Okuma Helios Casting Reel

[katmandew]

I handled one of these tonight and it was about the smoothest casting reel I've ever felt.  Just going by winding it without line on the counter of course, but it sure felt nice.  Wondering if anyone has one of these that could attest to the way it performs?  Retail is $219, but it's on ebay for $169.  Seems like a steal for that price.

 

 

http://www.***.com/Okuma_Helios_LP_Casting_Reel/descpage-OHLP.html

[Toeshots]

How were the handle grips? I was very interested in these but the grips look really boxy and considering I probably wouldn't be able to see or hold one in person before buying, I am feeling a little apprehensive.

Also, I believe the new models are on the same frame as the Komodo making the two reels very similar. I contacted Okuma and was told that the only difference in the two is the Komodo has 2 extra bearings and is just a tad heavier than the Helios.

Looks department goes to Helios all day, IMO.

[Intruder 150]

How were the handle grips? I was very interested in these but the grips look really boxy and considering I probably wouldn't be able to see or hold one in person before buying, I am feeling a little apprehensive.

Also, I believe the new models are on the same frame as the Komodo making the two reels very similar. I contacted Okuma and was told that the only difference in the two is the Komodo has 2 extra bearings and is just a tad heavier than the Helios.

Looks department goes to Helios all day, IMO.

I have a Komodo and the knobs are as you said,kinda square edges,I am going to change mine.

The reel is as smooth as any I have ever used!

[katmandew]

How were the handle grips? I was very interested in these but the grips look really boxy and considering I probably wouldn't be able to see or hold one in person before buying, I am feeling a little apprehensive.

Also, I believe the new models are on the same frame as the Komodo making the two reels very similar. I contacted Okuma and was told that the only difference in the two is the Komodo has 2 extra bearings and is just a tad heavier than the Helios.

Looks department goes to Helios all day, IMO.

They felt similar to the EVA knobs on the Patrriarch XT's to me. Not quite as "boxy" as the knobs on my Gen3 Revo STX.  I thought they were very comfortable, but again, I love the EVA knobs.

[katmandew]

Does anyone currently own a Helios?  I'm currently trying to decide between a Helios and a second Lew's TP1H.

[kickerfish1]

I don't have a Helios but I do have the Komodo. I love everything about the reel except the breaking system access. If you can go back to the store and take a look at it. It isn't the easiest reel to get to the brake adjustment. However once you get it dialed in it is a good caster. Looks, retrieve, drag and comfort are all strong points. Before buying I would highly recommend messing around with braking system and making your decision based on this.

[Kititas]

I have this reel and like it. Handles are boxy but it did not bother me. Seems light and casts well. I have Shimanos and Lews I don't regret buying it.

[BassmanDan]

I just got the 2013 Helios and test drove it today. It's very lightweight and fits my hand well. The size and frame reminds me of my Lews Speed Spool TP's. The braking system isn't hard to set, and I was very satisfied with the casting distance ( I was using a T-rigged trickworm with 1/8 oz weight, and getting the same distance as my chronarch 50mg). This is my first reel with the EVA handles...they are a little strange at first but soon felt fine. I have it on a Powell Endurance 7ft MH rod and it is a sweet combo for light plastics. Time will tell as with any new reel, and this is my first Okuma but I am very happy so far...and the $30 rebate doesn't hurt either.

[MrSwimJig]

I have the Okuma Helios LP reel that is the6.2:1 gear ratio and from the little I have gotten to use the reel it is amazing.  Light, casts great,very smooth, very smooth and powerful drag, easy to adjust braking system etc...

 

Not completely crazy about the EVA grips but I am getting use to them.  It is a great reel to fish with all day.  I currently have the reel on a Helios rod and it is a very well balanced and light combo.

 

Hope to have a full review up as soon as the weather warms up so more and I can get out and fish it a lot more.

[Crankenstein Crony]

I have a Helios and Komodo. I really like both reels. They perform very well. They are both smooth reels. Both are very light weight. I do a lot of deep cranking with my Komodo and it's still just as smooth as the day I bought it. I've been using my Helios reel on a Helios 7'6 H rod as my flipping rig and I love it. Its so light weight, I can flip with it all day and never get tired. Great color scheme. So far the finish has held up very well. The Helios has a strong smooth drag, it casts very well, the breaks are easy to dial in for anyone no matter the level of your fishing skill, and as Bassman Dan said, there is a $30 mail in rebate on the Helios rods and reels through June or July. If I had the extra cash, I would definitely be buying another Helios. 

 

The only thing about both reels I really don't care for are the foam grips. They are a bit to square. If they were rounded off, they would be much better. But you can't go wrong with the Helios!

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Thanks for the input on the Helios guys been interested myself.

One thing I saw was it has a 3 year warranty, thats a bit better than most other reels.

[Goose52]

I have a Helios and Komodo. I really like both reels. They perform very well. They are both smooth reels. Both are very light weight. I do a lot of deep cranking with my Komodo and it's still just as smooth as the day I bought it. I've been using my Helios reel on a Helios 7'6 H rod as my flipping rig and I love it. Its so light weight, I can flip with it all day and never get tired. Great color scheme. So far the finish has held up very well. The Helios has a strong smooth drag, it casts very well, the breaks are easy to dial in for anyone no matter the level of your fishing skill, and as Bassman Dan said, there is a $30 mail in rebate on the Helios rods and reels through June or July. If I had the extra cash, I would definitely be buying another Helios. 

 

The only thing about both reels I really don't care for are the foam grips. They are a bit to square. If they were rounded off, they would be much better. But you can't go wrong with the Helios!

 

Since you have both the Helios and Komodo - a question. Just reviewing the specs, the Komodo has 2 more bearings, and weighs .4 ounces more than the Helios.  The Komodo also offers a 5.4:1 gear ratio option. Otherwise - are there any practical differences between the two?

[Crankenstein Crony]

Goose52:

 

The weight difference between the two reels is so minute you can't tell. They are both super light. I bought the Komodo first because of the 5:4:1 gear ratio. I wanted a reel for deep cranking and the Komodo has been an awesome deep cranking reel. Both reels are really smooth, they both have a strong drag, I get great casting distance out of both reels, the break systems are easy to set up, and they both have a 3 year warranty...

 

Practicality for me is decided by what best fits my specific need. There's only about $20 difference between the two reels, so price didn't affect my decision making. I bought the Komodo specifically for deep cranking because of the 5:4:1 gear ratio which is not available in the Helios lineup. I bought the Helios for flipping, and because I don't like high speed reels. There's nothing wrong with high speed reels, I just don't like them. For me, the only practical difference between the two reels is their specific gear ratios. If the Komodo had all the gear ratios I was looking for in its line up, I probably wouldn't have bought the Helios. And same goes for the Helios, if the Helios had all the gear ratios I was looking for, I probably wouldn't have bought the Komodo. But each reel fit a specific need I was looking for. 

[Goose52]

Thanks for the reply. The specs on these reals are really good, and the prices are attractive - especially on eBay.  Then, there's the $30 rebate.  It's tempting...

[Crankenstein Crony]

I really like both reels. I haven't had any issues with them yet. If I had the extra cash laying around, I'd buy several more. 

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

 I just ordered me one. Cabelas has them on sale for $160 minus the $30 rebate puts it at $130 & Free Shipping as well. Should be here the 25th the water still froze around my area but by then should be able to use it.

[sarcazmo]

Love my Helios!

 

Only reel I own two of.

 

Only thing I'm not a huge fan of is the foam grips on the handle.  Thats more a personal preference thing though.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Well unfortunately my Helios developed some issues with noise on the cast and a ticking noise on the retrieve. The ticking noise I believe was in the thumb bar action but didnt bother going into it I just returned it for another brand of reel.

 

For those interested the Chronarch knobs fit on the Helios. I had bought some for it and had them on for a bit, very nice.

 

Hope you guys have better experience with yours cause it was nice the few weeks it lasted.

[Hogsticker]

Well unfortunately my Helios developed some issues with noise on the cast and a ticking noise on the retrieve. The ticking noise I believe was in the thumb bar action but didnt bother going into it I just returned it for another brand of reel.

 

For those interested the Chronarch knobs fit on the Helios. I had bought some for it and had them on for a bit, very nice.

 

Hope you guys have better experience with yours cause it was nice the few weeks it lasted.

Shimano knobs will fit the Okuma handles? I hope this is the case. If it is I'm gonna have to get the new Helios Air. Your post must be a sign. Not a fan of EVA grips.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Shimano knobs will fit the Okuma handles? I hope this is the case. If it is I'm gonna have to get the new Helios Air. Your post must be a sign. Not a fan of EVA grips.

 

Yes they will I had them on plus you can add a bearing to each for 2 bearings per knob. For another persons confirmation see: "Okuma Helios.....First Impressions" in User Reviews on TT. Too a person says Daiwa Pixy knobs are interchangeable.

 

The Helios was a sweet reel awesome quality feel to it. If the Cabelas near me had stock of them would have traded for another but they didnt so got CH50E.

 

Very few reels that I have ever bought have had zero issues just dont have good luck buying them.

 

My Core I dropped on my second day of owning it. I was taking it off a rod and fumbled it and it fell 6 feet on to the concrete basement floor chipped the sideplate. Went through 3 Stradics all with the same whirring issue. The BPS CL well we all know the grinding gears of that reel. I returned 4 Pflu Presidents till I got one without a drag feel while turning the handle. And there are others.