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Dr. TubeDube did some surgery last week and mended a broken light weight spinning rod of mine. During the month or so the rod was out of commission, the reel it was married to felt lonely and started spending time with another rod. Now the mended rod is looking for a new partner.
I only want to spend $50-$60 max. Less would even be better. The Pflueger President, Shimano Sedona, and Okuma Expiror are all in that price range. It sounds like you can’t go wrong with a Shimano, I’ve read good things everywhere about the President (Pflueger's that is). So I am really wondering about the Expiror. Both the President and Sedona are graphite frames while the Expiror is aluminum. The Expiror has 10 bearings, 6 more than the Sedona and the same number as the President.
I was leaning towards the President, but I am wondering if the Expiror is a better deal with the aluminum body? Anybody have experience with Okuma spinning reels?
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[cool][#0000ff]If you get a good look at my full rod rack on my tube, you will note that just about every spinning reel is an Okuma Epixor...size 15...ultralight. Love 'em. I have not bought any other make of reel in the last two years.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I sent you a PM with a "special offer".[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Hope the patient is able to resume a full and active (fishing) life.[/#0000ff]
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With that kind of endorsement I'm going to have the try the Okuma.
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I second the motion! 2 Tubers can't be wrong!
These little guys were caught on my Okuma Alumina. It is the baitcast version of the quality reel that you are about to purchase.
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These other ones were caught from deeper water on the Okuma Coronado CD50 spinning reel.
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I don't know what problems they have had either. I am working with a panel of 19 others across the US to make or brake whatever is out there made by Okuma.
There prices are so good for the general public. We are out there to find the defects so that they can improve the product and make it the best lower cost products on the market.
There are some nice changes going on as we progress with the spinning, baitcast and fly reels.
I just started the saltwater package too. I am still using my freshwater gear to catch hard fighting saltwater species.
Some of the improvements are subtle and the others are a little more drastic.
The people that say Okuma sucks or is such a bad product are not using it every day like I am. My job is to find out what is wrong with it or just do my best to break it under abnormal conditions.
Ask anyone around that has experience with Barracudas what one of them could potentially do to an 8lb rig. That is normally a "No go" situation. I happened to get a bigger fish on an 8lb setup than the rest of the boat caught with their 25 and 30lb rigs.
The trick is in setting the drag properly. I caught 27 Barracuda on that trip with the 8lb set up. The drag got plenty of use and abuse. The new material (secret for now) didn't even have noticable wear.
That same reel caugt 21 LMBs and 49 Wipers just 2 days before. All the Bass and Wipers were in the 10 to 13lb range. No strain on the drag and no problems with the bearings.
I have gone through 27 different models of Okuma freshwater reels. Some are on the market and others will be out soon. I only broke 1 of them beyond repair.
I accidentaly hooked a large Yellow Tail on a 4lb rig. It hit too hard and too fast for the drags to work properly and exploded the reel. That was fun sending the report in for that one.
They weren't the least bit worried since the reel was designed for 4 to 8lb, had already caught some 10lb Bass and then go abused on a 20 + pound fish.
Extreme fishing has it's limits. I'm glad I had a lifetime warranty on the rod too because it snapped in a blink of the eye. The rod was not Okuma. I start the rod testing in the early Spring of 08.[cool]
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[cool][#0000ff]Fishermen are an opinionated bunch. Everybody has his or her preferences, based on a different set of criteria and preconceived notions.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Try before you buy.[/#0000ff]
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No Okuma experience but I have Shimano experience. I have a Sedona 4000 and it is a decent reel. I think it is worth the 10.00 to go up to the Sahara to get the Al. frame (on all except the 750's) my only complaint is I have them spooled with Excalibur Silver Thread and it cut into the strut that connects to the bail. I sent Shimano an email and they gave me the choice to send it back and have them replace it or to send me the part. I just had them send me the part and it was at no cost to me. The reel is a few years old and still runs well. I have played with the Okuma's in the store and they seam like good reels to me.
My experience in reels is not nearly as great as TD’s how ever I have had a little Shimano Symetre 1000 for about 18 years and it is still running, its only down fall is that it is a rear drag and that bail only locks at the 6 o’clock and 12 o’clock positions so it is lousy for jigging but a good little stream reel.
Majja
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