Akios AIRLYTE 355 Light Specialist 2-Piece Rod

At Gerry’s Fishing, we often say that while the heavy-duty beach casters catch the monsters, the Akios AIRLYTE is the rod that puts the biggest smile on your face. This is a “light specialist” tool designed for the angler who values feel, sport, and finesse over brute force. Weighing in at a feather-light 390 grams, it’s a rod you can hold all day without fatigue, making it the ultimate choice for active styles of fishing where you need to be constantly in touch with your bait.

The AIRLYTE is constructed from a high-modulus unground carbon blank, giving it a crisp, responsive action that belies its slim 19mm butt diameter. While it’s incredibly light, don’t mistake it for being underpowered. The mid-section and butt have a surprising amount of “backbone,” allowing you to “ping” out 4oz leads plus bait with ease. The real magic, however, is in the hybrid tip. It provides world-class bite registration, telegraphing every pluck from an estuary flounder or the subtle take of a school bass in the surf.

Versatile Control

Because light fishing often requires different reel setups, Akios has fitted the AIRLYTE with a graphite sliding reel seat. This allows you to position a small fixed spool or a light multiplier exactly where it feels best for your arm length and casting style. The EVA collars protect the mechanism from grit, and the Japanese shrink rubber butt ensures a non-slip grip when your hands are covered in bait or sea spray.

Technical Specifications

Examples of Where to Use

• Estuary “Scratching”: Perfect for hunting Flounder, Eels, and School Bass in flooding tides where you need to feel every tiny rattle against the flow.

• Surf Bass Fishing: Ideal for “touch ledgering” in the first two breakers. Hold the rod and feel the bass pick up the bait before they even know you’re there.

• Plaice Fishing: Use a rolling lead across sandbanks. The sensitive tip allows the lead to move naturally without the rod being too stiff to “trip” the weight.

• Float Fishing & Feathering: Its 11.5ft length and light weight make it a fantastic tool for light float work for Mackerel, Garfish, or Pollack from piers and rocks.

• The Perfect Junior Rod: Because it’s so light and easy to manage, it’s an incredible “first proper rod” for a young angler moving up from telescopic kits.

Gerry’s Pro Tip

“The AIRLYTE is a master of ‘touch fishing.’ To really unlock its potential, try using it with a small 4000 or 5000 size fixed spool loaded with 20lb braid and a short mono leader. The zero-stretch of the braid combined with the unground carbon blank makes the feedback almost electric—you’ll feel the lead hitting different types of seabed (sand vs. shingle) instantly. Also, because it’s so slim, it makes a great ‘second rod’ to keep in your tripod for catching live bait while your heavy rods are out targeting the big stuff!”

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it strong enough for a decent-sized Bass?

Absolutely. While it’s a ‘light specialist’ rod, the high-modulus carbon has a progressive power curve. It will cushion the lunges of a 5lb+ Bass with ease, provided you have your reel drag set correctly. It’s about the sport and the “play,” rather than just winching them in.

Can I use a multiplier reel on this rod?

Yes. The SeaGuide rings are sized to accommodate the line flow of light multipliers, and the sliding reel seat means you can mount the reel ‘low’ for better thumb control during the cast.

How does ‘unground’ carbon differ from standard carbon?

Unground carbon retains the natural ‘tape marks’ from the manufacturing process. This isn’t just an aesthetic choice; it actually leaves the outer protective layers of carbon intact, making the blank more durable and giving it that distinctive ‘crisp’ feel that Akios is known for.

Does it come with a protective case?

The AIRLYTE is supplied with a high-quality cloth rod bag. Because it’s a 2-piece rod with a 3.55m total length, each section is roughly 1.77m (approx 5ft 10in). It will fit in most standard 6ft rod holdalls.