Okuma MA 20DX linecounter vs Daiwa

[jrsue]

While trying to decide which linecounter to buy, I read lots of reports and posts on this and many other forums. I finally decided their was more favor toward the daiwa reels so tyhats what I purchased.

I bought the daiwa accudepth 17. That was a mistake the spool would not allways disengage, unless I thumbed it after flipping the switch thats total BS and at times it would re engage itself while in free spool also BS. Then it would alow line to get behind the spool causing me to completely rerig again BS. The drag was unpredictable meaning ,when I would loosen it, it would not respond until handle was turned slightly, again this is BS. This reel was returned.

On my trip to the u.p I stopped on the way up and purchased a daiwa accudepth 27 lca the walleye model. Haveing read lots of possitive reports I thought my worries are over, nada, same drag problems, same fiddley spool engagement. Didnt have the line behind spool problem seems like a much tighter fit on this model, but the drag was actually worse than on the 17. This reel will be returned.

I also had a chance to use a Cabalas depthmaster, I dont know if their made by daiwa but it also had similar problems.

Which brings me to the box I just opened a Okuma Magda Pro 20dx. From what I can tell so far ,havent had it on the water yet, but this reel seems better on all accounts, drag feels smooth and predictable, spool to frame looks very tight, and spool engagement much more precise. Time will tell

Daiwa, building a linecounter for the mases that has basic good functionality , isnt rocket science. Or did I just get my hands on three bad eggs.

[perchjerker]

The accudepths have been trouble for a lot of people.

Actually I took mine apart and found a fix for the sticking reel problem and worked with the engineers at Diawa to incorprate a fix in them. Im sure there are still a bunch of the older reels out there in stores still.

You want the sealine (SG) series if you want the ones everybody likes.

[pwrfshn]

Like PJ said, if you want trouble free stick with the SG, there are plenty of accounts on how well the ADs work and the Okumas.

I know guys that have Okumas and have liked them and others (like myself) that hated them. As for the ADs I don't know anyone personally that liked the reel.

Heck, if you want to get the best and avoid all those issues, get the Shimano Tekota, no problems and awesome performance.

Good luck,

[tbomn]

I have 2 each of the Okuma Magda 20DX, Okuma Convector 15D, and Daiwa Sealine 27's and really like all of them. The Okuma's work as well as the Daiwa's, but I only use them for walleye trolling. I am not sure if they would hold up for salmon or heavier fish. I have not heard anything good about the Accudepth Daiwa's.

[Ronnie]

I've recently purchased a set of 4 Okuma Convector CN15D rod/reel combos and I've used them a few times. I've had a couple very minor issues with the free spool mechanism - seems like the spool/handle need to be in the right position for it to release and you can't have it under any load (line tension). This is a bit annoying, but isn't a big problem for me. Generally speaking, the reels have worked very well and I'm happy with what I got for what I paid (about 1/3 the price of a Tekota rod/reel combo). Those Tekotas are sweet, though.

[Badger 05]

Okuma makes the Cabelas Reels.

Fishing is: One jerk waiting for another jerk at the end of his line

[fatboy]

I have used all of the mentioned reels.My diawa ad's fell apart on me(27's pulling in-line boards) My Tekota 500 lc's all the drag came in the last few clicks of the drag.Diawa sg's have never been a problem.Convector's 20's no problem with walleye but a bigger chinook tore one up on me.If abu garcia would make an analog line counter for the 6500 or 6600 w/clicker in the red classics they would get all my money !

[pwrfshn]

Fatboy,

You must have gotten some bad reels, that is exactly the opposit of my experience onthe Shimanos.

Two or three tiny clicks and I have drag. 4-5 and I have enough to stop the spool from slipping with a 12-14 oz. Umbrella rig.

I'd take them back to where you got them or sell them to me cheap since they don't work. I'll get them fixed. ;)

Thanks,

PS: I'll trade you straight across all the brand new SG27LCAs you want for those Tekotas.

[fatboy]

Mexico, the tekota's went back already.The reels I had were some of the first.When I returned them I checked some of the other stock and they were the same.Even talked with the shimano rep. at a cabela's event and he did not have an answer then.The fella's around here that use them like to put a rubber band half hitched around the line and then hook it off to the reel handle to keep them from slowly clicking out.Maybe they have made a change since I had mine. I do not know.Right now I have alot of convector 20d and 30d models.i would like to see the Abu come thru with a analog counter like I said before. Also if the Okuma Catalina lc model comes out I will be selling off again:-)

[pwrfshn]

They must have changed it, I've had to do nothing like what you mention.

I agree, Abu needs an analog counter.

[bob oh]

I have 2 Abu digitals I'll sell cheap :-)

rod bender bob

[Jim Tunney]

I have about a dozen Daiwa Sealine SG27Lc's. I fish salmon and walleye and I never had one problem. They are the best in my opinion and I have fished the others. I personally take them apart every winter an grease them and the old grease is clean. This tells me they run not wear. I would recommend them to anybody. I have several SG47Lc's and I fell the same way. They are a little large for my taste but they hold 10 colors of lead and backing.
Looney Tunes
><<<<*>

[eye4aneye]

I have four of the Okuma's and I have to say they are awfully good reels for the dough. They do have thier quirks and annoyances but I'm going on four seasons with them with no malfuntions yet.

[north_alabama]

I don't troll at all "at home" but am heading up to northwest Ontario next summer for a 12-day trip and am trying to find some way to get double duty out of a good casting reel (I can only take so much stuff). I just ran across the abu counters on the internet and thought I had found the answer to my problem.

[GR8WTHUNTER]

The okuma reels are holding up on stripers just fine.

[ETT]

Take a piece of paper and make a list of line counter reels from the most expensive to the lowest cost. Shimano at the top and "whatever" at the bottom. Then realize you're looking at the order in which you'll most likely be happy with the reel. The only one out of order may be the Shakespear. It's probably better than the price indicates.

In other words...You get what you pay for.

[bob oh]

If you only use them 12 days a year they will be fine. The buttons are a little touchy but buying the add ons for once a year would give you a good trolling reels at a decent price (if you have the Abu reels already).

rod bender bob

[CC25]

I've tries 2 of the Okuma cn20's this season. I had to take both back for replacement. They worked fine, but after a couple of big walleye, they began to grind. I won't be buying any more Okuma 20's. I'm told the 30 is a little more stout, but will wait for the TICA lineconuter next year.

[Madness]

I've used 2 Magda Pro 30DX reels this year for lake michigan salmon fishing, pulling superline dipsys. Caught lots of fish with them. No problems. Got em on sale for $39.00 each. IMHO, these a great reels for the money. I like them much better than the two Diawa Great Lakes 47lc reels I use for pulling mono dipsys. The main reason is Okumas' drags are way smoother than the drags in the 47lc reels.

Madness

[rebs]

what is the problem with the abu garcia digital line counters

rebs

[bob oh]

Reels are, of course great!! The line counters seem to work pretty good but buttons are very, very tiny and the batteries fail too quickly.
Great idea, just not ready for prim-time. Wish they made a manual counter for their reels.

rod bender bob

[ETT]

There's no problem, but I would hate to be out in the middle of the lake when the battery died, and the clicker is almost non-existant (so soft you can't hear it). I just like loud clickers, can be used as a bite indicator with a light drag.

They are one of the most accurate line counters.

[GBUSA]

Three years ago I bought 8 Okuma 30D's. I found the drags were rough. I replaced the drags with the ones sold at http://www.smoothdrag.com in california. They are the best there can be under the slightest of drag conditions. The new Okuma's seem to have that problem solved. Lincounters are OK and used to stick. THe reels have to be spooled up to the max for an accurate read of ft.per ft. Like anything, I would not trade mine now since knowing them and bugs removed. It seem that if it is mechanical and has a readout it needs some work after the first use.
GB&GBUSA,

[bob oh]

I just returned 6 Okuma 15D reels -- all had problems. The line releases on all 6 failed consistently and 2 failed on line pick-up. Also had to tighten the drags what I considered too much just to pull in jet divers. Just ordered 6 Diawa SG17LCA.

rod bender bob

[tj1n]

The Okuma's M30DX are decent when new, however mine have worn out over 2.5 seasons of moderate to heavy fishing for eyes....with only lead and no boards.

My bro bought four Accudepths at the beginning of this season and right out of the box they were absolute junk IMO. You couldn't force me to use this reel in any circumstance. Only thing that works decent of them is the counter.

I have four SG27LC for pulling boards and long lining, I like everything about them except the counters stick periodically....other then that they've given me 5 seasons of reliability.

How are the LCA's in comparison to the older LC models?

Travis J

[pwrfshn]

Travis,

Personally I prefer the old LC model and I sold all of mine before trying the LCAs. From what I have heard, the late model LCAs are a big improvement over the first gen ones. Can't comment directly on the newer LCAs as I only used them when they first came out. As an unpaid field tester, I was not impressed but it sounds like they fixed the issues.

If you have some of the LCs you want to sell, let me know. ;)

[bob oh]

I bought the sg17lcas on the word of Matt at Thorne who said they have fixed the problems? He promised that if I had a problem he "would take care of it." Told him I was referred to him by a guy who goes by Mexico on WC He said, "oh no" :-) (only kidding), but I did tell him you referred me.

rod bender bob

[pwrfshn]

Matt is a great guy and stands behind his products. He sold me my 17s and I could have easily sent them back to him, but it wasn't his problem. I told him about it and then sent them to Daiwa. They fixed them and I sold them to a couple guys in town and they love them. Already replaced them with Shimano's and I am not looking back. ;)

[tj1n]

Mexico or Bryan if memory serves me right....(Maybe incorrect,)

No, I definitely don't want to sell my LC's. I was just asking if the new LCA's were getting closer to comparable. The LC's are the only ones I like at this point.

You've now got me curious about the Tekota.

Travis J

[pwrfshn]

Don't try a Tekota, you'll part with $170 quicker than you know. ;)

I'm up to 8 and going on 12.

Selling my lead reels and replacing them with Tekota's over the winter. I better hope for a good winter and lots of water.

And yes, it is Brian, but not with that funny spelling. LOL

[JimH]

It was the horror stories posted on this website that convinced me to buy the SG17 and SG27LCA's. Used them all season, worked beautifully. Not a guide or a pro, so they're not used everyday, but....I've had other reels fail in less time. I like them.

[cdkcole]

I have two Magda Pro's 30DX. Have had them for eight years. Last couple of years the seem to be detoriating. First the counters went out. The star drag will not hold on when reiling in a big fish. Where I live big is 8 or 9 lb rainbow is big. (Montana) Anyway I am loking for a new reiil. So guess I will invest in the Daiwa SG 27LC.

[K Gonefishin]

You want a reel bad dude try the LCX series, LCA's are great LCX's are REALLY nice. Big handle which makes cranking a breeze and a better drag, same great reel with a couple improvements. I have fished with the saltist, for walleye, I'll pass.

[Uncle Paul]

My very first set of line counters were Magda Pros and for what you pay for them they are a decent reel and after many years of hard use I have one left and I’m satisfied with how long they lasted. At one point I started to upgrade needing a reel for braid and dipsys and have had LCAs in 17, 27, and 47 and they worked also, but at this point my mono reels are Okuma Catalina’s very smooth with large handles and the braid reels are LCXs if you are thinking about LCAs save you money and get the LCXs you will not be disappointed. The Catalina’s replaced Convectors that were a piece of …. Could never get those to work right. I might add my copper and wire reels are the Saltist’s but like Kev said they are a bit of overkill for Eyes.Paul

[rps]

I solved my frustrations a different way. I switched to Suffix Performance Metered braid. Five colors and a 10/4 diameter. I spool the line over backing on reliable, regular Abu Garcias or Okumas. The depths are more accurate, the reels don't fall apart, and the drags are better on big fish.