Okuma Soft Bait Reels

Soft Bait Fishing Reels

• Spool Size: The first thing we will call out here is that an increase in spool size ‘generally’ results in an increase in the size of the reel body, gears & drag systems. What this does is increase the reel’s durability & longevity. What we have found over the years is that our 3000 & 4000-size reels will remain smoother for longer. Of course, this is a general rule of thumb however the logic stacks up. If you are fishing in-shore or over sandy shoal then a 2500 size reel is a pleasure to use. A 3000-size soft bait reel offers great versatility and pairs well with most medium to heavy soft bait rods. And 4000-size reels provide a heavier-duty approach to fishing shallow water, heavier drag & targeting big fish. 
• Fishing Location & Terrain: Nowadays there are several forms of soft bait fishing including the new craze of micro-baiting – seriously good fun. Choosing the best size of reel, the right drag, weight etc.. depends a lot on where you are fishing. For example, of you are fishing primarily over sand, lighten up, go small and enjoy the fight with little anxiety. If we are fishing shallow waters around rocky outcrops then we scale up to a 4000 size reel with the matching line & components. A 3000-size reel offers the best versatility if you are looking for a general-purpose set or are just starting with soft baiting. 
• Price Budget: Our recommendation is to invest as much as you can afford into your new soft bait reel. We sometimes need to remember, that we are asking these small reels to do a lot of work & often they are the most used reels in our arsenal. Nowadays a $350 - $400 reel packs a lot of punch as we continue to see the bleed-down effect of technology from more expensive models. Shimano & Daiwa are the great exponents of this tactic & it benefits you directly! 

• Soft Bait Rods: This is a space that has seen incredible product development over the last several years from blank technology to impressive new componentry. Daiwa is a great example of a company working hard to provide big benefits to consumers at all price points. They do this by downgrading technology through their range but maintaining consistency in the parabolic actions of their rods from $1000 down to $150.  
• Braided Line: Braid is the most important piece to the puzzle when it comes to kitting yourself out for soft bait fishing. Not only is the braid closely connected to your fish but the quality of your braid affects your casting performance, knot-tying ability & your ability to perform if you end up in a dog fight. Nowadays we can access incredible braided lines with high breaking thresholds with small diameters. This allows us to pack our reels with 300m of smooth, high-performing fishing braid. 
• Soft Bait Jig Heads: Jig Heads have continued to develop over recent years with the introduction of new brands & designs. Our team has played a key role in ensuring that this development is suited for the NZ market & directly benefits you, the angler. Although we stock a huge range of jig heads, we carefully select what lands in our warehouse to ensure you only choose from options we trust! 

• Gear Ratio: The gear ratio of a fishing reel is a measurement of how many times the spool turns during one full turn of the handle. This is important because it will directly affect the performance of the reel specifically to the style of fishing. For example; a lower gear ratio such as 3:1:1 has more torque than a high gear ratio such as 6:2:1
• Max Drag: Understanding your max drag is important to ensure you also select the correct fishing line & appropriate fishing rod to pair with your reel. Drag is a set of friction plates inside the fishing reel designed to apply pressure to the fish to a designed strength. If the fish pulls harder than the drag setting the line will leave the reel, ensuring your line does not break. 
• Line Capacity: Line capacity is simply the amount of line your reel can hold on its spool. Generally measured in Yards (yds) or Meters (m), it’s important to match your spool capacity with the style of fishing. For soft bait fishing, we are generally looking to pack on 280 – 320 meters of quality braided line. 
• Bearings: Bearings are situated throughout a fishing reel, generally where there are moving or rotating parts to the reel such as gears, spools, handles or level winds. Bearings ensure the components of a fishing reel operate smoothly & as a general rule of thumb higher-end reels tend to have more bearings resulting in a smoother experience.

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