FYI Okuma Service

Just a little FYI for anybody. I bought an okuma avenger and am now in my third season with it. It is the 65 class reel, and it has held up well considering I only paid around $50 for it new on ebay. Recently, the drag knob stopped clicking when I tightened up on the drag or removed it. It seemed to hold its drag setting, but it bugged me. So, I called OKUMA, talked to a service rep who spoke English and was from America, and he sent me a new one, no questions asked, for free. When it came in, it was exactly the right part for the reel. I couldn't have asked for more.

I've said before that I don't know how these reels would hold up to the abuse of someone fishing them every day, but for the occasional user from far away who doesn't want to spend big bucks on a reel, it is doing great.

I have 4 of those that I use for catfishing and they haven't failed me yet. I was thinking about bringing one with me in October as a backup. Do you use the bait clicker to freeline live bait?

BBJ, I do have two of the baitfeeder models -- one 55 and one 65. The line capacity is greater on those than the non-baitfeeders. They work excellent for free lining, yes. I use 12# test on the 55 with small LY's for spanish and small kings, and 14# or 15# on the big one for bigger baits and bigger fish. Every now and then a big fish doesn't get the memo and hits the smaller rig/smaller bait. The only 30-plus king I hooked all this year hit a tiny LY and nearly spooled my 12# before I got him stopped. It was fun while it held together. :)

Okuma makes a fine reel for the money. the Cedros is a beast and you can find them for around $100.00 if your patient .