Okuma Aventa vs. Sheffield???

[BigAl]

Is any noticeable difference between Aventa and Sheffield except 30$ in price? I do not mind to spend extra 30$ but BassProShops carries Aventa only and Santa brought me a gift certificate from them.

[Ron Matthews]

They both work, but? If those are your opptions? sheffield is a little better reel, about 30$ better. It really depends on your casting style, if your gonna side cast Either is fine. Both are a little light To be pull casting or BC style imo.

[BigAl]

Official Okuma site does not even list Sheffield only Aventa. Hmmmm???? Are they really different reels???

http://www.okumafishingteam.com/nav1.html

[lookin for the gills]

Being a tigers fan I thought this thread was about Gary Sheffield and That Japanese pitcher. :lol: :lol: . How dumb am I :dizzy: :dizzy:

[Flyfisher]

Official Okuma site does not even list Sheffield only Aventa. Hmmmm???? Are they really different reels???

YES, although they are similar in appearance, they are truly different reels. Most noticeably, the bearings in the Sheffield are of significantly higher quality and the handle design is also better (the Aventa handles taper back towards the reel and have a tendency to catch your line by accident). The Aventa is fine if you want to drop $140 and ask yourself later.."should I have bought the Sheffield?" I own/have owned both reels and found the Sheffield a much more pleasant reel to fish with. I use my Islander 80% of the time now but still enjoy the Sheffield.

The reason why they are not on the Okuma website is that they are only made for one distributor out of New York state and not available to all Okuma dealers unless purchased through this distributor. Okuma does warranty the reel, however.

Another couple of reels you may want to consider is the Raven Matrix or Raven Classic. I found the Classic a very nice reel for about the same price as the Sheffield, and without all the additional porting, less apt to pick up dirt/grit.

[quest32a]

I haven't handled the sheffield much, but on checking out the Aventa it felt very light and cheap. All the other pins I have handled, Islander, Hale, Mykiss and an assortment of Ravens all felt better to me. Granted most were 200+ reels, but I much preferred them to the Aventa.

BTW Flyfisher, weren't you knocking the Islander a while back? Now its your preferred reel. I guess you are like me the more comfortable you get with something the better you like it. I hear all the raving about the Mykisses and the startup is awesome. But the couple of times I have casted it I couldn't stand it. And my fingers just didn't fit right.... LOL

But I bet if I used it for a month I would be in love....

[Flyfisher]

BTW Flyfisher, weren't you knocking the Islander a while back?
Yes, mostly because of its excessive line capacity, 150yds+ of 30lb dacron. At the time, I felt, and still feel, there are probably better reels in the $350+ class than the Islander for the Great Lakes. The Islander purchase was based on a significant clearance markdown at a retail chain. It does fish well and starts up easily. Not to mention it has a truly "solid" feel to it. I have similar feelings on the other expensive reel you mentioned but I believe I would have to own one and fish with it to truly make a comparison.

[Steelheadfred]

Yes, mostly because of its excessive line capacity, 150yds+ of 30lb dacron. At the time, I felt, and still feel, there are probably better reels in the $350+ class than the Islander for the Great Lakes. The Islander purchase was based on a significant clearance markdown at a retail chain. It does fish well and starts up easily. Not to mention it has a truly "solid" feel to it. I have similar feelings on the other expensive reel you mentioned but I believe I would have to own one and fish with it to truly make a comparison.


I think the solid feel is what is missing from many of the lower end and very light weight reels, it makes a difference to have some heft and solid feel while casting longer distance.

[Ron Matthews]

Once you truly develop a good pull-wallis-bc style cast you will see the diff. between a good real and some of the others. The heavier spooled reels cast these styles much, much better. and once you've developed your style you can cast very light weight much further. The extra wieght at start up is hardly an issue with these reels cause all you do is flick a finger to bump it started.

[Flyfisher]

Once you truly develop a good pull-wallis-bc style cast you will see the diff. between a good real and some of the others. The heavier spooled reels cast these styles much, much better. and once you've developed your style you can cast very light weight much further. The extra wieght at start up is hardly an issue with these reels cause all you do is flick a finger to bump it started.
You are exactly right...and Brian K (Buzz) was telling me about your "bump cast". In tight places where a BC/swing cast is not practical, I have been bumping the reel to get it started and its a big help with lighter floats....I can't wait to try it out on some bigger water....but I have to go down to fish in Naples FL this weekend:yikes:

[Ron Matthews]

He better not be given away all my secrets:mad: I would like to call it my own But I can't come up with a fancy name to call it so? . Everybody has thier own thing ya know, Just Go with it, let it develop and be happy:)

[Flyfisher]

He better not be given away all my secrets:mad: I would like to call it my own But I can't come up with a fancy name to call it so? .
Actually, I think he called it the "Ron Matthew's" cast...I was the one who introduced him to the beauty of casting directly off the spool via a quick "BC" cast lesson. Yep...its best to do what you feel most comfortable with.

[Ron Matthews]

COOL! I could live with that.:D