line seems slow getting into stores, but that has not stopped rod designer Ken Whiting from innovating incredible rod engineering advancements. Ken won Best of Show in 2002, 2003 and 2004 for three different rod engineering breakthroughs. A fourth feather in Ken's cap is he pioneered and perfected use of multiple modulus with fantastic results when properly deployed like in Gary Yamamoto's Dropshot rod. This year, Ken blew the doors off everyone who is trying to reduce handle weight. Ken simply made the rod blank the handle itself. That's right, the blank itself flares out to become the handle grip. The minimal parts necessary to seat a reel are surface-mounted right on the blank itself. There are no shims or filler material between the minimal reel seat parts and the blank. There is no other grip material of any kind to dampen vibration. Without any grip except the blank itself, the rod handle felt slippery, but if touching the blank equates to the ultimate sensitivity - there you have it. There's nothing else but blank to touch. Ken also says flaring the blank to become the grip creates a megaphone effect that amplifies sensitivity.

Ken eliminated the sensitivity-robbing grip problem by making the blank the grip. Next, Ken conquered the lightness issue. Incredible Ken debuted the use of carbon nanotubes in the resin mix of the rod blank. These tiny capsule-shaped tubes of carbon fill space between the blank fibers, spaces that were formerly filled with heavy, brittle, weak resin binder. The carbon nanotubes are extremely light yet extremely strong material. Ken says nanotubes are 200 times stronger than titanium and 450 times stronger than steel. Ken says this results in the lightest, strongest, and most sensitive rods ever produced by Airrus.

To me, Airrus rods are the most beautiful and well-engineered rods. It's not rocket science, but it is light years ahead of some other rod designs. To me, two things Airrus has not really done yet are: 1) to get more widespread hands-on tournament-test feedback and product refinement from top national pros, and 2) get its rods into more stores.

Additional details in our Nano-Tech brochure

AiRRUS Inks Agreement With Pure Fishing To Use Berkley's SS304 Guides
Las Vegas, Nevada - April 21, 2005

It was announced today that AiRRUS Rods has signed an agreement with PURE FISHING to use Berkley's SS304 rod guides on select AiRRUS rod models. With its' 'Best of Show' wins in the rod category, at ICAST the last three years AiRRUS has developed a reputation for quality and innovation, not only in rods but components as well. Company spokesman and President, Ken Whiting stated that,' AiRRUS has been looking for well engineered alternative to Ceramics guides, that would eliminate the two major problems associated with them, cracked inserts and inserts that inadvertently fall out. We feel that the Berkley SS304 series of guides provides this alternative. If we had any reservations whatsoever, from any aspect they would not be used on an AiRRUS rod. No more cracked inserts, no more inserts falling out, that's value added right there. The fact that the Berkley SS304 guides, per set, are lighter and tougher than their Ceramic counterparts is just an added bonus. There is no question in my mind that the Berkley SS304 guides are consummate competition for any Ceramic inserted guide now available in the marketplace, no matter who the manufacturer is. To my way of thinking it is about time that someone should speak up and dispel the idea that if a guide isn't Ceramic, i.e. SIC, Alconite, etc. or that it isn't made by a particular manufacturer that it doesn't deserve space on a rod, just doesn't hold water'.

Berkley SS304 guides will be an integral part of the AiRRUS entry in ICAST's 2005 New Products Showcase this July in Las Vegas. AiRRUS may also offer the Berkley SS304 guides on last years 'Best of Show' winner TRADITION series as well as their soon to be released ULTRA XL series which should be available in early June.

AiRRUS Rods Joins American Bass Anglers as National Rod Sponsor
Las Vegas, Nevada - Mar.28, 2005

AiRRUS Rods, three time, back-to-back winner of ICAST's 'Best of Show' in the Rod Category, has been named as the 2005 National Rod Sponsor of the American Bass Anglers (ABA). American Bass Anglers is a Tournament Trail which hosts in excess of 1000 weekend tournaments through 114 Districts in 42 states, making it the largest amateur and collegiate anglers’ tournament trail in the world. The ABA tournaments are low in cost, close to home and culminate each year in a huge Classic style National championship

Since its inception in 2002, AiRRUS Rods has gained a substantial reputation for innovation, performance and quality by winning ICAST's prestigious 'Best of Show' award three years straight, beginning with their introduction of the Co-Matrix 457 series in 2002 and it's revolutionary blank concept and construction. AiRRUS has continued to provide anglers with rods built on the cutting edge of tomorrow's technology with the introduction of the multi-filament SPECTRA series in 2003 and the exclusive TRADITION series in 2004.

AiRRUS rods are a finely balanced combination of hook setting power and sensitivity which affords the ultimate in performance, to both Pro and Weekend Warrior alike, at an affordable price. As stated by AiRRUS President Ken Whiting, 'Every rod we make is precision crafted, using the finest components available and an attention to detail that sets it apart from many of the rods in today's marketplace. The true test of a rod is to try it and I am confident that once an angler tries an AiRRUS rod you will agree that there is no finer rod available at any price'.

'When ABA partners with a company, extensive research is done in order to assure our members that the company provides products of the highest quality and an unquestioned reputation for service,” said Morris Sheehan, President of American Bass Anglers. ”AiRRUS rods are widely recognized for their quality and are quickly becoming the rod of choice for many a weekend angler. Their rods are not only unbelievably sensitive but are also exceptionally strong. We are proud to have AiRRUS Rods as our National Rod Sponsor,' Sheehan added.

In a concurrent statement issued by AiRRUS Rods, company President Ken Whiting said, 'AiRRUS Rods is honored to have become a part of what we consider to be the finest tournament trail available to the weekend angler. We have had many opportunities for sponsorships over the past few years, but it was not until we saw what American Bass Anglers had to offer that we realized, this was the perfect marriage for AiRRUS. We at AiRRUS, feel that in American Bass Anglers we have found an organization that shares in our ideals and is dedicated to the advancement of fishing as a whole. AiRRUS is truly excited and proud to be a part of such a great tournament organization as A.B.A. and that through our involvement and with the use of our rods, it will enable the fisherman to take their sport to the next level of enjoyment.

To learn more about AiRRUS Rods you can visit their web site at www.rodsbyairrus.com. AiRRUS rods can be ordered direct by calling 702-395-2173.

For additional information concerning American Bass Anglers and how you to can become a part of the world’s largest weekend tournament trail, visit their web site at www.americanbassanglers.com or call the weekend angler hotline toll free at 888-203-6222 Additional sponsors of American Bass Anglers include: Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, Lowrance, Diamond Cut Jeans, Gander Mountain, Motor Guide, Bill Heard Chevrolet, Berkley, ProBass Networks, Anglers Advantage Insurance Program, Trilene and Bayou Outdoors. American Bass Anglers MBAA since 1975, Tournament Trail, Military Bass Anglers Association and ABA are all registered or pending collective Membership or service marks of American Bass Anglers, Inc. All rights reserved.

AiRRUS Staffer Terry Scroggins Leads B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year Competition With Only Two Tournament Stops Remaining
Las Vegas, Nevada - March 8/2005

The new leader is Terry Scroggins, a 36-year-old Florida pro competing in his third Tour season

Bassmaster Staff — March 8, 2005

The fourth tournament of the CITGO Bassmaster Tour season did more to shake up the leader board of the CITGO Bassmaster Angler-of-the-Year race than any event this season.

Gone well down the standings are the pros who held the top three spots entering the tournament on Georgia's Clarks Hill Reservoir (the fourth of six Tour events): Takahiro Omori (20th), Skeet Reese (sixth) and reigning Angler of the Year Gerald Swindle (24th).

They were replaced by a new slate of candidates who have never won the coveted title, which comes with a $100,000 paycheck from CITGO.

The new leader is Terry Scroggins, a 36-year-old Florida pro competing in his third Tour season, who moved up from fourth with a 19th-place showing at Clarks Hill. He has 923 points with two events remaining.

'I don't know what to think about this,' Scroggins said. 'I'm on a pretty good roll. I'm just trying to take them one tournament at a time. My first year on the Tour, about halfway through the season I was in second place. But I bombed out.

'The first couple of years you get kind of overwhelmed when you go to those big lakes and don't know where to start. This year I'm doing a lot more fishing instead of trying to look at everything. This tournament kind of scared me going into it. I didn't know anything about that lake. I didn't have a good practice, but I found one group of fish during the last three hours of practice and I stayed on those fish all week.'

With finishes of fifth, 40th, 32nd and 19th, Scroggins insists that the pressure of leading the Angler-of-the-Year pack will not impact his performance. 'I'm going to go at it just like I've done all along,' he said. 'I'm going to put it out of my mind and just go fishing.'

If he can't win Angler of the Year, Scroggins at least wants to finish in the Top 8 on the Tour standings. Not only does that bring a healthy bonus from CITGO, which offers prize money to the Top 25 finishers at the end of the 2005 Tour season, but it would qualify him for the 2005 and 2006 CITGO Bassmaster Classics. 'Angler of the Year would be great, but my real goal is to finish in the Top 8,' says Scroggins.

Arkansas' Jimmy Mize is second with 884 points, thanks to a second-place performance at Clarks Hill (after starting the season with finishes of 41st, 26th and 51st).

'This is completely new territory for me, but I like it,' said Mize, 47, who has never challenged for the Angler-of-the-Year crown in his five Tour seasons. 'That was my goal at the start of the season — to really be in competition for it. So I'm right where I wanted to be with two tournaments to go.'

Mize says he won't change his laidback approach down the stretch. 'I can't fish any different,' he said. 'That would mess you up. You can't start fishing against the other guys; you have to fish against the fish. Just go out and try to catch what you can catch. And it will come out however it will.'

Marty Stone, a 38-year-old North Carolina pro in his 11th Tour season, has never made a run at the Angler-of-the-Year award, either, but he's in third so far with 872 points.

'I'm ecstatic, I really am,' said Stone, who has finished 26th, 36th, 16th and 36th. 'It's something that in my career I hope I get to compete for several times.

'In my opinion, Angler of the Year is the greatest title an angler could ever achieve. It's something that I put on my goal list every year when I start out. And to be in a position to compete for the title, it absolutely thrills me to no end — especially since it's sponsored by CITGO, and that company has been such a key part of me and my career.'

With his fifth-place performance at Clarks Hill, 2003 CITGO Bassmaster Classic champion Michael Iaconelli moved into fourth place with 868 points. The New Jersey pro finished third in last year's Angler-of-the-Year battle.

'I'm shocked,' Iaconelli said. 'I had such a slow start. After having two tournaments in which I finished in the 50s, I thought I was out of the hunt.'

Iaconelli, who has posted finishes of 49th, 53rd, 19th and fifth, pointed to the second day of the Lake Guntersville Tour stop as the most pivotal day this season in his quest for the prestigious title.

'The first day I had 11 pounds,' he related. 'The second day I adjusted, and came in with 22 pounds. That was a confidence builder. Now I'm riding a wave or being in the zone. I just hope it continues.'

Washington's Luke Clausen is fifth with 866 points.

AiRRUS Rods President Ken Whiting Lands Potential New Lake Record Smallmouth at Lake Mead
Las Vegas, Nevada - March 12/2005

While fishing with two AiRRUS staffers, Steve Croll from Phelps, NY. and Bob Brown a local staff member from Overton, NV, Ken hooked this beautiful smallmouth that tipped the scales at just a hair over 4 lbs. This beautiful lunker was caugth on 6' 8" AiRRUS "Ultra XL" using a 3/8 oz. white / chartruese spinner bait with a silver willow and a silver colorado on a quamtum catalyst pti 10, using 4 lb. spectra. in approximately 9 ft. of water a slow retrieve was enough to coax this egg laden beauty off her bed. after weighing and measuring the smallie was safely released back into Mead to spawn another day.

Shown in the photo are AiRRUS President Ken Whiting, Las Vegas, NV and AiRRUS staffer Steve Croll on the right. Caugth 3/3/05 just outside Echo.