yes, i've got an integrity 5/6 by okuma. seems to work ok, but i'd like to
point out a couple of things:

after 5 months' time, the rim is scratched to silver now. they're not
machined.

they are relatively heavy. 7 oz for the 5/6, the smallest in that line.

the drag seems to be good, but a bit touchy. the large star-shaped wheel on
the back controls the drag and if i have it just "right," moving it just a
tad results in a large change in drag. once set, it's consistent, but i
haven't had to play any fish from the reel since i bought it.

okuma has pretty good service. i was carrying my rod on my windshield
beneath the wipers recently moving from one spot to another. i won't go into
the embarrassing sequence of events, but the result was my coming to a
relatively sudden stop and the rod and reel going end over end, landing in
front of me. i got out and found one of the reel's feet had broken. i
admitted my stupidity to okuma in an email and received a reply about a day
later that because of my honesty, they would send me a replacement footing
for no charge. it arrived a week later and everything is fine.

i understand okuma is a big name in reels outside the flyfishing realm.

i'm been internet window shopping lately (honestly, when do i ever stop?)
and find myself gravitating to a teton tioga as my next reel. maybe for the
current 9 foot, 5 weight ro, definitely for the inevitable purchase of a
smaller rod. perhaps you would find yourself in the same boat?

eric
fresno, ca.






From: "Bob Sheedy"
Organization: MTS Internet
Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.fishing.fly
Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2004 07:01:35 -0600
Subject: Okuma Integrity Large Arbor Fly Reels any experiences?

Okuma makes excellent large arbor reels. My only beef, which I just had out
with the distributor at the Western Canadian Fly Fishing Exposition in
Vancouver was the lack of interchangeable cassettes, (not spools). But they
have an awesome smooth drag and can keep up to a charging rainbow that
decides to check out your backing and then see how fast your fingers can
wind when he decides to come back and see what you look like.
The company stands behind its products very well and is obviously planning
on sticking around for the long haul, unlike some others that come and go
within a decade.

Bob S

--
Bob Sheedy
www.mwflyfishing.net
Author: Lake Fly Fishing Strategies
Bob Sheedy's Top Fifty Stillwater Fly Patterns
wrote in message
om...
I am considering a large arbor reel for the first time. Anyone have
comments on Large Arbor reels in general or the Okuma Integrity Large
Arbor in particular?

Thanks for your input...

Chris 'padishar creel' Fanning