Okuma Makaira spinning reel

[Glos]

We have, the strongest spinning reel ever built
I don't think that anyone will ever need to repair it
maybe drag knob rebuild will be done by some and what I mean by that can be found here:
http://www.alanhawk.com/reviews/mks.html

[alantani]

interesting read........

[Glos]

interesting read........

very much so
the fishing community is lucky to have two Alan's that save no effort to make things better understood..

[foakes]

Great read --

Looks like a solid reel from a good company.

I also look forward to Alan Hawk's assessment on the new Penn Torque II...

I do not gobble up everything folks tell me about reels, or anything else in life -- however, when either Alan Tani, or Alan Hawk say something about reels -- you can generally take 98% of it to the bank.

Thanks for sharing!

Best,

Fred

[Rancanfish]

Very interesting reading for sure.  I came away wondering why it takes 3 days to get sand out of your butt crack.....(see last paragraph, lol).

However, I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact that I will never do any of the heavy fish pursuit I dreamed of in my younger days.

So if my guys Alan Tani, or John Tuttle review a reel and say it'll hold up to what I'm doing, voila! 

The only two Okumas I own are for sale, the little 20 size baitrunner models I bought came from the factory with jerky, unusable drags in bait mode.  I used them once and put them back in the box.  A bit different price range though.

[Midway Tommy]

That sure is a long sucker , the review that is. 

[johndtuttle]

This is the old preview of a prototype that I did on the Makaira Spinning:

https://www.bdoutdoors.com/forums/threads/okuma-makraira-spinner-okuma-goes-beast-mode-preview.632528/

$800 Super Spinners are not everyone's cup of tea, but if you want one that is brutally strong, Makaira is beast mode.

[Midway Tommy]

Holy Cow!!! @ 37 oz just for the reel I'd need a "rod & reel bearer".     My entire outfit, rod, reel & line, only weigh 10.3 oz.

Those are most definitely mean machines! Fishing with something that would wear me out in no time.   

[Tiddlerbasher]

Rancan - if the baitfeeders you had were Trios (or similar) swap the drag washers for greased cf you will not believe the difference. I have the 30,40 and 55 size (all converted) brilliant little reels for the money

[whalebreath]

Always enjoyed Alan Hawk's work-he's an exacting character who tries hard to be fair and that in itself is hard work.

[conchydong]

Good read. Personally, I just don't use spinners for heavy fishing. I guess it is the price tag compared to a conventional reel that can deliver the same strength. Maybe some day.

[coastal_dan]

I appreciate his in-depth reviews.  The forged main is something else...  Fun and informative read, I'll need to start reading his reviews more often.  He certainly sounds like he gets around fishing wise...121 lb tuna on that reel to me would certainly be a test...!

[johndtuttle]

Good read. Personally, I just don't use spinners for heavy fishing. I guess it is the price tag compared to a conventional reel that can deliver the same strength. Maybe some day.

The conventional reel of the same strength cannot cast like the super spinners can...

[coastal_dan]

I've seen a couple guys use these bottom fishing I just worry about the line connecting with the rail/gunwale of the boat and either catching or fraying (line being beneath the rod).  Also, conventional allow us to cheat and use the rail.

Obviously, spinners aren't really made for these scenarios and the conventional will be better suited.

Curious about the casting comment, I remember a lot of folks talked about the old modded Penns or older modded Abu's winning the distance contests, but I have no info to add here.  I just fish the snot out of my SSV's and enjoy the heck out of them, haha!

[johndtuttle]

I've seen a couple guys use these bottom fishing I just worry about the line connecting with the rail/gunwale of the boat and either catching or fraying (line being beneath the rod).  Also, conventional allow us to cheat and use the rail.

Obviously, spinners aren't really made for these scenarios and the conventional will be better suited.

Curious about the casting comment, I remember a lot of folks talked about the old modded Penns or older modded Abu's winning the distance contests, but I have no info to add here.  I just fish the snot out of my SSV's and enjoy the heck out of them, haha!

Its not about a distance contest. Conventional reels optimized for distance are awesome...

Its about throwing artificial lures to all points of the wind over a days fishing. This is ideal with spinners.