I’m looking for a light, inexpensive LA reel. Does anyone have any thoughts on this graphite Okuma?
It seems too cheap to be any good:
http://www.okumafishingteam.com/family/61834/Cascade
Also, they have this one:
http://www.okumafishingteam.com/family/61832
Randy
Randy,
The Cascade seems to meet all your criteria. At that price I’d be tempted to buy one just to see how it is. Okuma reels are my spey fishing reels of choice (salmon and steelhead). Though they are not graphite they are well made reels.
REE
I have several Okuma fly reels, none of them are the graphinte models, but I have no complaints about the ones I do have. For the money, I don’t think you could go wrong with one.
TT.
Randy, I don’t own any personally, but do know a few guys who have and use the SLV and not only like them, but as far as I know have not had any issues. I looked at them at the local Sprotsman’s Warehouse and they seem to be well made. I also read on another site where someone was using one of the larger ones in the salt and had no complaints.
I have an Okuma ‘Sierra’. Have had it for several years and it’s been a workhorse. Unless there’s been a major change in the company, I’d certainly recommend its reels.
Allan
I’ve had several Okuma reels. Both Sierras and SLVs. I haven’t had any issues with any of them. While the tolerances aren’t microscopic, they are entirely acceptable. The drag systems work very smooth and have infinite adjustment. For their strength, durability and price, I liken them to the Pflueger Medalist of the 21st century, only better made. I don’t think you’ll be sorry if you try one.
I believe I have a Cascade, a Sierra, and an SLV. I have not lined or fished any of them. I really like the SLV in hand. Hoping it will fish well. I am no expert on anything.
I will sell you the Cascade or the Sierra…for less than prices at troutlet.com. You can see a lot of okuma reels there.
I prefer graphite reels. Drop one and it can bounce across the room and still have no damage. Drop a light weight aluminum reel and see what happens. I also have the TICA Veteran unused and dropped it about 8 inches to the table. Bent the foot. Easy fix…but what if it had bent the reel? Would probably have been toast. Will sell that one also.
I have too many rods, reels, lines. When wife passed I went to CO and sat on a lake and howled at the moon for about 6 months. I had internet access to pay bills. Did not realize what I was doing…but bought rods, reels, lines off FAOL constantly all summer. I didn’t realize it at the time but I now think it was just a way of coping.
Anyway that is why I have so much stuff. I will be selling it on FAOL and other sites when I get unlazy. I don’t sell junk. Meaning whatever I sell it will be functional…if not your favorite rod or reel. It will be in ok working condition. I don’t cheeeze anyone.
Anywhooo…on the three okuma reels I mentioned. The drag knobs have no stop when you unscrew them to lighten the drag. They will just unscrew all the way out and fall in you hand! I can imagine a reel just riding around in the boat, or vehicle not being used on a couple of trips…and when you go to look at it, the drag knob is off? Also the threads are exposed. They are not sealed. A speck of dirt can very easily get on the greased threads. On the SLV I went to Ace and got an “O” ring and put over the threads and reinstalled the drag knob. I think that is going to hold the knob in position and help keep dirt out. I really wanna try out the SLV but might sell it to. It is a sweet 9/10. But I got an SLV from someone already lined for a switch rod. So I can try it out. Because…I already have a Trion, A Loomis Synchrotec, uh…and forget…but plenty of other reels to line up and use. Oh the Trion has an extra spool, and I may just buy a couple more extra spools for it.
Anyway good luck with the reel choice. I much prefer the knob type on the SLV. I have seen other styles of knob design for center drag…and I much prefer the knurled knob as opposed to any other style.
Just fyi…and opinions… just me. I’m no conniseur of anything.
Gem
The Cascade has been popular here as an inexpensive light saltwater reel for surf and bay fishing. The drag is fairly smooth and the reel very corrosion resistant. One local shop sells a good number of them. They have proven more durable than the more expensive Okuma Integrity. Aside from sw usage the reel should be fine for most trout and warmwater usage and very durable.
The SLV seems to be a nice reel at the pricepoint but they didn’t sell. Seems well made but don’t have any feedback from users.
Well, I might as well be the lone duck here.
You get what you pay for. Okuma is a very, very good company. Nothing wrong with it’s products and I have both reels that you mentioned and have used others in their lineup,both fly and spinning.But,
Graphite is not the reel of choice for me. The drag is pretty good, not real good. You get a 20" rainbow pulling on that rod and your drag will give out line in spurts, not really what you wanted to hear. Not Okumas fault but in the manufacture of graphite reels. Tolerances are not that close. Open for debris and other strange objects. I got Redington, Cabelas, and others in the graphite reels and have swapped them all out for aluminum reels.
A friend had his Redington graphite reel stuck in a rod with too small of an opening in the reels seat. He twisted and pulled and broke the foot off the reel inside. That will not happen with an aluminum foot. Another had fallen into the stream and the reel hit a rock and broke into pieces. Sure accident happens but if it were aluminum, it would bend or nick,not smash. Then there is me, I thought to save money buying a large arbor graphite reel,only to have the spool fall off on a great run by a large brownie. This stuff can happen to anyone,sure. But it wont be for my equipment anymore. Not saying spend $1000 for a reel but we spend how much on a rod, why not buy a good reel??? I have fly lines worth more than the reel, why??? Because that line casts better than the cheap ones. The reel will last longer than my fly line, why not make a good decision to buy a better reel???
Now the SLV is better reel for the money. Got one is 9/10 and it’s a workhorse. I got small small seirras and they treated me good for a good long time but I retired them too.
I too, always tried to save money but have realized—with age—that I get what I pay for. Saving $25 on a reel and end up buying another later on in life did nothing but make me smarter. As I saved up my pennies, I swapped out my reels for CNC machine cut,larger arbor, reels with solid drags. You might find a cast investment reel in my reel bags but they are backups,not the reels of choice.
Remember, Okuma is a very good company, nothing wrong with them, I just feel graphite should be in the rods, not reels…
Randy
That is cast, like the lower end WW reel. I had the Konic for a long time but eventually, depending on where you fish, you will chip that reel up. You can find a decent large arbor machined reel for around $100.00.
Try Allen reels, their Trout series. I use them for my guide rigs…
Folks thanks so much for your feedback. It’s all very helpful.
Randy