Okuma

[Jennie@ifish]

Now that they have been out for a while, what kind of luck have you had with them?
Anyone have one they really like? How are they holding up? Any problems?
Jen

[Thumper]

As I said above, I love my Epix 30, though I may have gotten one after they fixed their handle problems. However I did take the little chrome cap off the handle changing screw (it was causing the screw to loosen) and threw it away and everything works great. Superb drag. I hope to wear it out this summer landing hundreds, repeat hundreds, of summer steelies in the NF Lewis.

[BUBBA911]

I have the 30 efs with the fast retrieve. Great for catching up to those quick silver bullets..No problem with the pin that everyone talks about falling out. But the real is stiff to engage after casting. My friends tell me they get better with use. So far a good real for the money. First trip out landed 4 fish with it. So my vote is a thumbs up!

[THE REEL HEY_YALL]

After Okuma promply and professionally sent me my replacement handle (I think I was the first one to have this problem) it has been working fine. Why they make the thing collapsible is beyond me. Some JB weld works fine for those who are having button problems. JB Kwik is the best, but super glue works too.

So far, like Thumper said, superb drag system and I am pleased with the reel for the amount of money I have spent. Big kings and silvers were landed on it this fall.

[Grnhead99353]

Where are Okumas made? Korea? IMO nothing good ever came out of Korea. Shimano is the one and only. Now the **** can make some stuff! Clue me in.

[corky23]

okuma was originally just a oem parts manufacturer for other companies shimano included. the handel on my epix got really loose and i called okuma direct and they sent me a new one asap. the also have a new reel out with the same amount of bearings and a one piece handel. the name is pretty corny
(the metaloid) part number is MD-30 i think the body is all metal hence the name,msrp 79.99
i am really pleased with the smoothness of my reel.
now i just need a longer rod to go with it :grin:
later
kris

[Thumper]

Brian ... it is good that you have a completely open mind about this.

[Grnhead99353]

Just know what works there Thumper. Should I get the Hyundai or the Acura? Hmmmmm?

[RichH]

I'm bringing this back up because I had the button break on one of my reels yesterday :depressed:
and I was wondering how Y'all got them to send a replacement handle. I emailed them yesterday and so far have received no response.

[corky23]

go to the website and get the toll free number
later
kris

[corky23]

I'll save you the trip :grin: 1-800-GO-OKUMA
they have really good customer service
later
kris

[Jim]

For me not a stellar performance...I have 10 epix 30's...have replaced 8 handles...all broke while clients were fighting fish. I got real good at changing handles while the battle was still on. The Avenger has a better handle set up and have changed some of my reels to that. Many of the bails do not flip back well at all which is a frustration. But the drags as everyone else has said are awesome and the reel smoothness has retained fairly well despite punishing them.

However I will be sell them either by the lot or one at a time. Going to go back to what has worked for so long....
So I will be putting some Okuma Epix 30 with 20lb Power Pro all ready loaded on one spool up for sale soon in the classifieds. None will need repair but they will have had one or all of the above stated problems.

Jim

[Capin' Dan]

I give them a thunbs up. Wow this reel is smooth and I have really been breaking it in this year. It is still a young reel but so far I really like it.

[RichH]

Thanks for the # Kris, I guess I must not have looked over the website that close. I just love the way those reels handle, at least right up until the pin broke. :mad: :depressed:

It has been a fairly lucky reel for me as the fish are all over it(at least with what I've been throwing with it)
:grin:

[THE REEL HEY_YALL]

Sorry to not have caught you sooner, Rich, but you got hooked up with the number. I sent them an email when I went to replace mine, and they called me to tell me that they have had a lot of problems with the button, and sent me the replacement out immediately. I got to fight a pink with the broken handle. That was kinda fun.

Brian, and should anyone buy real estate from you because you made semi-racist remarks? I mean if you want to get technical about it....

If you haven't even tried the thing, how the hell can you knock it?

Too many crackers commenting on stuff they have no business commenting on these days.

[Osprey]

I think I've had mine as long as anyone..except Jim Rivers :rolleyes:

I have had ZERO problems with mine,I had them send me a handle when everyone else's starting going south,I carry it
hope I don't need it.

Damn I'm sure I just jinxed myself :depressed: ...Os

[RichH]

Well, I tried the # and it has been disconnected. I also have not received a response from an email I sent on Sunday so I called the toll # on their website and they're sending one right out for each of my reels. :grin:
Now maybe I can get out and rejoin the slaughter.

[Tilla]

I guess that the failure ratio is just a teeny bit high for my .02 cents. I guess I was in line to give them a try, but I'll defer. My wife gave me another Stradic 4000 for Christmas so it's now a mute point. But the reel does look nice. I was wondering if anyone has tried any of the Cabelas branded product, both spinning as well as casting. I bet they don't actually manufacture those and maybe someone like Okuma does. :rolleyes:

[Jim]

Hey Tilla I hear you are a fellow Thor Built owner...how long have you owned yours?

O.My Kiss....email me! Can't figure out how to respond to the private message...you can see the price of the Okuma Epix reels I have in the classifieds.

Jim :grin:

[Barnyard]

How about their rods...How do they fish???..A friend got a 1 to 6 oz. for slmon and am wondering if he scored...

[Grnhead99353]

Hey Reel! Bite me! I really like you "tough guys" guys that get ****** off so easy. You're too easy! And yes I sell ... alot! Sincerely, Cracker. :smile:

[DanS]

Well, gee, Brian. If you're going to make fun of a "Korean" reel, don't you think it should be made in Korea?

Your broker must be proud......... :rolleyes:

[blacktail]

I checked one out today at GI Joes. They look and feel to be a very good reel for $60.00.

Can't say anything else I've looked at in this price range is this nice. Plus it comes with a spare ALUMINUM spool, not the cheesy graphite spares that most reels in this price range come with.

However, side by side with a Stradic I would say the Stradic looks to be a nicer reel. Then again a Stradic is almost twice as much money.

I currently fish a Stradic 2000, but if I was truly in the market I would probably give the Okuma a shot.

Mike

[Grant Scheele]

Now I am embarrassed to even have my Associate Brokers license. They used to do background checks when I got my Real Estate license. What's changed?

[Grnhead99353]

You guys are such a joke. I was just messing with you to stir things up and look at you. Go back to your Jeep ad bashing.

[scrod]

We have four Epix 30s and so far all is good. :smile:

[Straydog]

I haven't fished any of the Okuma's but they have certainly passed the "return test" that I use to judge product I haven't used.

I have sold hundreds of the epics and quite a few of the granites with very little return problem.

Reading here is the first I had heard of the handle problem but I have had maybe 3 or 4 of the epics come back due to bad bail springs.

I think for the money it is hard to go wrong with them.

They made reels for others for years so have a long track record even though the name hasn't been marketed but for a couple years.

Check out thier Celilo rods too! A entry to mid level price point that has been real good in the market place. I sold bunches last Springer season in the Rogue and Umpqua basins and had no returns to date.