Okuma reels
 

I was wondering if anybody has had any experience with them.I have always used old mitchells for surf fishing, diawa levelwinds for bottom fishing, and penn spinning reels for trout and flounder. *I *was looking at one in a catalog and wondered if anybody has used one?

Re: Ohkuma reels
 

I sold em at a store I worked at and only got complaints from customers. They just arent the qaulity of Penn/Sheaman reels. Stick with one of those and you cant go wrong.

I have also used a couple that belong to a buddy and I dont like em. They feel cheap and the drags are nowhere NEAR as smooth as the afore mentioned reels. He has also had a couple break and has since stopped buying them...that and me doggin him everytime he tries to bring one on my boat. ;D

Re: Ohkuma reels
 

My buddy in /Charleston that I run offshore with has had a pair of Okumas for about a year or less...last time I went out w/him he said they were comin' apart...won't buy 'em again...

Shimanos got the market cornered on quality right now for my money... ;) ;D...

Re: Ohkuma reels
 

I am, for the most part, strictly a Penn man. I do have a Shimano Calcutta 400s, smooth as the day I bought it... six years ago, never had to open it up.

Re: Ohkuma reels
 

Good info, sounds like I need to stick to the reels I know. Every now and then I like to try something new. I even bought a tohatsu outboard.

Re: Ohkuma reels
 

Those T-outboards are good motors. How do you like it?

Yeah stick with Penn or Shemano. ;)

Re: Ohkuma reels
 

I have 4 Okuma AV-80 Avengers on Penn 7 ft heavy stand-up spinner rods, 2 Okuma Titus Silver 50W's on Sea Striker 50-130 class stand up shorties, one old school Okuma T-50 graphite on a Star custom stand up rod and 2 Okuma TG-15's on 7 ft. Chaos King Mac series rods.

I've had this gear for 3 season's fishin off the NC coast and aint never had a problem. Like any other reel, you have to maintain them and take them apart annually to ensure everything's greased and workin right.

I dig the drag's on the lever drag reels (Silver and Golds), the wet drag system on the AV's are very good as well, especially for them large mahi runs.

I also have Penn Senators both black face and reds, Penn 320 LD, SS series spinners and a mix of Shimano spinners... I will honestly tell you we fish more with the Okuma gear with less problems than messin with the Penn star drag reels. My Penns have been almost a constant pain in the butt.

The TG's do really well for light grouper, mahi and king mac fishin where you need a tough but lighter line reel in the 20-30 lb class, they do a great job especially when matched up to my Chaos rods.

The TS-50W's are excellent for tuna, grouper, large barracuda and of course large grouper. We've landed a 300 lb hammerhead on the TS50W and a 8 ft thresher shark, 5 ft. barracuda and ALOT of groupah's from deep water. We spool them up with 500 yards of 50 lb. Ande Back Country line then top shot them with Suffix 80 lb.

The AV-80's are all spooled with Yozuri smoke color'd hybrid line in 20 lb test.

Yeah, old Okuma gear was kinda flaky and crappy, new stuff is definately improved.

FYI, Okuma folks are old Shimano TLD guys.....

I will note, the silvers in my opinion hold up better finish wise over the golds... no need to buy gold unless ya just want to blow a few extra $$'s for looks.

Some photo's for ya
 

http://www.ncangler.com/photopost/da...head_fight.jpg
[img]http://www.ncangler.com/photopost/data/500/capt_on_vacation.jpg
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[img]http://www.ncangler.com/photopost/data/500/papaw_with_barracuda.jpg
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Re: Ohkuma reels
 

Wellcraft_Dave, Welcome to the site. Nice pics and nice boat! ;) 8)

Re: Ohkuma reels
 

Welcome Dave! Hey, what was on the other end of the line in the first pic? Enquiring minds want to know :D

Got er bowed up perty good!

Re: Ohkuma reels
 

Hey guys, thanx for the warm reception, I know I dont have a V-20... but at least I do own a Wellcraft.

On that one pic, that was the 300 lb. hammerhead. Caught it not too long ago while down visitin friends in Fla. Towed the 250 down to Venice Fla, then over to Apalachacola and then back here to NC.

I didnt have individual reel pix... so I found some pix I had with the reels in them..... TS 50W, the TG's and the quad of Avengers on the Penn Slammer rods.

Not tryin to toot the Okuma horn... but I've had success with them and with all the guys at work I take out and family members whom all can be pretty hard on gear... I think they've held up pretty well. But I do know folks have had bad Okuma experiences too.

I just maintain what I got, I can order parts if needed for them, their site has schematics, and they're not a very technical reel, so maintenance is fairly straight forward and simple to me.

The Hammerhead fight was on my 130 class Sea Striker rod (which I think they're and awsome value) with the Okuma Titus Silver 50W. Dont know if ya can see the drag lever position in the pic, but I had some good pressure on him, he was one of the bigger sharks we've hooked. I think the bull shark was pretty close to the hammers size. We've hauled up threshers, tigers, and black tips as well. Usually in the 6-8 ft range, nothin to big (I know there's bigger in the pond).

I'll try to post some more fishin pix... just not too sure where or what section to put them in.

Saw this site mentioned on the Hull Truth... but figured that if I got a Wellcraft, maybe y'all would let me in! :D

Look forward to helpin add some fishin stuff to the fishin section here if that's ok with y'all and by the way,, I really like my Wellcraft. They have a few issues and arent perfect, but fit's my bill just right! My bud Rick just bought a Wellcraft 330 Coastal as well, and he loves his too, so it's cool to find at least a Wellcraft owner thing.

Thanx guys again for the welcome!

Re: Ohkuma reels
 

here's a few more fish pix I got, dont know where to post them as I'm starting to get a feel for the site here. But if they're in the wrong place let me know and I'd be happy to put them where I can.

[img]http://www.ncangler.com/photopost/data/500/Fla_hammerhead_2_.jpg
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[img]http://www.ncangler.com/photopost/data/500/medium/Picture_0111_2_.JPG
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[img]http://www.ncangler.com/photopost/data/500/brad_rd_grp.JPG
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[img]http://www.ncangler.com/photopost/data/500/brad_king.JPG
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Re: Ohkuma reels
 

Dave,Thanks for the info, I had already ordered the reels, but i got the small baitrunner spinning series for trout and flounder. First time i took them out I got into a school of redfish.They did just fine, with the average fish at 25", it was a bit more than the normal trout & flounder.I hope they will stand the test of time but so far I am well pleased.

Re: Ohkuma reels
 

Phatdaddy, good luck with them. It's better to buy one or two, see how ya like them, if that's working for ya, then down the road get more.

I did that for my offshore stuff, did the onesy twosy thing, then started matchin pairs and stuff up once I felt confident with them.

We fish them hard and as long as I take the time to break them down and do the maintenance annually on things like re-greasin and checking the condition of the drags, they keep on workin. I'm satisfied with the Okuma stuff and definately would buy more.

I like the bait runner models they got, but I've got too much stuff at the moment to rig up more rod combo's,,, nothin's breakin at the moment.

I figure that when those Avengers finally give out, I'll swap them out with the larger 80 series bait runner types.

Best of luck hope they work for ya.

Re: Ohkuma reels
 

Dude...seriously. Stop posting pics in the wrong section. Follow protocol.








Just kidding. I love to see those offshore pics. Keep 'em coming.

Re: Ohkuma reels
 

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/...im_bigfish.jpg


Nice Pics Wellcraft Dave!!

I have a bunch of these reels. Some of the convector series reels show quite a bit of corrosion on the cosmetic chrome parts, but they are all working well after 4 (?) seasons (last year I didn't really fish).

The gold reel in the picture above is an okuma TGII-15 (2 speed) reel and it was excellent for Cod fishing. The high speed allowed you to crank up the 24oz jig quickly (in 400ft of water) and the low speed was super when you had double 20+ lbs cod. That setup was perfect for cod and jigging for tuna.

Re: Ohkuma reels
 

bigshrimpin, I hear ya. Good catch!!, and I have wondered how them TGII's would do. If you see my pick of the barracuda and my papaw, you'll notice I got the TG15 back in that rear port side pocket.

I like the 15's just for their size, when coupled with the 7 ft. chaos rod's, we get enough flex at the tip and a bit more backbone the further down for when we do hook larger fish. I run 30 lb Ande on mine.. so far it's worked.

If you do yer own reel maint. If you take them double dog gear catches/stops off,, he hehe.. man remember what position they go back on as.... I spent over an hour on one reel (finally broke down and referred to the schematic....) One tip I have maint wise, is put a little extra grease on that part that slides into the gear wheel. I found that the grease helps keep any water (rain, end of day rinsing, spray from out on the water) out of that inside spool shaft bearing. The drag is water-proof (that black spin on cover), so the drag is never an issue.

When trollin with them on the outside, they'll be our bird rig or not so deep plug divin go to rods, we save the 30-40 stretch type lures and the 50 gigantus deals for the silver 50W's.

Agree'd on the outter ring corrosion thing. My Penn Senator's do the same thing. I've wondered how the Convector's hold up, they appear tech spec wise to be a solid reel, seems like they'd make a good blackfin/king maceral type reel for salt guys.

Cool, another Okuma guy!

I got a buddy wants to sell me his Penn Int. 50 SV's, I told him, ya crazy?? I can buy 4 Okuma silver 50's for what yer askin for one!!!!!

For this last father's day, I got my dad a Avenger 50 coupled with a Shimano 7 ft one piece graphite rod (forget the model #) for when he goes snook fishin on his friends dock. For the price, I dont think he'd a got a better set up than that especially for under $90.

While visiting my sis in Punta Gorda Fla, we went to the West Marine down there, I wanted to match up my Penn 4300 SS and now that Penn has stopped making them and came out with the Penn 4300 SSG, I still cant believe I paid $70 for that reel..... I shoulda got a couple Okuma AV's. We use those smaller size reels with diamond jigs for when peanut dolpin are around and we bail them... though I dont have the smaller Okuma spinners, I'd love to see or hear any feedback on the bait runner types they have.

I know some folks have had hard times with some Okuma gear, but over the past 4 seasons or so, I've noticed improvements since when I first started to use them, and got to admit, for the price, they "git er done"
Even my bud Rick from Orange beach Alabama liked the TG 15's, and he fishes with Alutechnos gear..... Here's a pick of him "grupa" diggin with the TG/Chaos combo
[img]http://www.ncangler.com/photopost/data/500/Picture_0100_2_.JPG
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Re: Ohkuma reels
 

I've got the epixor eb20 on a 7' live shrimp rod and am very pleased. I have it spooled with power pro 20lb(6 lb dia.). Very smooth drag and fast retrieve. My 11 year old son has hauled in some pretty respectable redfish on what i set up as a flounder rod. I think the power pro makes it more forgiving. I have learned one thing since starting this post, how to spell Okuma

Re: Okuma reels
 

ha ha ha,,, I was gonna mention that,, but decided to leave it alone (the spelling that is...) :)

Please report back on the Epixor, would like to see how they hold up over time.

Wow,, like to fish them ultra's... that's fun fishin!

Re: Okuma reels
 

I also use the okuma's prefer them over my penn's in the conventionals I also have the coronado 65 &90 baitrunners toughest reel ever great drags my honest opinion best reel at any price just bought a new metaloid 60 have not tried it yet though the classic con. are not to good