Okuma Introduces New Caymus and Azores Spinning Reels Aimed at the Mainstream

Introduction: Okuma's roots are in spinning and the company has a long history developing spinning reels that come loaded with plenty of features at some surprisingly low price points. Now that the company has the high end covered with their Helios line they have turned their attention once again to the value and mainstream market.

Brandon Cotton, Marketing Manager at Okuma, highlights the new Caymus Spinning reel

This ICAST the team at Okuma is introducing a new spinning reel series called Caymus which features a stealthy black finish with red highlights. The spool is highly ported and at first glance you might easily think this is a high end reel. The reel is constructed out of (aluminum) and features precision elliptical gearing system includes machine cut brass pinion gear for durability. 

The Caymus features a corrosion resistant graphite body

Seven bearings plus Quick-Set anti-reverse bearing deliver fluid performance and commanding hook sets. On the business end, heavy-duty solid aluminum bail wire circles the rigid, machined aluminum spool.  These are all features you might expect out of a reel costing over 129 dollars.  

The rotor is aggressively ported as is the machined aluminum 2-tone anodized spool

The reel's body is very compact and both the machined aluminum spool and rotor are computer balanced and ported for weight reduction. Designed for both freshwater and inshore saltwater use the Caymus reels come loaded with a multi-dish oiled felt drag system which is designed to deliver up to 18lbs. of drag pressure.

It is hard to believe the Caymus will retail for only $49.99

The Caymus will be available in three sizes, 30,40 and 55 and they all come backed with a 1 year warranty. So how much will all of this cost anglers? Try $49.99 for the Caymus 30 or 40 and only 10 dollars more for the saltwater sized Caymus 55! Now that is hitting the value market head on.

The new Azores is a saltwater spinning reel series with 6HPB + 1RB corrosion resistant bearings

Azores: Like the Caymus Series the new Azores spinning reels are designed to squeeze a ton of performance and features into a surprisingly reasonably priced reel. The  all new Okuma Azores spinning reels, the Z-55S, Z-65S and Z-80S, are the results of a multi-year engineering review that advances the category to new levels of strength and stability. The Okuma team started with a die-cast aluminum body, side plate and rotor, machine cut pinion gear and the Okuma Dual Force Drag system that utilizes a traditional top drag stack in concert with an oversized Carbonite drag washer beneath the spool to increase high-end drag output as well as spool stability under load.  

The body is rigid diecast aluminum as is the sideplate and rotor

In an Okuma first, Azores also features dual anti-reverse systems.  The one-way clutch bearing is joined by a ratcheting anti-reverse that’s molded into the actual bottom of the rotor for increased diameter and larger teeth than competitive systems. Delving inside the body reveals an all-new Okuma Mechanical Stabilization System.  Molded of carbon composite, this three-part system enhances the strength of the aluminum framing and maintains critical alignment of internal parts while working in conjunction with the Okuma CRC (Corrosion Resistant Coating) process to stop the flow of electrolysis between the aluminum body and stainless internal parts.

A point of failure for many saltwater spinning reels is the shaft bending so Okuma beefed the Azores up with a large diameter sleeve

Three components of the Mechanical Stabilization System include two hold plates on each side of the body and a one-way clutch housing at the top of the body.  All custom molded to the framing for exacting fit, they provide a solid anchor point for the main gear, bearings and spool shaft while completely isolating stainless internal parts from the aluminum frame.

The spool is machined aluminum and 2 tone anodized

Running the centerline is Azores’ oversized 6mm stainless steel spool shaft.  Over this foundation is an 8mm forged brass spool shaft sleeve that dramatically increases stability of the spool and drag system alignment when fished under heavy drag pressure. In concert, Azores components combine to deliver a structure worthy of up to 44-pounds of maximum drag the family is capable of. And when under load, six corrosion-resistant stainless steel Okuma HPB bearings ensure buttery smooth cranking. The pinion gear bearing, the most potentially exposed to saltwater, is rubber sealed and features a full grease pack, as does the drive shaft bearing. 

Inside the spool we find the second half of the dual force drag system

The Z-55S features a 5.8:1 gear ratio while the Z-65S and Z-80S utilize a 5.4:1 gear ratio.  Per every turn of the handle, Azores models take in 39- 42- and 46-inches of line, respectively.  The Azores spinning reels look like an exceptional value at $119.99 for the Z55S, $129.99 for the Z-65S and Z-80S and like the Caymus Series all Azores reels will come backed with a 1 year warranty. This year when it comes to spinning Okuma got back to their roots, doing what they do best, delivering a ton of performance at price points that mainstream anglers can afford. Whether your a freshwater or saltwater angler, if your looking for a well balanced spinning reel Okuma has you covered with the new Caymus and Azores reels.