Okuma Komodo SS Low Profile Baitcasting Reels Review

Powerhouse No Frills Reel

This reel isn't going to win any style points. Put it next to any Shimano or Daiwa baitcaster in the same price range and the Shimano and Daiwa will win on looks and feel every time. BUT...this reel is up to the task of handling any fish the Shimano or Daiwa can catch, and maybe more. The stainless gears are sure to stand up under duress and combination of the power handle and… read more line retrieval rate will bring anything to the boat your rod can handle. It's got a clicker so you can bait fish. Any perhaps the feature that I like best...while it may limit castability...is the levelwind moves with the line on the reel in freespool and when the drag is paying out. The result is that your line is never at extreme angles on one side of the spool while the levelwind is on the other...that is when levelwinds break.

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Does what it needs

It delivers on claims of drag pressure, gears seem to be able to handle it without degredation which is great. Casts like crap compared to the tranx 400 and 500, unless you totally overhaul the levelwind, purge bearings and loosen up the idler gear till it free spins. Then casts surprisingly well.

The brakes are very weak, I was getting max distance with 6 brakes on,… read more less than that and it blows up immediately. I modified mine pretty extensively and now 2 brakes gets max distance.

For those that say this reel feels good.. you are wrong. Simple as that. The tranxs and lexas are infinitely better built reels from a fitment perspective, with the tranx 400 being by far the most efficient and well thought out of the bunch, although the komodo I think is the most durable of them all. The komodo makes noise, rattles and whirs as the gears turn, especially during a cast. The tranxs are practically silent and devoid of sensation when retrieving. There is definite gear noise whenever doing anything with the komodo. Brake sideplate is plastic, which feels really cheap compared to the all metal tranx 400/500. It definitely does not feel like a high quality reel, despite being the most durable.

It's more space efficient than the Lexa 400, which isn't saying much.. that reel is as large as possible for the absolute smallest line capacity possible. Tranx 400 is rediculously space efficient, holding like 90-95% the line of the komodo 450 but being like 60% the size. Spools are almost the same size. The komodo definitely holds what it says, just a hair more than the tranx 400.

This is the reel to get if you want to fish 20+ lbs of drag all the time in a baitcasting reel. Especially if you want a high retrieve speed. No other reel pulling 38+ ipt will stand up to that amount of drag pressure like the komodo 471. Aside from that it really has no purpose, everything else I have used is either a little or a lot better in almost every way.

At retail price, def too expensive. At $125 or $150 this would be an amazing reel. Okuma didn't design it anyways, it probably costs them like $25-30 per reel from their manufacturer overseas.

In summary, it casts sufficiently well after overhauling the levelwind, possesses unmatched gear durability, and the drag is actually exceptional, better I think than the tranx 400/500. It shouldn't let you down but definitely the price is too high for what you're getting, especially compared to the tranx 400.

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Hmmmmmm.

Hmmmm. So big. So Strong. What to use it for?

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Great reel

This Reel Okuma KDS-463P Komodo SS Low Profile spooled with 40 pound braid , shimano jigging rod was put to the test in the GOM and won 30 inch gag on 2oz spro jig with live sardine. great reel

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Good looking reel

Have yet to use it but can’t wait to put it to the test

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Holy......

This reel is amazing! I have Shimano TranX 300 and Daiwa Lexa HD 300/400. I got the Komodo 471p and it has a MUCH better feel. It comes with a clicker, it casts better than both, feels SUPER smooth even though it has a SS pinion and Main gear. It has 30lbs of super smooth drag too! This reel is a monster, I'll be looking forward to purchasing more.

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Surprised

this reel has held up really well fishing inshore. I've paired it with 20lb braid and muscle some nice nice fish out of docks and mangroves.

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Fun reel!

Nice comfortable capable reel! I like it a lot for catching mid size fish! Smooth reel but has 8 bearings and very complex system so not easy to service and I have heard some negative feedback on the clicker. I do like the feel of the reel just need to see if it can be relatively durable ( catch more Tuna etc)and if there is a way to service them cost effectively- if so I’d consider… read more buying more! fun reel

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Solid

For the price you get a lot!

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Rugged and reliable

I have used my 471SS's for fresh and saltwater casting lures to musky and snook, bottom fishing up to 200ft for snapper/blackfish/grouper, casting 8oz+lead and foot long live baits for flatheads, sting ray fishing, and have landed an 8ft nurse shark on the 471 to boot.

This is a hardcore conventional reel, with an indestructible stainless steel drive train, in the body… read more of a compact low profile.

Any day of the week in any fishing location in most any fishing situation and these reels will be my go to.

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Compact beast

I have caught several tuna on this bad boy up to 35 lbs. The only issue you might have is line capacity on a party boat if you tie into a 70 pounder. But with 30 pounds of drag you can run 90 pound line. On a small boat you could chase the a bigger ones down with this real. Would get for anything under 40 pounds on a party boat as a rule. I'm sure you could go up to 80 on a small… read more boat since you can chase it down. I would Love a komodo 571 with 35 lbs of drag.

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Very Powerful Bait caster for heavy saltwater species!

I got 471P.
It's gigantic haha
But compare to LEXA 400 size, it's somewhat manageable in your palm.
If you have small hand don't care about the spool cap, get the 300 size instead.
Got so much drag power!!!
I use it for throwing irons to catch yellowtail, YFT, and etc.
Love it

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Great reel!

High capacity spool, 25# drag, and smooth operation. Some of the longest casts I’ve ever made are from this reel. I have the first edition model of the 364 Komodo and thought it couldnt be improved upon. I was wrong. Stainless steel shaft and gears with a 3 year warranty. You can’t go wrong.

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Beast

Killed yellowtail, Dorado, grouper, seabass, tuna with ease first use out in Mexico. Casts a mile. Outperformed my Lexa 400.

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Tuna and yellowtail

I have this beast paired with a blue water tallus xh and I destroyed tuna, skipjack, yellowtail and dorado this weekend. Nothing over 20 lbs but this thing just kept taking the abuse on a wide open bite off old glory in San Diego. I caught over 20 fish and bounced each one ....I really put this rod and reel to the test and it ate it like candy. I was using 30 lb suffix braid and… read more 30 lb leader. If I had to guess this will handle a yellowfin to 35 to 40 lbs if you have the room to fight it on a small boat. On a party boat you need to over gear so you don’t lose fish. I did foul hook a yellowfin which pushed this rod reel hard and it took me 15 min to land. This gets an A plus for your small outfit to 35 lb fish! The equipment is impressive!

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