Okuma rod thoughts

Hey guys,
I had my second Okuma rod break on me last week. I bought an 8'6" light for steelhead and big trout last year in Eureka. The rod felt pretty nice and I caught a lot of fish with it. The rod broke on a fish last summer. I questioned getting another Okuma but I really liked the rod so I replaced it with the same rod, although getting a medium action but same length. Last week, my brother in law showed me a pond on his grandmothers property that has a bunch of nice bass in it. I caught 2, the second being about 4lbs. During the fight, snap, about 2 feet from the tip snaps clean in half. I only paid around $60 a piece but I still would expect better than that. I don't beat rods up anymore like I used to, letting then bounce around with who knows what in thre back of my truck.

Anyways, just wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience.

If I'm not mistaken, there was a thread about a certain okuma model that breaks often. I am not sure of which, Baidarka maybe?

I've only heard that the okuma braidarka Rods break. Not sure about the others. Gary over at strictly fishing has a new rod company. Not cheap but they look good. We're working on a kayak rod that floats for throwing bigger swimbaits this year. He would be the one to talk to for for quality rods up here.

Grim, the only Okuma kayak rod that doesn't break regulary is the glass model.  The glass model is bulletproof. All the graphite ones (Badikara) snap.

i am staying away from okuma... they feel great until they break! I had the Okuma Celilo 8'6'' Heavy fast action rod for salmon fishing from shore. snapped one right above second to the last eye. Thought it was my fault, thought i maybe threw my 2oz weight into the rod tip on accident. so i bought the same rod. 2nd time out using the new one,  i go to set the hook and WAP!!! broke clean in half almost in the same spot as the first one. I went and bought a Shimano Convergence and has been awesome since.. while fishing with my new shimano, I see a guy next to me with the okuma SST Salmon Steelhead 9ft med hvy fast action rod. i asked him how he liked it and he said he liked it but had just gotten that one the day before from warranty because his first one snapped! after hearing that and having my own personal experiences and now coming across yours, I am definitely staying away from okuma rods...

Sweet I just picked up a Baidarka on saturday 

Sweet I just picked up a Baidarka on saturday 

Set the hook nice and easy and utilize that drag

Had a Tica rod snap right at an eyelet on my last trip out.  Does this have anything/something to do with the tension on the wraps & type of epoxy used in the building?  I can't image it to be a function of the rod blank since the eyelets can/are placed differently based on the rod build.

Hahahahah.... I use the cheepo Diawa rod/reel combos I get for $20-30.00 NEVER broke one yet... Bendos with line way over pole rating. No problem... Go cheep brothers. Most of the Diawa stuff is awesome. Naked blank in grip area, bait and spin cast set ups cheap!!! Get pissed off! Toss rod and all overboard and laugh instead of cry. I have G-loomis, Powell and all the high $$$ stuff but prefer use my cheepos on the Yaks. Won't see me cryin' at a yard sale OTW.  Check out Diawa. You won't regret it...

I'll second the LOVE of Daiwa stuff.  Daiwa was always my "top shelf" stuff as a kid & they do offer some good top shelf rods/reels as well.  I too have found their low-midrange stuff made well.

I broke two Baidarka's just pulling on snags before I gave up on them.  FWIW, I think the 7'6" model was the one that breaks most often and the 8' was more reliable - could be the other way around...  I bought another Okuma - a big spinning setup - about a year ago and broke it on a snag a few weeks ago.  I don't go reefing on snags.

I feel similarly about Shakespeare's lower end stuff as you guys do about Daiwa - I've had great luck with low end Shakespeare Big Water Combo spinning setups - $40 for rod, reel and 25 pound line - bullet proof and expendable, but I do prefer my Ugly Stiks and Penns now...

I have a baidarka that broke but was replaced by okuma. I used the replacement last outing last year but heard creaking noise from the rod while reeling in a ling. I bought a trevala for main rf rod just to b e on the safe side. Im also bringing my seeker 196 & 270 just in case all hell brake loose at GS7

I have a celilo used it for rf last year it was fun, long rod for tossig swim baits was nice an if the took a run under the yak i could just put the tip around the front of my yak lol now watchbit snap at gs7

Used a 6wt Okuma fly rod I bought at last year's ISE to battle and land a 19"+ LMB yesterday.
It was bendo'ed with tip in the water for quite awhile, and this thread echoed thru my mind.
No snap, crackle and pop even tho I had 6' of straight 15lb leader.

I have a okuma cedros jigging rod that seems fine so far, it has ALPS guides and a ALPS pyramid reel seat which I love but I just hope the the rod blank is up to the task.