Selecting an correct Okuma spinning or trolling reel depends on environment in which you are fishing. If the reel is to small, you may find yourself out of line or out of drag when you are fighting a particularly larger fish. If the reel is too large, it will be too heavy to cast and it will tire your arm after a while.
The power of the Okuma reel should match the types of fish and the type of water that you are fishing in. Okuma saltwater spinning reels is meant for use in bays, surf, and offshore waters. The saltwater spinning reels are build to resist the salt and spray in these environments.
How to Choose and Care for Okuma Reels
Mid-sized saltwater spinning reels are good for inshore fishing as they can provide enough drags to turn the fish and enough line capacity to back off the spool. For surf fishing or fishing from a boat, a larger saltwater spinning reel will have stronger drags to hold larger fishes. The premium saltwater spinning reels come with full sealing so that the salt in the water cannot get the gears gritty.
Freshwater reels are used different than saltwater reels. Saltwater spinning reels are used in different situations depending on the type of water. For example, ultralight freshwater fishing reels are used in trout and panfish waters as they are very light and use carbon frame to remain light so that anglers can feel the fish biting.
For areas where bass and pike lives, a freshwater reel that is larger in size will have a beefier drag so that it can handle the stronger pulls of these fish species. Using a light reel in freshwater means using finesse lines so that the fish are not spooked, while using a heavier reel means using braid lines so that the fish can be pulled from cover. Trolling reels are used for different purposes.
Because trolling reels is mounted on boats, they are not used for casting. Line-counter trolling reels are used for salmon and walleye fishing to track the depth of the lure. Small trolling reels are used for kokanee and steelhead fishing, as they has smooth drag systems.
For chinook salmon fishing, large trolling reels are used as they have the line capacity required for deep rig. However, you must match trolling reels to the length of the fishing rod and the line class to be efficient in covering the water with fishing line. Okuma spinning reels include a drag system that must be appropriately set up to avoid lose the fish.
The carbon washers in the drag system provides smoothness for the drag mechanism. Carbon washers can hold the drag without losing effectiveness due to heat. The drag should be set to 1/4 the strength of the fishing line.
However, if using braid, the drag should be set to a loose setting than for monofilament lines. A common mistake with fishing reels is to set the drag to the maximum setting when fighting the fish. However, you should never use the maximum drag setting as the line could snap.
The drag should be eased when the fish jump and tightened when the fish becomes tired. Okuma reels has specific requirements to be matched to the species of fish you are fishing for. Panfish require ultralight reels with small drags so that the hooks are not pulled out of the fish.
For species like bass and walleye, a midsize reel work best. For tuna and grouper fish, a large saltwater reel is required because these species require high drag system and thick braid lines. Pike and catfish require Okuma reels with high power and deep spools since they are caught near the bottom of the water.
Finally, Okuma reels require maintenance to ensure they function correctly for a long time. Saltwater reels should be rinsed with fresh water after every fishing trip. Additionally, the gear in the spinning reel should be greased once a year.
The line roller should also be checked for grit. If Okuma does not perform these step, the reel will not function correctly over time. Finally, you should always store Okuma reels with the drag system loosen so that the drag washers are not damaged over time.