I have to preface this with the fact that I haven't caught any big fish with mine, but really like my Okuma reels (have a small trout rod/reel plus a steelhead rod/reel). I got them because my brother's buddy is a hardcore fisherman and he works at an outdoors store. He recommended it over other brands, uses Okuma himself, and thinks they're the unsung hero of the rod/reel world.
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Do not tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don't tell them where they know the fish.
--Mark Twain