Opinions wanted on rod.

[Huntbear]

Yea, Yea, I know, everyone has an opinion.

However, I am curious to see what everyone thinks of the Okuma SST rods.  I have heard, they are very thin walled, and brittle.  Anyone have any experience with em?

Thanks

[Jason]

I would definitely recommend the SST, about 2 months ago I bought a Okuma SST 2-6lb 6.0' UL spin cast rod and love it, I was going to buy a new Lami to replace my 10yr old Lami and was informed by the guy behind the counter to save some $ and buy this rod.
 

[Sporting_Man]

I bought a Kokanee model for my brother, it snapped first fishing trip he made... I returned it, and wouldn't buy another one. I will stick with my Lamis, G. Loomis and St. Croix rods.

[Thefisherman83]

Okuma's are good for the price.    I know a couple people that fish them.

[Huntbear]

Cool guys, thank you for the opinions.  I think I am going to try one as a float rod for steelhead.  If it breaks, I am out about 80 bucks.

[Gobble]

Never used them, I use mainly G Loomis and Lamiglas rods. How do they compare in price and performance?

[rasbo]

Im not happy with their reels....for the price a fisheagle2 rod from cabelas is good..

[Skyvalhunter]

It's not the rod but how you hold your pole!!

[MtnMuley]

I wouldn't buy an Okuma rod or reel for myself, nor recommend it to anybody.  One of the very few brands that I have nothing good to say about.  Shimano makes a few rods in the Okuma price range that are twice rod in my opinion.  Pfleuger makes reels in the Okuma price range that are 4 times the reel.

[superdown]

I've broken three of there reels and wouldn't buy another i have only fished for trout with the two rods I've had and haven't had a problem.

[Huntbear]

Never used them, I use mainly G Loomis and Lamiglas rods. How do they compare in price and performance?

Nor sure on performance.  Price is under $100.

[Rick]

I bought a Kokanee model for my brother, it snapped first fishing trip he made... I returned it, and wouldn't buy another one. I will stick with my Lamis, G. Loomis and St. Croix rods.

Any rod can break. I'm sure there wasn't any operator error involved either. Just snapped out of the blue...right?

I read about more $400 Loomis rods breaking than Okumas.

[quadrafire]

I thought this was opinions on A-rod. I could give a few, but that might heat up the thread

[backyard bucks]

i bought one last winter and caught some steelhead with it. love it.
for the reels i have 7 spinning reels for my bass rods and have never had a problem with them yet to date and some of them have been around awhile.. just my 

[mallard79]

I own several rods and reels made by Okuma.  I personally love them for the price.  The rods I buy are the celilo model.  I have broken 1, but it was pretty abused rod when it broke.  For around $40, it lasted a couple years of heavy use.  That said, I can replace these rods and be back to fishing faster than if I had to deal with a warranty (they do have a warranty but my break was from abuse).  As for the reals, I was and still am a Quantum fan, but I can not complain about my $35 Okuma spinning reels.  I use them for everything from side drifting to float fishing.  My gear gets used and abused pretty hard between my son and I, and they get loaned out to friends pretty often also.  I have better things I can spend the extra $$$$ on.  Not that I don't like, or have, high end gear, who doesn't?  I don't like having to worry about scratching the finish on my $100+ rods and reels.  They catch fish and if you take care of them they will take care of you.

[Wacenturion]

The only thing you can compare Okuma SST's to either Lamiglas or Loomis is the price.  There is no comparison in quality and feel between those two and Okuma.  Looked at them and personally even for the price I would opt elsewhere.  Berkley Air is close, a little more, and much better in my opinion.

[garyltbh]

buy the best rod you can aford.i fish more than most people. and i use g loomis and lamis but the reason i use them is my sister works for loomis so i get a real good deal once a yr.but if she didnt i would save my money and buy the best rod i could.

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20372&id=0060380123764a&navCount=1&podId=0060380&parentId=cat20372&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IA&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true

This is my favorite rod for plunking summer steel off the bank...10'6" convergance.

[Huntbear]

How is that rod for throwing plugs or floats?   I want it to do more than one thing.  Also, how sensitive is it for feeling the bite on the bottom? 

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20372&id=0060380123764a&navCount=1&podId=0060380&parentId=cat20372&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IA&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true

This is my favorite rod for plunking summer steel off the bank...10'6" convergance.

[Thefisherman83]

How is that rod for throwing plugs or floats?   I want it to do more than one thing.  Also, how sensitive is it for feeling the bite on the bottom? 

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20372&id=0060380123764a&navCount=1&podId=0060380&parentId=cat20372&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IA&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true

This is my favorite rod for plunking summer steel off the bank...10'6" convergance.

The convergences suck.  They are heavy and ackward.  Stick with the okuma or step it up to a lami or loomis. 

[Thefisherman83]

Cool guys, thank you for the opinions.  I think I am going to try one as a float rod for steelhead.  If it breaks, I am out about 80 bucks.

If you are already dropping $80 on an okuma you might as well step it up to the guide select 9' light action.  Great rod for the price.  I think they run right around $90.

[cohoho]

If you like it and it is in your price range get it....  I used to run nothing but Lamiglass rods (6) in AK at about 180-200 a pop.  I broke everyone while into fish (they are extremely sensitive to scratches, nicks etc..) and am down to one last one that recently the eyes have popped out.   It isn't about the rod that catches fish.  All my salmon stuff is Ugly Glass Lites in Heavy action for Kenai Kings and med heavy for silvers and med for reds....  When I took my final lamiglass back to the store I bought it from (when you could do that), I simply traded for several Ugly stick lites and have been happy ever since...  As for the Okuma rods, don't know much about them.  As for their Okuma reels I used the heck out of them for Sturgeon, Keepers and Oversized and haven't smoked one yet or had to change drags out...  There isn't a salmon in Washington that will abuse your gear, only you will.  I have 5 Abu Garcia 6501's for Salmon and haven't smoke one of them either on literally thousands of Salmon in AK.  If your buying one rod and one reel then maybe buy the best there is out there, but no matter what buy what you feel works and forget all this Chevy-vs Ford type debates....

[Huntbear]

Well, I have a 8'6" Kunnan that has landed hundreds of salmon, and steelhead.  But I want a longer rod. (don't we all  )  I want something that will work as a float/spinner/casting plugs rod.  I think I found what I want.  A Fenwick HMX 9'6" Medium action Fast tip.  Just have to convince the little woman I need to spend the money. 

[Thefisherman83]

Recomending an ugly stick is kinda like raw doggin your sister... It feels good, but really you are just screwing up the next generation.

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

Dude the convergance is great for float, plunking rod. They are not heavy, they are not balanced. That is why it feels heavy. If you add weight to the butt it will balance better and not feel as heavy.
I use a 9'6" clarus for casting plugs, an 8'6" shakespear intrepid for drifting. 9' berkley IM7 for the boat for kwick or wobbler fishing.

I really like the shimano rods and the berkley rods.

[Huntbear]

Dude the convergance is great for float, plunking rod. They are not heavy, they are not balanced. That is why it feels heavy. If you add weight to the butt it will balance better and not feel as heavy.
I use a 9'6" clarus for casting plugs, an 8'6" shakespear intrepid for drifting. 9' berkley IM7 for the boat for kwick or wobbler fishing.

I really like the shimano rods and the berkley rods.

Ok, so come over this way and go fishing, let me try it out, see if I like it.   

[Wacenturion]

Take a ride to Woodland and stop at Lamiglass.  They have a whole bunch of poles...seconds etc for sale at a much reduced price.  Just have to be lucky if you set on a specific length, model etc.....but well worth the trip.

[Huntbear]

Take a ride to Woodland and stop at Lamiglass.  They have a whole bunch of poles...seconds etc for sale at a much reduced price.  Just have to be lucky if you set on a specific length, model etc.....but well worth the trip.

Every time I go to my brother's up at Castle Rock, I stop in there.  I have shopped there for almost 25 yrs.  Used to buy my blanks there when I wrapped rods.

[Thefisherman83]

I used to fish nothing but Lamiglas until they started making rods in China!  I lost a lot of respect for the company at that point and will never buy one again.  On that note I have a lamiglas Rogue river 9' light action for sale.  Huntbear I'll make you a good deal if you want it. It is the original one not that POS that is passing for one these days. 

[BigGoonTuna]

the only chinese rods that lamiglas sells are the < $100 ones like the "rock creek" series.  all their good ones are made in the US.  those other ones are just out there to compete with the berkleys and okumas.

[Huntbear]

I used to fish nothing but Lamiglas until they started making rods in China!  I lost a lot of respect for the company at that point and will never buy one again.  On that note I have a lamiglas Rogue river 9' light action for sale.  Huntbear I'll make you a good deal if you want it. It is the original one not that POS that is passing for one these days. 

my email is in my profile, can  you send me the specifics on the rod, and pics.

[Thefisherman83]

E-mail sent.

[Huntbear]

Is this a spinning or casting rod?

[Thefisherman83]

Spinning  If you want casting I have a Certified Pro

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

Might also look at some of the WW Grigg rods. Good rod for the money.

If you don't take care of your rods they will not take care of you. Graphite will break if you score it.

[Sporting_Man]

A good way to go (for drift fishing, spoons, even plunking) would be a St. Croix rod, Wild River series, about $140-150, 9.5 ft long. These are excellent rods, I own one, besides my G. Loomis and Lamiglas. It holds its own against them... Highly recommended, IMHO.

[Jason]

starting tomorrow Fishermans has the SST rods on sale for $54.99 reg $69.99