I have bought a couple Okuma bait casting reels over the past couple years. My experience: Great price, smooth as silk straight out of the box, works terrific for awhile.

But they have major breakdowns within a year or two. Bearings are the biggest concern. They wear out/burn out easily. I've had problems with high end reels too. But my biggest concern with Okuma has been with overall reliability.

I would say you should stick with the high-end reels (e.g., Shimano), but they're not what they were 10 years ago either. They're alot more expensive, and have reliablity issues too. My advice: Look for high end reels that are about 10 years old, with only light useage. My Shimano Curado 201 is circa 1999, and it runs like it's brand new.