Okumba reels

[Genofish]

Has anyone ever used Okumba spinning reels?

[Deitz Dittrich]

The company name is Okuma, not okumba.. skip the b...They make a decent reel for the money. Many of them have a very high number of ball bearings, however they do use a lesser quality bearing to keep the costs down, so it ends up being a wash. Many people have bought them and like them. My advise is to go ahead a look at them and decide for yourself.

[Genofish]

Deitz, thanks for the reply. I came across a few that are 65% off regular price. Might be reason for that or a good find. Not sure what to think of it.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Geno- As many know on this site I am on teh Shimano Prostaff, so obviously I may be a tad swayed to the Shimano side a bit.. Okuma does make a decent reel, I have firends who have them and they have been pleased. Just dont get fooled by the 'millions of ball bearings".. in all spinning reels its not the ball bearing that makes a reel smooth, its in the gears.

However, I stick with my original advise.. Hold one.. maybe even buy 1, and decide from there weather you want more.

[harvey lee]

I own three of them and like them very much.Not a real spendy reel,yet it has a smoth drag and I have never had a problem with one.Yes,lots of ball-bearings,but they do work and well and I would with out a doubt buy another.In fact I pulled my Shimanos off my rods and put these on and had no problems with the Shimanos either.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I've got an Epixor EB50 and it's an awesome reel. As stated, very smooth drag.

[Northlander]

I have several Okuma Spinning reels. Some are very good and some are just good. They arent as high a quality reel as some others but for the money I can use them for a few years and toss them. Lots of guys dont like the Okuma Linecounters either but I have had good luck with them so far.

If you can get them 65% off I would by a couple and try them out. If you dont like them sell them on HSOList for more than you payed for them.

[Genofish]

I am Shimano man myself but am always looking for a steal. I think i will pick these up and then decide how they are. I will keep you guys posted. no pun intended

[Bushwacker]

I have 4 Okuma reels and they are all pretty nice for the money. They drags actually are very smooth on them and the anti-reverse is very quick on them. I would choose a Quantum or Shimano over them, but if you run across a good deal, they are definitely fishable and are pretty durable.

[Cliff Wagenbach]

I bought an Okuma reel a couple of years ago. It has held up very well for me with zero mech. problems.

The only problem that I have had is when I use braided line on it. It has a tendency to wind the line onto the spool release nut on the front of the spool when you are retrieving slack line. A real bummer if you hook a fish!

Cliff

[Fish Head]

I have 2 Okuma Epixor's. No problems at all. I've never used them with braided line though. I think they make a very nice reel for the money.

[pkimman]

It sounds like everyone else has had fairly good luck, maybe I will try another. I had one for maybe 1-1.5 years. It was very smooth and I liked it, but one of the gears inside wore out in about a year and a half. I took it apart and most of the knobs or spokes, (not sure of the term) were broken off. Just a heads up.

[Ralph Wiggum]

Like any manufacturer, some models are better than others, and you get what you pay for. I think the more expensive models are great and durable. A lot of catfishermen have Epixor/Cabelas Salt Striker bait-runners and they perform well. I haven't landed anything too big on mine yet, but I know of several guys that have used them to land large flatheads without problems, so the gearing has to be pretty solid.