What Are Your Thoughts About Okuma?

[Dbak98]

So I've recently bought an Okuma helios 30x Spinning reel. What do you guys think about the reel? I've never really bought anything from Okuma before So Im a bit nervous to see how it will perform. Should I have just payed a little extra and bought a shimano spinning reel? Im going to be fishing bass, pickerel, and walleyes mostly. What's your opinion on this spinning reel? And finally what are your thought about Okuma? Do you like the brand and its performance or do you think it performs like garbage? Ive been a bit sceptical about the reel and the brand.. What are your thoughts? I ordered it a few days ago and might send it back or keep it depending on the feedback I get. Any feedback would be awesome!

[flippin and pitchin]

Okuma products have come along way in the last several years. They are very very popular in my area. My experience was with the Stinson model spinning reel. It was sub forty dollar reel but was a great reel overall. The Helios is an upper tier model and some of the guys at my local shop use them for summer run steelhead.

[rippin-lips]

I've been using two trio 30 spinning reels for about 4yrs now and have yet to experience any type of problem with either of them. They both work just as well as they did on day one. I had to use customer service once for something that was my fault and they took care of it with no questions asked and at no charge too.

[Wbeadlescomb]

I've got one of the $30 spinning reels I keep on an academy ethos rod that stays in my jeep and in the last year I bet I've caught way over a 1,000 bass bream and crappie on it. It's gets used minimum 5 days a week unless the weather is terrible

[J Francho]

Okuma has been upping their game in the bass department. I know a ton of inshore and bass guys from the kayak fishing scene in the SE love the stuff. I hope to try out the new TCS series that Scott Roland uses.

[0119]

The spinners are popular with inshore kayakers here but are notorious for losing their finish quicker than a Quantum, and that s pretty fast.

[camovan]

I have a Komodo that I really like, it is so far worth far more than I paid for it.  I like it better than my Shimanos and Revos right now but I only used it for half a season.

[Jaheff]

I have the bought three Okuma baitcasters within the last 6 months. Komodo ,Helios, and Helios air. Great product to price.

If you don't know how to clean your own reels ,I wouldn't recommend them. Okuma's are way over greased. You can find these baitcasters for 30-40%

off TW'S price if your patient, and shop around.

[bigbill]

I have just about every Okuma expitor spinning reel made size wise. They have 10 ball bearings. I've had these for around a decade now. I been only using okuma and fin-nor spinning reels.

But on and off I been using globe and viva spinning reels too.

No problems yet. I started off with the D.A.M. Quick reels for trout fishing. For bass fishing I found the Wal-Mart quantum spinning reels to work great. I still have them all. My orginal quick reels are now antiques.

[SirSnookalot]

My only experience with Okuma ownership is a rod I presently use, an 8' cedros mh 10/20 coastal inshore rod.  The rod has an aluminum reel seat with double tightening rings, I like that a lot.  The  rod has plenty of backbone, to be honest all my rods have good backbone so I can't say it's really superior in that area.  To me the rod feels a bit bulky despite the fact that it's not super heavy and I don't think it casts as far as I think an 8' rod should.  I'm replacing it, anyone want to buy it?

[Jaheff]

My only experience with Okuma ownership is a rod I presently use, an 8' cedros mh 10/20 coastal inshore rod.  The rod has an aluminum reel seat with double tightening rings, I like that a lot.  The  rod has plenty of backbone, to be honest all my rods have good backbone so I can't say it's really superior in that area.  To me the rod feels a bit bulky despite the fact that it's not super heavy and I don't think it casts as far as I think an 8' rod should.  I'm replacing it, anyone want to buy it?

Cedros is an Island in Mexican waters which is the "Baccarac" for inshore fishing. The rods have to be a little versatile to fish the Island. On one cast you can catch a 1-8# bass or a 30# homeguard yellowtail (tuna). Hope that explains why the rod is built that way. I've never used this rod before, but have heard good things about it.

[Drewski73]

Yellowtail arent tunas, theyre jacks closely related to amber jacks. A 30 lber at Cedros is a teenager. My pb 56 came from Cedros on the longrod and surface iron.

Ive spent a couple hundred days of my life around Cedros, and it is a beautiful place. I have been anchored at Cedros when you cast off the bow for a calico bass and off the stern for a yellowfin tuna or yellowtail. Magical place that Ill always love. We had the 50lb squid eating mackerel off a gaff hook one afternoon like they were trained pets. Theyd raise their tentacles slowly out of the water and pull them off. Unreal experience. Ive pet baby elephant seals on the head while walking the beach. Like I said its a magical, beautiful rock.

Okumas are building a decent reputation in the SoCal long range scene. In the past their gear didnt hold up well, but they actually listened to anglers and made some really positive changes.

[Jaheff]

I'll still call Yellows tuna, so not to confuse the east coast yellows. I was just saying 30# to sound believable...lol

Your one lucky man to have spent that many day's at the island.

Okuma is getting really high praise for the Makiera series reel here in SoCal. It seems it was just a couple years ago they started from scratch, now they cant keep up with demand.Their service department has also listened to the anglers, and uses TSI products on their reels.

[Drewski73]

Ive been very blessed with the opportunities Ive had in long range fishing. Cedros has a special place in my memories.

Yeah Makairas are looking like the real deal at this point. Theres enough guys fishing them that if they were breaking youd hear about it.

[jbsoonerfan]

The only thing I can think of when I hear the word Okuma is Scott Martin, LOL.

[SirSnookalot]

I'm not familiar with Pacific yellowtail and didn't even know about Cedros Island, sounds sensational.  I'm not a new comer to amberjacks, we catch them here in Florida as well as lesser amberjacks, banded rudderfish and several other jack species.

I do list an amberjack as my #1 all time catch, that includes tunas and billfish.  Fishing a charter in Bandaras Bay, PV, Mexico I hook into something on conventional gear.  After what felt like an eternity I get the fish off the bottom and I'm spent, hand the rod to "professional fisherman", about 6'3 240# of solid muscle ( he puked in the head for the rest of trip), 3 rd guy takes over for a while then I get the rod back and we landed it.  For just a 100# fish, I've never seen anything like it.

[Hogsticker]

Now all you need is a rod with his name on it!

[roadwarrior]

C'mon guys, please stay on topic or start a new thread in "Other Species".

This thread is not about tuna or jacks.

[primetime]

I have started using more Okuma Reels in the last 2 years as I tend to find some good deals and they have a large product line for Freshwater and Saltwater Casting and Spinning. I have always been willing to try any major brand if the reel has good reviews, feels good in my hand, and the price is right.

 

I have always gravitated toward Shimano, Daiwa, Pflueger, and some Quantums as they seem to go on sale reel cheap, and I can say with confidence that OKuma stands behind their products 100%. I rarely have issues with any of my reels that are not my fault, and I take good care of all my stuff.

 

With that said, I decided to spend more than intended on a new baitcasting reel last year and I purchased the Saltwater Low Profile Okuma Serrano Baitcaster 250w and since then have added the Citrix Baitcaster, and Okuma Raw Spinning Reel which is a beast in terms of pounds of drag for size of reel. I am very impressed with their customer service which is the best I have encountered and that is saying alot since I have had great luck dealing with all reel companies except one which I will not mention.

 

The Serrano has a 3 year warranty, and I have had a brand new spool assembly and side plate sent to me after my buddy decided he would adjust the drag like he does on his shimano, only the pins do not pop out like in a shimano, and they fell in the water.....I made one phone call and had the new version of the spool assembly and sideplate at my door the next day for free, and I told them it was my fault.

 

Last Month I dropped the reel while doing some bank fishing and cracked the frame. Okuma flat out sent me a brand new reel, no questions asked.....

 

I would highly recommend Okuma Reels, and I am going to be purchasing the Helios Spinning reel myself very soon as they are popular here in Florida for Freshwater and Saltwater, and I have yet to see one come back for any problems, where I have seen the Smoke from Quantum come back a few times for clicker problems on the drag (Quantum has replaced every reel so I am not disparaging the reel, I would love to own a smoke, only the cost almost a $100 more with the $30 Rebate on the Helios right now......For $100, I can not think of a better spinning reel than the Helios at the moment, although the Quantum Energy is on sale at Cabelas for $69 and I like that reel as well.

 

Okuma rods, especially the EVX Guide series are priced right, and are high quality, so I would recommend Okuma to anyone in the market for a reel or rod, and would simply say that like any brand, you get what you pay for....They Make some low end reels like Daiwa and every other company, although I am not sure Shimano makes anything cheap since the $39 Sedona Spinning reel is a steal.

[JLeon77]

I have an Okuma Komodo bait caster and it has been great! Surprisingly I got on walmart's website for $50 less than I could find it anywhere else.

[basshole8190]

I've been using two trio 30 spinning reels for about 4yrs now and have yet to experience any type of problem with either of them. They both work just as well as they did on day one. I had to use customer service once for something that was my fault and they took care of it with no questions asked and at no charge too.

i too have a trio 30 spinning and its probably my favorite spinning reel. never had a problem with it. i also have a komodo a citrix a and a citrix 364 casting reels. all 3 have been great reels at good pricepoints. there customer service is courteous and quick. also own two big bait rods from them that are great.

in my opininion they're one of the better big fishing companies