g.t. Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 Gday Raiders, Just wondering if anyone's had any experience, or formed an opinion on Okuma spinning reels. If so, are there any models in the range to avoid? Or am I better off sticking to the what I know (shimano)? This is mainly price motivated, as I'm looking for a new 4000-6000 reel, and I can get a reasonably priced AVEON model through a mate. Cheers, Geoff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gretsch Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 I have an Okuma that I got for free with a magazine subscription. I use it for Blackfish and Surgeons. So far, so good although, when a good Surgeon a thumper Blackfish is on, the body tends to flex. This has slightly misaligned the gears and it is a little rough. I believe the more expensive ones are pretty good and I have used a few on a Charter I frequent. I think the Eclipze goes for 180 bucks or so and is a reasonable reel however, to be butally honest, I would look at Shimano or Daiwa. Just personal preference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squizzytaylor Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 You cant whinge about the lifetime warranty but the question is more about the chance of losing that "once in a lifetime" fish to equipment failure, I bought my wife a Callyn3000 for chrissy and it went real well on the bass recently having accounted for a few up to and around the 40cm mark. I gues my thinking is use this class of reel for the smaller stuff and stick to the shimano stuff for the harder fish like kingies. Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slinkymalinky Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 Hi g.t. I've had an Okuma Epix 6000 and a 3000 model for about 5 years. Never had a problem with them. For the price, they are as good as Shimano reels I own at about the same price (I'd rate them the equivalent of about a Symetre). I've also got a Titus Gold 15kg model lever drag that is very reliable. They're not in the same class as better, more expensive reels. My Stradics are better spin reels, and these are nowhere near top of the range these days.... and I trust my Penn 30W as a better game reel, but you get what you pay for. $ for $ I think they represent good quality and value. Cheers, Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewgaffer Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 Hi g.t. I agree with slinkymalinky. The better Okuma reels sush as Epix, Eclipse, and the new Aveons (!!) are excellent value by today's standards. To beat the system all that is needed is have the drag updated to extra heavy duty by a professional, that's the area where it counts! They have the same bearings, brass pinions and everything else. They are a division of the "deluxe reels" and they are designed and machined well up to today's standards don't worry about that. Cheers jewgaffer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abiasin Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 Gday Raiders, Just wondering if anyone's had any experience, or formed an opinion on Okuma spinning reels. If so, are there any models in the range to avoid? Or am I better off sticking to the what I know (shimano)? This is mainly price motivated, as I'm looking for a new 4000-6000 reel, and I can get a reasonably priced AVEON model through a mate. Cheers, Geoff. i use 2 okumas and they are about a 3000 or so in size and have caught numerous kings on plastics no problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stricko4 Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 Mate take a look at the new V System reels from them. Very high quality gear for the price & would handle anything you would come across. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g.t. Posted February 12, 2008 Author Share Posted February 12, 2008 Thanks heaps guys for all your replies! I really appreciate your time. I think I'll give one a go, and I'll be sure to report back with the results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robeebee Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 i don't have a big or expensive Okuma but I have 2 Zeons in 2000 size and i just love them spooled with 4 pound they are my fave reels and have got 70 cm flatties on them agree on the flex issue but to me it's all about sport any one can reel in a fish on big gear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyt Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 i got a little okuma 1000 size i bought from tony at matraville, i had this reel for three years now and i got heaps of fish with it i landed a metre long port jackson once on 4 pd line ,when i got it tony said to me just give it a wash and it should be fine and i tell you i fish with a stella now but i always take the little okuma with me cause i know its gonna do the job i havent serviced it ever and i even dropped it in the water once wading the shallows dont get fooled by brands and names the quality of the reels these days is very high on every brand just go and have a feel of the reels you like and make up your own mind Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macka17 Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 Mate take a look at the new V System reels from them. Very high quality gear for the price & would handle anything you would come across. Paul Hi. I got a V System 4500. Smooooth drag. Fishes well. But. Main shaft is very skinny. Compared to Capricorn 4500J I use. Don't think I'll be using it for jigging type fishing. Regards Macka17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
austwave Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Gday Raiders, Just wondering if anyone's had any experience, or formed an opinion on Okuma spinning reels. If so, are there any models in the range to avoid? Or am I better off sticking to the what I know (shimano)? This is mainly price motivated, as I'm looking for a new 4000-6000 reel, and I can get a reasonably priced AVEON model through a mate. Cheers, Geoff. Hi Geoff, Have three Okumas Epix EB20 great little reel lives in the car ready for a quick fish, mainly breamin, has taken a size kinghy though. An EB60 good reel for the money taken kings to 75cm, dont believe its as good a reel as my shimano 6500 baitrunner but 1/2 the price. Also have a VS30 and its a great little reel for the money Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SZ1 Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 Hey Champ, I own both the eclipse 60 and epix 80 in the bait runner style, the epixs seem like a much smoother reel whilst the eclipse seems more robust. Both great reels for the money just wash them down and oil them up after every outing and they sure will last for you, now with life time warrenty you can't go wrong, also have a small inspire in the 30 which has been with me for ages and it have never missed a heart beat, the drag knob broke and Okuma replaced with a new feel of charge even tho I got the reel from ebay. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yockman Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 Bought an epix in 04 and it's still going ok. some paint has fallen off so it doesn't look as pretty as new. bail arm sometimes doesn't flick over every time you wind after a cast. drag is as good as day one and gears feel ok. was prolly worth the money, hasn't let me down yet. not a top of the range shimano, but has doen the job. btw, trolling some little lures for stripeys one day, a big sbt grabbed the christmas tree. one run emptied my shimano tss 4 with 10kg on it and melted the drag knob. bye bye bluefin, so i guess the moral is if you use it within it's limits it's ok, but you can only push a reel so far beyond its intended purpose. i'd buy another yocky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g.t. Posted February 24, 2008 Author Share Posted February 24, 2008 Gday Raiders. Thanks for all the helpful advice! Really appreciated. I just thought I'd update you and let you know I've actually decided to give the Okumas a run. I've purchased two reels, both AVEONS, one AV15 for my 1-4kg bream stick, and one AV55 for my 4-8kg rat kingie/ snapper stick. I got both of them for 80 bucks each (bargain I think!), and can't wait to give them a run. I'll be sure to let you all know how they perform, and hopefully have some photos and reports as a result. Thanks again, Geoff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blindluck Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 I would stick with the shimano,bought a few okumas cause they cost less. I cooked a few of them and made the switch back........gt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now