I know the Okuma rods you're talking about, they're the Connoisseur line. I have one for regular salmon fishing, and for the price, they're great rods. Light and reasonably sensative, with a strong backbone and a light tip. I like the guides too, they're string wrapped with the wrapping coated with epoxy. And the price is the best of all. Great downrigger rods, as well as casting and mooching. They also look great, if you care about that. If you need a salmon rod for a kid, you can't do much better if you don't want to spend a fortune.