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General Questions

Rod Questions

Reel Questions

General Questions

Q: I am new to fishing, what type of rod or reel should I purchase and where do I start?

  1. There's a lot of components to fishing and it may seem overwhelming. To help new anglers Okuma offers a series of videos in our Tune-Up Tuesday series that will help. Regarding gear, it depends on where you want to go fishing and what you want to fish for. Okuma makes gear for most applications and if you are new to fishing feel free to reach out to us and we can make a recommendation via our portal.

Q: Where can I submit a claim for my warranty or create an RMA#?

  1. To submit a Warranty Claim or create an RMA#, please direct here to our warranty portal by clicking here.

Q: Where can I register my product?

  1. To register your new product, please submit the information required along with a proof of purchase on our product registration page here.

Q: Do Okuma rods have any type of warranty? What are the differences in Okuma’s Rod warranties?

  1. All our rods carry a warranty. Our warranties are either a Limited 1-year Warranty or a limited Lifetime Warranty. To learn more about our rod warranties, please visit our rod warranty page here. 

Q: Do Okuma reels have any type of warranty? What are Okuma’s different Reel warranties?

  1. All our reels carry a warranty. Our warranties are either a Limited 1-year, a Limited 3-year, or a Limited 5-year Warranty. To learn more about our reel warranties, please visit our rod warranty page here. 

Q: Where can I find the Warranty for my product?

  1. Most reel & rod warranties may be found on their packaging or online under the features of their product page. If you are unable to locate the warranty of your rod or reel on our website, please submit an inquiry ticket here and a customer service representative will get back to you shortly. 

Q: Can I purchase just the tip section for my two-piece rod?

  1. We do offer MOST tips for replacement. These tips can be purchased by creating a help ticket and getting in contact with a Customer Service Representative. Please be aware, that rod models that have been discontinued, may not have any tips available.

Q: Where can I order replacement/extra parts for my reels?

  1. Please submit a ticket along with the part numbers needed on our portal here. 

Q: My reels are out of warranty. Can I still get them serviced/Repaired?

  1. Yes, you can. We do offer a Non-Warranty Flat Rate program that we can repair most reels Due to the age of certain reels, parts may not be available. We recommend sending discontinued reel models should be sent in for an “inspect and quote” service. For more information and to view rates on reel warranties, please see our reel warranty page.

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Rod Questions

Q: Can I use a line or a lure/weight that is outside of the recommended line ratings on the rod?

  1. These rods are specifically designed to work at their maximum level of performance within the parameters set by the recommendations on the Rod. If you were to fish a 6lb test line on your rod that is rated 12-25. You sacrifice the action and sensitivity that the rod was designed for. If you are running 40+ line on the same rod you are bottoming out the rod. Similarly, If you were to fish with a 1/16th oz. lure/jig-head and your rod is rated for 1/4-3/4 oz. you will reduce the performance of the rod. If you are running a 2.5 oz. lure on the same rod you are most likely rendering the action useless and over-exerting the rod to the point in which it may break. If you do this, you risk losing your warranty and the use of your rod.

Q: Can I use Braid on my rod?

  1. Yes, all our rods can handle braided lines. Some rods are designed for specific types of line usage, so we do not recommend that you use braid on these specific models.

Q: What are Rod Powers? What are the differences between rod powers: UL, L, ML, M, MH, H, XH, XXH, XXXH?

  1. A Rod’s Power can be described by how much pressure it takes to flex the Rod. Our rods are designed with specific ranges of line and lure classes that are designated by their power. This can vary from UL which is Ultra-Light all the way to XXXH which is Extra Extra Extra Heavy. The abbreviations are as follows:
    • UL: Ultra-Light
    • L: Light
    • ML: Medium Light
    • M: Medium
    • MH: Medium-Heavy
    • H: Heavy
    • XH-XXXH: Extra Heavy (Each X = 1 Extra)

 

These Powers may share the same designation of “M” or “H’ on the rod, but Rod’s Power will vary based on the series of rods. The Power on an SST-S-902Ma will be different than a PCH-C-801M. They are both “M” Power-rated rods, yet they will perform very differently.

Q: What is a Rod Taper Or Action? What is the difference between tapers of the rods: XF, F, MF, M?

  1. The taper/action of a rod is described as how much and where the rod bends when pressure is applied to the tip. There are several different tapers that Okuma incorporates into their rods.
    • XF: Extra Fast – Extra Fast tapered rods will have a very sensitive tip and the rod will shut down very quickly transferring over to the power of the rod.
    • F: Fast – Fast tapered rods have a more progressive tip that balanced with a solid backbone.
    • MF: Moderate Fast - Moderate Fast tapered rods have a deeper bend than the fast action rod while not neglecting the backbone.
    • M: Moderate – Moderate Tapered rods often called “Slow” or “Parabolic” have a much deeper bend that carries down to the area surrounding the handle.

 

 

 

Q: What is UMR Technology?

  1. Okuma’s Ultimate Matrix Reinforcement Technology, UMR, takes an innovative approach to ensure rod strength while remaining super lightweight.  Every rod has its limitation; however, we have identified the weakest points of a rod’s construction—the area’s most likely to break under stress on conventional rods—and applied enhanced reinforcement to strengthen these key points to prevent breaking. This enables us to maximize rod strength while minimizing weight to ensure your rod is built for any challenge. Learn more.

Q: What is UFR Technology?

  1. UFR means “ULTIMATE FLEX REINFORCEMENT”. Anglers will immediately recognize the benefits of Okuma’s Ultimate Flex Reinforcement (UFR) technology through a rod light-weight and sensitive tip construction. The process of incorporating UFR provides three times the strength and lifting power over traditional rods. Powerful enough to bring in the toughest of fish, but sensitive enough to feel the lightest of bites. Learn more.

Q: How do I know if my rod is spinning or casting?

 

Q: Can I interchange my reels on my Spinning, Baitcasting, or Fly rods?

  1. We would not recommend doing this. They will fit your rods, but these rods all have specific components that designate them for their own style of fishing reels. We highly recommend that you do not interchange your rods with differing types of reels. You would want to use a Spinning Reel with a Spinning Rod, a baitcasting reel with a baitcasting rod, and a fly reel with a fly rod

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Reel Questions

Q: Can I use Braid on my reel?

  1. Yes, Every reel that Okuma produces can use a Braided Line.

Q: I have no drag on my reel with braid on it. Why?

  1. 9 out of 10 times this question is answered by us asking if you placed an anchor or backing on for your braid to catch. If you did not the braid is just slipping on the smooth spool.

Q: How should I attach my braided line to my spool?

  1. We recommend that you place some flex tape/wrap, tape, or light monofilament placed around that arbor of the reel’s spool. Once that anchor is placed, please wrap your braided line around the spool’s arbor 2-3x and secure this with your favorite knot. EXTRA TIP: Make sure that you are spooling your reel up with as much tension that you can so that the braided line does not cut into itself.

Q: Can I use my freshwater reels in salt water and vice versa?

  1. We recommend that you use a reel specifically designed for saltwater.  However, do not let that hold you back from fishing your Okuma reels in either fresh or saltwater. Be aware, If you do this, you would need to make sure that you properly clean and lubricate your reel after every use.

Q: What is the Bait Feeder feature and how does it work?

  1. The bait feeder feature on our spinning reels does allow the fisherman to combine a free spool ability of a conventional reel with the castability and ease of use of a spinning reel. You can view more about the features here.

Q: What is the difference between Star Drag & Lever Drag?

  1. Our Tune-Up Tuesday series breaks down both of these reels in depth. Click the following links to see the differences between a Star Drag and Lever Drag.

Q: Why is my bail hard to close on my spinning reel?

  1. It depends on how you are closing the bail. If you are doing it by closing the actual bail with your hands then there should be no issue (This is the proper way to close the bail on a spinning reel). Another way is by quickly reeling your handle and having the bail slam shut. This too will generally work. But it can be damaging to the bearings and bail assembly. This action can cause malfunctions and gear to break. Another issue with this method is when you do not have enough momentum when quickly reeling your handle, it will seem like it is stiff and the bail won't close making it seem as if there is an issue with your reel when there is not.

Q: How do I switch my handle on my spinning reel to the other side?

  1. For a brief tutorial, click here.

Q: How do I adjust my drag on my spinning reel?

  1. For a brief tutorial, click here.

Q: How do I know what part numbers I need for my reels? Where can I find the schematic?

  1. If you cannot find the part that you need or need a schematic for your reel, please submit an inquiry ticket and a customer service representative will get back to you shortly. 

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