Okuma Fishing Tackle from Taiwan is a global manufacturer of fishing reels and rods. Since its start in 1986, Okuma’s main focus has been to produce high-quality reels at a reasonable price. In its early years, Okuma only manufactured fly fishing reels, but it is now one of the world’s leading manufacturers of spinning, baitcasting, and saltwater fishing reels, as well as being highly skilled in rod production in recent years.
This indicates which side of the reel the handle is on.
Reel size
This indicates the size class of the reel. The size is specified differently depending on the type of reel, and you can read more about how they’re classified under Frequently Asked Questions in each reel’s category.
Sub category
Type of fishing
Refers to which type of fishing the product is intended for.
Example: A spinning reel is intended for the spin fishing method.
Gear ratio grouping
What is gear ratio? The term gear ratio, or 'gear ratio' in English, is a value that indicates how many turns the reel’s spool makes per crank. A normal gear ratio is around 5.0:1 and up, meaning the spool rotates five times per crank. A high gear ratio, 'high speed,' is typically around 6.5:1, meaning 6.5 rotations per crank. Such a reel can be useful, for example, when fishing for sea trout on the coast, as trout often like a bit of speed on the lure.
Are you a beginner and want better control over the lure you’ve cast? Use a reel with a slightly lower gear ratio, around 5.0:1.
Max drag capacity grouping
Refers to how many kilos the reel can brake. The more kilos the reel can handle, the more powerful the drag. Many spinning reels have a braking strength up to 5 kilos, and that’s sufficient for fishing with standard lures (around 10-30 grams) and fighting our most common freshwater fish. However, when casting really heavy lures, like in heavier pike fishing, you want the reel to handle at least 10 kilos of braking strength. Saltwater anglers and extreme fishermen targeting the largest species require a really powerful drag that can withstand all the stresses fishing entails. A super-strong drag with over 20 kilos of braking force is not uncommon in this genre.
Fish species
Here, we’ve categorized the products based on which fish you want to hook. We’ve relied on what manufacturers specify, but also on experience of what usually works. The list could almost be endless, and many things work for more species than we’ve listed, so don’t be afraid to experiment.
