drag issue Okuma baitcaster

[BassSteve]

On 11/1/2024 at 5:49 PM, bulldog1935 said:

Carbontex may give you less drag than the blue alumina abrasive (likely)

You can always try adding a 0.5-mm or 1.0-mm brass washer just below the star drag for a shim.  

well I bought another reel like I said.....turns out same issue. drag is not good at all, it pulls out fairly easy with it tightened down max. the review of the reel online says it has strong drag and I dont know how they could possibly say that. $160 in the garbage but I guess that's what you get for an $80 price point reel. lesson learned, stick with higher end reels 

[Eric 26]

@BassSteve Are you unable to return the one you just purchased? I’m not sure which Okuma reel you purchased but if you’re able to get a refund I recently purchased a second Dream Tackle Design Formula D from Ali Express based on my experience using one this season, the reel casts beautifully from an 1/8th ounce in-line spinner to a 5/8 oz lipless crank on the appropriate rod of course. It’s basically an Okuma Hakai reel with an upgraded spool and A/E is showing a price of just under a $100.00 currently and I’ve had zero issues with the drag to boot which is supposedly 20 pounds although I’ve not measured that for confirmation. I have a couple photos in the bait monkey rod/reel section if you’re interested in seeing them and I’ll attach the A/E description to boot. Best of luck finding what you’re after.

[BassSteve]

9 minutes ago, Eric 26 said:

@BassSteve Are you unable to return the one you just purchased?

nah they just go in the garbage 

[bulldog1935]

I've always said one good reel is better than 3 bad ones.  

 

https://www.amazon.com/Daiwa-Gillion-1000H-Right-Handle/dp/B08NP3F5MV/ref=sr_1_2 

 

[BassSteve]

12 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

I've always said one good reel is better than 3 bad ones.  

 

https://www.amazon.com/Daiwa-Gillion-1000H-Right-Handle/dp/B08NP3F5MV/ref=sr_1_2 

 

very nice.....however I must report there's an update about the reel😐 so apparently with this reel, how easy you can pull line off the spool by hand has nothing to do with drag power when you catch a fish. no matter how tight i set the drag, i can easily pull line off the spool by hand. with shimano reels, when you lock the drag they are pretty hard to pull line out by hand. so in my mind, the drag was weak or the reel has a problem. 

 

So I give it another chance today, and hook a 2-3 pound bass..the drag did not slip at all. I had to actually back off a bit to allow the bass a little freedom. so I am pleasantly surprised by this. Here I thought how easy you can pull line off the spool by hand will also determine how well the drag actually works when you fight a fish. with this reel that apparently is not the case 😎

 

On 11/9/2024 at 11:17 AM, Eric 26 said:

@BassSteve Are you unable to return the one you just purchased? I’m not sure which Okuma reel you purchased but if you’re able to get a refund I recently purchased a second Dream Tackle Design Formula D from Ali Express based on my experience using one this season, the reel casts beautifully from an 1/8th ounce in-line spinner to a 5/8 oz lipless crank on the appropriate rod of course. It’s basically an Okuma Hakai reel with an upgraded spool and A/E is showing a price of just under a $100.00 currently and I’ve had zero issues with the drag to boot which is supposedly 20 pounds although I’ve not measured that for confirmation. I have a couple photos in the bait monkey rod/reel section if you’re interested in seeing them and I’ll attach the A/E description to boot. Best of luck finding what you’re after.

the reel i got was the Okuma Halogen. but it turns out i guess the drag is ok....it just fooled me 😶

[BassSteve]

[BassSteve]

On 11/1/2024 at 5:49 PM, bulldog1935 said:

Carbontex may give you less drag than the blue alumina abrasive (likely)

You can always try adding a 0.5-mm or 1.0-mm brass washer just below the star drag for a shim.  

Just curious, have you ever experienced that phenomenon? where you can easily pull line by hand no matter how tight the drag is, but when fighting the fish the drag works normally? is this some kind of design with the drag system or something? 

[bulldog1935]

@BassSteve

My drags range from this ..........

 

to this.............................

  

........only in surf, replace that C3 carbontex stack with blue alumina abrasive.  

The best HanedaCraft fiber drag will reach about 3 lbs - the blue alumina C3 stack easily gets 20.  

I never pull on line - that's for fish - except when I'm using a spring balance to set my drag - 1/4 weakest link - most often 1/4 of leader test, though sometimes, weakest link is 1/4 of rod max line rating - especially when I over-size leader for extra abrasion.

My small BFS reels with Haneda Craft fiber drag are set to 2-1/2 lbs for 10-lb leader 

My surf Ambassadeurs are set to 5, 7 or 8 lbs, for lure fishing shorter surf rods, or meat-fishing a big 14' stake-out rod.  Normal drag set for inshore fishing on my Daiwas is 3 lbs for 12- or 15-lb leader, and it's a lot more drag than any one would guess if they don't set accurate drag.  

From light end to heavy end, it will be the fish taking line, almost never a lot of drag pay, and you know when the reel is paying drag from the slight rod relaxation.  

[Bigbox99]

17 hours ago, BassSteve said:

very nice.....however I must report there's an update about the reel😐 so apparently with this reel, how easy you can pull line off the spool by hand has nothing to do with drag power when you catch a fish. no matter how tight i set the drag, i can easily pull line off the spool by hand. with shimano reels, when you lock the drag they are pretty hard to pull line out by hand. so in my mind, the drag was weak or the reel has a problem. 

 

So I give it another chance today, and hook a 2-3 pound bass..the drag did not slip at all. I had to actually back off a bit to allow the bass a little freedom. so I am pleasantly surprised by this. Here I thought how easy you can pull line off the spool by hand will also determine how well the drag actually works when you fight a fish. with this reel that apparently is not the case 😎

 

the reel i got was the Okuma Halogen. but it turns out i guess the drag is ok....it just fooled me 😶

How much did you pay for that rebranded turd?  I have the same reel but in an aluminum frame and handle side plate from the actual chinease company that makes them.  I paid $50 for it over 2 years ago.  PM your shipping address and I'll send it to you.  I hate Tackle Warehouse so much its unreal. 

[BassSteve]

4 hours ago, Bigbox99 said:

How much did you pay for that rebranded turd?  I have the same reel but in an aluminum frame and handle side plate from the actual chinease company that makes them.  I paid $50 for it over 2 years ago.  PM your shipping address and I'll send it to you.  I hate Tackle Warehouse so much its unreal. 

It's rebranded? The okuma halogen costs $80 

[Bigbox99]

6 hours ago, BassSteve said:

It's rebranded? The okuma halogen costs $80 

Yes.  Okuma doesn't make reels.  With the exception of a few brands all are rebrands of some other manufacturer.  You can get the same platform in many different names in diffrent frame materials.  I have the same reel as that Okuma branded thing with a dual brake I bought like 4 years ago and an aluminum frame and handle side plate one I swapped the dual brake into that I will give you for free if you PM me your shipping address. 

The Kastking Royal Legend, Dobyns Maverick and random here today and gone tomorrow brands on Amazon all use this same platform.  They range from $20 on the low end plastic ones to $100 with the aluminum frame Maverick.  Okuma sold a low end plastic one to you for $80 which is practically a crime.  You deserve better.