Okuma's Makaira Receives a Great Update!

Thanks to a tip from one of my great readers in Singapore, I learned that Okuma has just begun rolling out a standard drag knob as an option for the Makaira spinning reel.

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So far this new drag knob only appears in the catalogue of this Malaysian shop...

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But that shop is listed on Okuma's site as the main distributor in Malaysia and Singapore, so it's official

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Here is what's on offer

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More details

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For the 10000 size, in addition to a choice between different handle grips, now one gets to choose a standard drag knob instead of the original one with the pre-set mechanism which they call "micro drag". This is not the place to explain the workings of that original pre-set knob all over again, so if you want these details please read the full review I published of the Makaira spinning HERE.

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This bit in particular from that review is what's at the heart of today's news...

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I asked for a standard knob, and wanted it as another option that one can opt for just as we get to choose between left and right hand retrieve versions, and that's exactly what they now did. This makes it the second major alteration of this reel inspired by my review, following the swift redesign of the line roller after I found the original design to be prone to potential issues. Read about that early redesign HERE. This of course makes me happy to have been useful for my fellow fishos, as well as increases the respect I have for Okuma because they listen to and care about their customers.

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There you go. I did not dismiss the original knob as a fault of any sorts, but found it unnecessary and more about "can we do it" than "should we do it". And while I'm sure it appeals to some fishos, others would certainly prefer the familiarity, predictability, and intuitive limitlessness of a standard knob. We now have that option so it's a great day for everyone.

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A few questions remain hanging at this early point; will that standard drag knob roll out internationally, or will it remain in certain regions only? I see nothing specific about fishing in Malaysia or Singapore that makes this knob a particular regional requirement, therefore I'd be surprised if the knob doesn't get a global release. Another question; will it be for the 10000 size only, or will a similar knob come for the larger reels? I don't have a guess on this one but leaning towards the idea that since the big reels came first, the threads on their shaft were not designed for the progression curve of a standard knob. I believe that afterwards, when they began creating the small 10000, they had the request for a standard knob in mind and designed it to accommodate one. Who knows though. Okuma has shown fantastic engineering prowess, and maybe they will come up with something and make it work for the larger reels. Only time will tell.

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The most important question is, with ease of setting settled and cast aside, how would the standard knob affect the performance of the drag itself? Well, as usual only real life testing would tell definitively, but since I begged for it you can probably understand that I had in mind a certain expectation of its overall effect, and that I imagined it would be positive or else I would have kept my big silly mouth shut. I certainly hope that it would indeed match what I imagined, because that would be something to behold. In my mind the greatest drag performances I've ever experienced in spinning reels are the 2020 Saltiga, the 2008 Stella SW, and the Makaira in its original design, so any improvement due to that new knob would simply lift it to legendary status.

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This bit of news provides a reason to smile, beyond the specifics of the update itself. It indicates that the Makaira line is being maintained and continually developed, which is a huge relief for me after years of uncertainty and scarcity compounded by the fog of the pandemic. The Makaira is a significant reel because it provides a threat to Daiwa's dominance of the high end super-spinner slice, which keeps everyone on their toes and results in a net benefit to us fishermen. If a single company has an unchallenged reign then they wouldn't have much incentive to innovate or keep the price in check. Also, the Makaira happens not to be a mirror image of the Japanese counterpart. Rather it has its unique approach and design theory, making it in essence the "Ford F-150" to Daiwa's "Ferrari" if you know what I mean. Yes, a sexy sports car is the ultimate dream of many, but there are others whose paramount dream is an unstoppable all-terrain powerhouse. With the Makaira out there, everyone can get their own.

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That's all for now. I should probably say something about the shameful delay in releasing the next review, but at this point I'm just way too embarrassed to make any further excuses. I'll just hope that whenever it finally gets published you'll forgive my abhorrent tardiness and chaotic schedule, just like you've been doing for the past two decades! Keep your eyes on the NEWS page for updates, and remember to floss after meals because the last thing you bunch need is something that makes you smell even worse.

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Cheers

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Alan Hawk

April, 26th, 2023

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