Okuma v Shimano

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Mick Smith

Guest
Well the time has finally arrived, after years of excellent service I intend to put my trusty Mitchell 300s out to grass. (sob,sob).But with what to replace them with? I originally thought of buying a pair of Shimano GTE 800s,but I could save a few quid if I bought a pair of Okuma Epix Baitfeeders. Both reels get good reviews. Any body out there with any advice?
 
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Alan Roe

Guest
I have a pair of the Epix Baitfeeders and they are excellent and I have no problem with recommending them to you
 
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Carp Angler

Guest
I thought Okuma reels were for tight Northern gits who can't afford proper reels.

Shimano every time for me.
 
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Andrew Thomas

Guest
Have a look at the new Mitchells before you buy. Very well engineered.
 
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andrew jackson

Guest
I have used and abused Shimanos for many years and to be honest I simply can't fault them. They have never let me down and even my oldest are still silky smooth. I know Alan rates his okuma's but they just dont appear to have the build quality of the shimanos. I also love the line lay on the shimano reels, an important factor if you intend fishing at range. Personaly a team of wild horses couldnt pull me away from my shimanos, but that could be a lot to do with not changing a winning team, rather than a slur on other makes. See Rik, not all tight northern gits use Okuma.
 
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Stu Stark

Guest
I bought 3 okumas around 5 mths ago now and all 3 have had to go back to the shop for the same reason, on the side of the reel you have a plastic screw which after very few uses will crumble in you hand. (Its the screw that holds the handle tight to the reel) I still have these reels but I now use them for marker floating, Spodding and a spair rod in the bag for suface fishing, on my 3 main rods I've bought the 10000xtes which i find faultless, I only paid ?80 each which is only a couple of quid more than the 8000s. (battle tackle) With out a doubt buy SHIMANO you can't beat quality...
 
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Ozz Buchan

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Mick,
Take a look at the new Mitchell full runner series, I've just obtained two of them and they are superb.
 
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Gary Knowles

Guest
Even for a tight northern git like me there is no substitute for the best - buy Shimano!
 
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steve southwick

Guest
oh well i must be a tight northern git
got 3 of the maver sportera baitrunners
and cannot fault them 60 quid each
a bargain
 
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Mike Lee

Guest
When I bought my kit I thought carefully about each individual piece.
Functionality was first on the list followed by longetivity.
What's the point of buying kit and having to replace it in two or three years time.
I respect Cakeys opinion on Shimano gears but have to disagree.
It's Diawa for me with three S5000 Tournaments attached to the rods.
You can pick them up in excellent condition for around ?100 each second hand - they will last and last...
 
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Alan Roe

Guest
Eeerrrrmmm There may be a slight problem in the future for Shimano fans as their reels are made for them...........By Okuma..... who are in the process of telling Shimano that they aren't going to be making reels for shimano in future.......
 
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Birds Nest

Guest
How do you know that Alan ? Are they made entirely ? or just in parts.. I cant believe Shimano dont make their own gearings...
 
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Ron Clay

Guest
By the way, for some of us it's not a matter of being tight - it's simply a matter of being poor - ;o{
 
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Jim Pullin

Guest
Oh, now I understand Ron. For years I've heard people saying you were a poor fisherman and I just naturally asumed ....
 
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Kevan Farmer

Guest
Okuma have been in the reel making business for years. It's only recently that they have started to brand their own and market them as such. I had a problem with my first Okuma Epix - ER 30 - when the main shaft just come astray. The shop changed it straight away - WMAC, cheers guys - and I have had no trouble since. I also have a couple of Shimano Baitrunners - 5010's. Very nice reels but not worth what I paid for them - I got them brand new about 4 years ago. not much help but time will tell if the Epix Baitrunners are really good.

I prefer a pin nowadays anyway :))))

Kevan
 
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Alan Roe

Guest
Birds Nest it's been something of an open secret in the tackle trade for a long time now and given the current situation it is a major talking point.
There is nothing new in this badge engineering has been around for a long time in the UK Youngs made reels for everybody with different badges on them.
People will always source products at the best price and sell them for the maximum profit it's simply good business sense.
The UK carp market has tended to be seen as a premium market by the big two Diawa and Shimano and thus we have the situation of baitrunner type reels that were developed for sea angling in other countries predominantly the States being flogged for carp fishing in this country and a suitably inflated price.
Compare the price of the Diawa Infinity XBR in this country to it's price in the states where it is a sea reel there is a huge difference!
This has sod all to do with any of the usual excuses about market size and specialist Research and development and everything do do with what they think that they can get away with charging you lot!
It will be interesting to see what happens to Diawas reels when Tica another firm that many over here haven't heard much about....yet stop producing reels for them...
The reality is that despite the advertising hype most of the reels that come into this country are now manufactured in china despite the name on the box, this is because these two factories can produce whatever you want at the right price
 
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Birds Nest

Guest
I honestly didn't know that. I assumed Shimano made their own reels, as they manufacture Bike parts. Top info, thanks Alan and Kevan.
 
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Stuart Dennis

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Nice to see you've changed your pic Ron, that old cardigan of yours was wearing thin mate! Also nice to see you holding a specimen river carp too!

Love you really!
 
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