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Okuma Azores stick bait combo

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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote ninja Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Okuma Azores stick bait combo
    Posted: 21 Nov 2015 at 12:10am
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Has any one had a cast with one of these okuma Azores 65 stickbait combos ?
I have seen them for $400 and as I'm looking for a cheep/ mid priced combo for the odd time I'm keen to cast a lure
I just wanted to see your opinions on them or the spheros/ backbone or the Penn clash combo all between $4-500
buying lures is one of those things only beaten by lying-down activities
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote jonocoogee Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Nov 2015 at 2:16pm
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I have heard good things on the reels, For a $200 reel you cant go to wrong, I saw some Penn Rampage (I think it was a rampage but dont quote me on that.) rods in Decoro today, For $130 they seemed wicked value, Would be a cheap setup for under $350
TAS - Its a real disease
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote hookerpuka Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Nov 2015 at 4:05pm
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Yes I have used them/ use them. Bang for buck there hard to beat. Rod casts well and is well balanced, puts a good action in the lures, Loads nicely on a fish etc, Reel wise for the money the Azores has plenty of grunt, the anti corrosion system is fruity but seems to work. All up not a bad setup and certainly would be hard to beat for $399.99, I have got 3/4 of the way through doing a review for it but have to find time to do some video editing to finish it off 

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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote ninja Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Nov 2015 at 10:33pm
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Thanks jono and mike , I ended up buying a azores combo today at burncos of all places for $350 ,so its now all spooled and rigged ready for a cast tomorrow
buying lures is one of those things only beaten by lying-down activities
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Baked Fish Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Nov 2015 at 4:20pm
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Ninja,  after reading your query on these reels I had a wee google myself. The Azores sure look like a good reel on paper. Whilst perusing the pages of e-bay I came across these out of Japan...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Okuma-AZORES-6500-CASTING-JIGGING-Spinning-Reel-From-Japan-/281818659716?hash=item419db37b84:g:IMAAAOSw3ydVi6CG

When the wife insn't looking I might just have to acquire one.

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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Boxee Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Nov 2015 at 7:25am
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From Alan Hawk:
http://www.alanhawk.com/blog/wr15.html

Okuma offers a few spinning reels that I personally believe are hyped to appear as heavy duty offshore reels, and that is not correct. Any Raw or Salina no matter what generation number found after the model's name is inherently the same as the VSystem I reviewed, only with better drag washers and fancy handles. That doesn't mean they are bad. They are alright reels that work, but they belong in the same class as the lower end Penns that I like from the previous category. Light to medium work from shore and pier, to medium inshore work at most.

The Azores is another reel that is even more hyped, and you've probably seen it being compared to the Saragosa SW. This is a bogus comparison since the Azores is no different to the previously mentioned Okumas. The "electrolysis stopping system" in the Azores is a classic case of an answer to a question no one asked. They use fancy words to describe a setup that prevents galvanic corrosion, but the important question is; how many Penns, Fin-Nors, Daiwas, or Shimanos have you seen corroded for the lack of a similar system? So while it's not a poor man's Saragosa, it's a nice entry level reel that belongs to the previous category as well. It's not very expensive though, so buy it if you personally think the ergonomics are worth the extra, but expect the performance and durability of the most basic reels.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (1) Likes(1)   Quote hookerpuka Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Nov 2015 at 3:58pm
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Azores is a great reel for the price, and that's the key thing here, keeping it in check with a price point or apples with apples. What you get for the Azores vs $ makes it great bang for buck, obviously if you want to spend more money then there are better reels out there.

 A Saragosa is a nice reel there is no denying but it also comes with a price tag of over double that of the Azores, The Saragosa is also a very heavy reel which then makes you start to think about the Penn Clash 6000 as a better alternative, being cheaper and also lighter with a higher standard drag spec, CNC Machined brass main and pinion gears etc. 

Based on the double price thing though the argument could then be raised as to why buy the Sara because for a little over double the price and you can then have a Stella. 

 So endless wash of dribble over. point being For the money it's a great reel:) 
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Wallopit Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Nov 2015 at 6:19pm
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My money would buy the penn clash. Clash combo on special for $399 makes them not alot more than the azores for what is a better reel (my opinion after playing with both side by side and i actually like the Azores rod more). 

All that said - the azores is still a great option! ninja you should be pleased with what you bought.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote hookerpuka Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Nov 2015 at 9:16am
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Wallopit 
 The Azores has a better rod in the combo, The Penn clash is $449 on a reload, the 6000 is where it's at, the 6000 has machined brass and main gearing and designed around a lot more load than the 5000 which you can buy for $399.99 but doesn't have machined brass main and pinion and resort back to a alloy main gear, nothing wrong with that but it's not quite up to the 6000 strengths 
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Wallopit Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Nov 2015 at 12:21pm
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exactly! As I said my money would be buy the clash 6000 combo on special at topcatch for $399.
https://www.topcatch.co.nz/penn-clash-6000-and-reload-10-24kg-8-stickbait-combo.html

And yes i personally like the azores rod more than the reload although I would be happy with either for the money i would be paying. 
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote hookerpuka Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Nov 2015 at 2:29pm
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Oh awesome, Top catch are awesome aye :P 

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