The Okuma Hakai is being touted as the best new freshwater reel.
Tackle shortages and supply chain issues have become the hallmark of much of the fishing industry over the past few months. While some companies handed these phrases out like so much candy on Halloween as an excuse to rest on their laurels, Okuma set to the lab to produce and perfect the ultimate freshwater baitcasting reel. Heck, they actually began working on this project before the global pandemic struck and used the time it afforded them to the extreme. With reels now ready to ship, the time has come to put the fruits of their labor—the Okuma Hakai DT—on your shelves and into your customers’ hands!
The Okuma Hakai DT Low Profile Baitcast Reel is being talked about as the best new freshwater baitcasting reel that you may not have seen at ICAST. But in reality, it may simply be the best new freshwater reel hands down—it’s simply that good.
“The new Hakai Low Profile Baitcast Reels are something we have been working on for a long time,” states John Bretza, Product Development Manager. “This reel is an absolute game changer for Okuma. You get a super-tuned reel right out of the box. Our collaboration with Dream Tackle has really put this reel over the top.”
The list of features you are going to find in this little reel are numerous, much of which you’re not going to find anywhere else in a stock reel. We’ll tally up exactly what you’re going to find inside and out of the Hakai in just a moment, but first let’s touch upon the most impressive and ground-breaking features to be found not only in a reel at this price point, but at any price, and see what makes the Hakai one of the most technically advanced reels to ever come out of Okuma Fishing Tackle.
Weighing-in at less than 6 ounces—5.9 ounces to be exact—the Hakai takes magnesium frame reels to a whole new level with a retail price that comes in as low as 1/3 that of other manufacturer’s magnesium offerings. What’s even more impressive is that Okuma did this without sacrificing on build quality or features anywhere else, producing a complete premium baitcast reel package that can stand up against any reel on the market. That in itself would have made the Hakai worth checking out, but there’s more.
Okuma’s LITE CAST magnesium alloy construction results in the ultimate strength and lightweight feel, while the reel’s design and shape sits comfortably in the palm of your hand making for effortless casting all day long. Okuma treats the magnesium frame with a special treatment for corrosion resistance which, coupled with its ability to turn out up to 20 pounds of drag and the 42mm oversized hardened brass main gear, makes the reel a viable fresh as well as saltwater option.
Continuing with the lightweight-yet-powerful theme, Okuma developed FLITE SPOOL and FLITE SHAFT technology into the Hakai. Teaming up with the folks at Dream Tackle Design, the Hakai comes with a super-tuned spool, weighing a mere 9.5 grams, to produce unrivaled performance in an out-of-the-box reel requiring no aftermarket parts or tweaking. The Hakai also features a patented hollow stainless-steel SUS FLITE SHAFT with precision SUS balls and provides a perfect balance between weight, strength, and smoothness.
By combining these features—FLITE SPOOL and FLITE SHAFT—Okuma Hakai low-profile reels provide anglers of any skill level unrivaled castability and the confidence to cast even the lightest of lures down to as little as 3g (0.10 oz) at great distances. We’re talking lure weights usually reserved for spinning tackle and specialized baitcast reels, not multi-purpose baitcasters. But the Hakai does not simply afford the angler the ability to cast far and light, it allows for a much greater range of lures and lure weights to be thrown on the same reel making it a super versatile tool. You can now easily change between a heavy bait and an ultralight lure, without the need to switch reels, resulting in more time spent fishing, and less time spent looking for the right rod and reel to match up.
The Okuma Hakai DT is available in ten different models including three different gear ratios (6.2:1, 7.3:1, 8.1:1), right- and left-hand retrieve, a flipping/pitching/punching models, and finesse models. The MSRP on the Hakai ranges from $169.99 – $184.99.
Nitty-Gritty Details of the Okuma Hakai DT
LiteCast magnesium frame: corrosion resistant coating
Corrosion Resistant sideplates for maximum durability
42mm oversized hardened machine cut brass main gear
Multi-disc Stainless Steel and Carbon Hybrid drag system
Super tuner FLITE SPOOL developed by Dream Tackle Design
Patented FLITE SHAFT hollow stainless steel main shaft
Built in, universal line diameter indicator
External adjustable magnetic cast control system
Precision C-40x carbon injection star drag
6BB + 1RB stainless steel bearings for ultimate smoothness
Quick-Set anti-reverse roller bearing for solid hook sets
Hakai reels are backed by a 3-year limited warranty
About Okuma
At Okuma Fishing Tackle, we deliver more than just fishing gear. We deliver the motivation to hit the water, the energy to maintain focus, and the excitement that injects every cast with high expectations. The advanced materials, dynamic design, and commitment to longevity contained in each of our fishing reels, fishing rods, and rod and reel combos are not simply a means to an end. They are the foundation of a better and more complete fishing experience. Okuma Fishing Tackle was developed to inspire your passion for fishing, both on and off the water. Whether you fish for bass, trout, catfish, salmon/steelhead, striper, tuna, or marlin, when the sun rises tomorrow, a new opportunity will be born.
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