OKUMA'S AFFORDABLE CONVECTOR CV20L LEVELWIND

In a market saturated with different types of reels and companies producing them, people in the market tend to do alot of head scratching when shopping. And why shouldn't they? We have the wonderful world of the interwebs to flood our craniums with accounts of the performance and accolades of these products. The product in question on this review is from a company that is no stranger to quality catfishing equipment, and as with most of their products, they deliver in a way that will fit most catfish anglers budgets.
The Okuma Convector CV20L is a lightweight (16z) levelwind baitcaster that packs a heavyweight punch when squaring off on a big catfish. I had an opportunity to pick up two of these reels which have been paired up on Okuma Battle Cat rods and put to good use in the Tennessee River. The very first thing that stood out to me on the first outing with these new reels was the fact they cast well. Very well! Having tried both 50lb mono and 80lb HiSeas Braid, I'm going to have to say with the braid especially this thing casts like a rocket, on the same level as many traditional reels. Mono capacity is 290/14 (0.35), 230/18 (0.40), 210/20 (0.42), so for its size you get plenty of line capacity for most any situation. While rated at 18lbs of drag, it isnt quite as much as some competitors but remains very smooth, and when combined with its line capacity is more than enough to tangle with some monster cats. At 5.0:1, it has the highest gear ratio of the Convector series. Spool engagement is easy and smooth and the drop down gearbox added with its ratio makes for easy reeling. It uses brass main/pinion gears inside the corrosion resistant body and also has a durable dual anti-reverse setup with both mechanical and rollerbearing. A nice wide levelwind allows for easy spooling and reduced friction casting, while the coating is designed for braided line and wire. The width also allows knots to pass through smoothly withut becoming snagged up. A large Ergo-grip knob on the power handle allows a comfortable purchase for your hand and has proven to be quite nice. The final piece of this product that really bring it all together is the outstanding price. With an average retail of around $84.99 it should fit most budgets and this is all the better if you are needing to purchase multiple reels. I foresee these reels being in my service for quite sometime after the impression they have made this year and I encourage you to check them out along with the other great equipment Okuma has to offer us catmen.