Okuma Convector

Mike and Pete fish for landlocked Silver salmon on Riffe Lake. Mike reviews the Okuma Convector 163 LD.

[@gigharborfishinclub989]

If you are interested in a particular piece or equipment you see us use, leave a comment and we’ll do piece on it. Planning on a Lexa 100 review compare and contrast as well as the kastking Rover 40. Might even be a giveaway in the future!

[@gigharborfishinclub989]

One other point: don’t get too wrapped up on gear ratio. A more telling stat is inches per turn (speed of retrieve). For instance a 100 size (convector, Lexa)@6.2:1 is right around 26 IPT. An Abu 5500 size round reel (my all time favorite) is 5.3:1 but has a larger spool so it’s …..about 26 IPT. Different ratio, same retrieve speed. (A 5500 c4 Abu has a large spool AND A HIGHER RATIO therefore faster retrieve) Gear nerds unite😊

[@jdoboy6835]

"don’t get too wrapped up on gear ratio". 'Telling stat,,,, speed of retrieve' That's an interesting comment. :

[@gigharborfishinclub989]

@@jdoboy6835 the gear ratio is obviously a constant based on the construction of the gear train in the reel. IPT and the linecounter accuracy are both functions of the ACTUAL diameter of the spool loaded with whatever line is remaining on it and will change as line is let out or retrieved. Manufacturers ratings of IPT and the accuracy of the linecounter will only be valid for the specific conditions they tested or calculated. All that being said… If you are so inclined, you can measure the exact line out and measure with your linecounter while varying spool loading to get an exact match between your counter and length, but again it will change as you reel in or out for long distances. Lots of tutorials online. If your trolling gear is matched (same reels and line configuration) your spreads will be reliably the same and will vary at the same rate. You are correct that higher gear ratios usually have less cranking power unless one reel is almost empty and the other almost full. Like most things it’s a trade off for what you are trying to achieve. The comparison on the two reels in the original post was simply to point out that the assumption that a higher gear ratio always retrieved faster does not always play out that way. Personally I don’t much care that 103 on the counter may only be 99 feet as I use the counters primarily to repeatably present baits at depth but that’s only my preference. YMMV.

[@jdoboy6835]

Hi. Fishing Erie. Trolling dips, & plugs off of boards. MOST OF US are using Saltwaters 303. They are holding up pretty good, no problems for years. Looking at the Convectors now. Need 4. I was waiting for you to comment on the Convector crank ratio, & the ease of cranking in say 300' with a 10#er on the end.? We are getting older everyday!! Hi speed kills our hands! 303s are something like 5.1 to 1. NICE slow, & easy. Hows the difference in crank speeds working out for you? Comment? The other thing,,,, The Saltwaters have such a large spool,,, It's such a PITA to constantly put on the exact amount of backing, & then 300yds of 30# braid that we normally use,,,,, & STILL have the line counter exactly on! What amount of braid, (Superslick) at 20 or 30# size, would we need to run on the Convector spools in order to get the counter right on? Thanks for the review,,, but we just need a whole bunch more answers from someone who is actually using them. ;>)

[@gigharborfishinclub989]

We haven't set up a convector with leadcore, but that will be the next project, we will keep track and post the information. Mike and I were actually just discussing this last trip and thought it would be pretty easy to get 3 colors on a 100 series convector. For the 300, I imagine it would be pretty comparable to the 300 cold water. For a six color set up we run 100 feet of 10 # mono, followed by 370 feet of 20 # braid, six colors of 15 # leadcore (180 feet) followed by 50 feet of 10 # fluorocarbon top-shot. Each color of leadcore is 30 feet, so adjust the backer by how many colors of leadcore you add or subtract. Stay tuned for numbers on a 100 Convector.

[@gigharborfishinclub989]

We also have a video on the actual numbers an loading on the Okuma Cold Water low profile and an Abu Garcia 5500 LC