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Joined: Feb 2001
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Campfire Outfitter
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Just bought an Okuma salt water reel.

Got a pretty good deal at Cabela's, $75.

Anyone using one of these?

The salesman said they compared closely with $300. reels, and that they had never had one returned.

I had them put 20 lb. high viz mono. on it for surf Perch fishing.

Thanks for any feed back

Virgil B.

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I have one of their salt water reels I use for Salmon and really like it. I also use their spinning reels for bass

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I had a 2 speed Okuma that locked up on me, their customer service told me to pound sand. I went to Penn's and Avet

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Got about 10 of em, couple salt and several spinners, for the $ they're pretty darn good.....


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Once you've wrestled everything else in life is easy. Dan Gable
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When I asked for a recommendation, the reel repairman in a big local shop told me that Okuma is the Korean word for rust.

Maybe they’ve improved.

Bob

Last edited by Setterman; 07/04/18.
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Setter: Your repairman is correct. I fished with Okuma fly reels in saltwater for a few years because it was all I could afford. The steel reel seat was attached directly into the magnesium reel body by screws into a threaded hole without any insert. After a few uses corrosion enlarged the threaded holes and the reel seats fell off.. I learned on brand new reels to take out the screws and screw them back in with Loctite. Despite freshwater cleaning and soaking the spools in freshwater overnight after every use, the powder coated finish peeled off the reel exposing the corroded magnesium beneath the failed finish. I liked the price and the cork drag. Good thing parts are available because you are going to need them. You get what you pay for.

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Originally Posted by FishinHank
I had a 2 speed Okuma that locked up on me, their customer service told me to pound sand. I went to Penn's and Avet


The difference between "comparing closely" to a $300 reel, and an actual $300 reel.

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I've only surf fished about 1/2 dozen times, and won't use this enough to justify a $300. reel.

It's got to be better quality than the one it replaces, an Eagle Claw that I got with a combo rod/reel W/line for $55.

The drag on the Eagle Claw never did work right.

Hope I didn't buy a "pig in a poke"

Virgil B.

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I'm sure it will be fine for your use, with 20# mono that's a pretty mild load on the reel.

It's when running 60-80# braid, max drag and bouncing 16-24 oz jigs that you really put a strain on a reel.

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I have 3 that I use for everything.
10 ball bearings
had them for years
very smoothe but i like the shimano quickfire ones better

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Tried out my new Okuma reel yesterday.

Seemed to work GREAT!

A way better reel than the Eagleclaw cheapie it replaced.

The 20 lb. Hi-Viz line worked great also. Shore was nice to see where I had cast.

For my purposes I think this reel is going to work good for me.

We caught two bullheads, and two crabs, but no surf perch.

The ocean was really rough and churning up lots of sand when the waves broke.

Virgil B.

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Good to hear Virgil, they work great for me too, make sure to hose it off after every saltwater usage


Ping pong balls for the win.
Once you've wrestled everything else in life is easy. Dan Gable
I keep my circle small, I’d rather have 4 quarters than 100 pennies.

Ain’t easy havin pals.
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Okuma drags suck once replaced with carbon fiber drag they are a nice reel


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