More Okuma Questions

[Scoot]

Hi Guys and Gals,

A few questions about Okuma reels for muskie fishing:

1) Which exact model should I get?

2) What does it mean when a baitcasting reel is an "engaged level wind"?

3) Do any of the Okuma's have clickers?

[cjac]

Hey Scoot!

1) at $120 the Induron 400 is hard to beat. Go thru someone like KT and you should be able to get a power handle too.

2) Disengaging and non-disengaging spools refers to the line guide moving back and forth on the cast out. The Induron 400 is disengaging, so it does move. Helps with casting distance and an even spool on a wide reel.

For comparison, my 253 Luna does not move, non-disengaging, while the 300 is disengaging.

3) Yes, the 400 has a clicker.

[Esox_Magnum]

I got an Induron 400 recently and after casting it an afternno ordered a 2nd. I e mailed a guy with Okuma and they sent me a free power handle.

[cjac]

For sure, great customer service from Okuma, both on the front and back end if needed!

There is also a new reel for '08 called the RED Isis, similar to the Induron. I have not had my hands on one yet, but from what I've heard it's another great option.

[b1gf1sh1]

i know a place on the net that i saw an induron 400A, don't think it's a power handle, for 95.99. and the isis is 159.99 or 169.99 not sure. i aint supposed to tell that sites name i don't think or i'll get in trouble. too bad has some nice stuff there. i think that isis was sold in california last year. any way just wanted to say this so you know if you shop around you may find great deals.

[PDXFisher]

I have a Red Isis RI-400P, and liked it quite a bit until the levelwind started clicking and pausing when reeling. I'm sure I killed a tooth on a gear. You know when you cast and it seems the thumb bar is only half-depressed and you get a horrible grinding on a cast? Sorta like when your girlfriend drives your stick-shift when you're too drunk to drive home yourself (not that this has ever happened) and grinds the gears? Well, I seemed to do that *a lot* with the Isis. I would blame myself first, but I didn't do that with the Maina reels in the boat, which I didn't like nearly as much (and I've busted two of those in less than an hour of total use as well).

One major disadvantage I found is that the Velocity Control System (backlash preventer knobby thing) doesn't have a very big range. I tightened it as hard as I possibly could and it was about right. I would have liked much more range. There could be some internal setting I haven't found yet.

Bottom line for me is when it worked, I like it nearly as much as my two Lunas and its power handle was wonderful, despite feeling weird to me at home before I actually used it. Having killed my share of reels I won't hold it against them that mine isn't working right so soon. I like it more than my Calcutta 400B. Not as much as the 400TE. Maybe not *quite* as nice as a Luna, but has a better handle. My Lunas have been bulletproof so far. For the money (you can get them from some dude in Fla on a popular auction site for $129), I think the Red Isis is the best deal out there for the money.

[DTro]

Check out All All American Outdoors

They are a sponsor and have some pretty good deals.