Just received an Okuma Integrity 10/11 fly reel and extra spool purchased off Ebay for $58 including shipping. I am going to have to replace all of my fly reels (most really) with these reels - they are the nicest fly reel I have ever owned and the drag is SMOOOOTH. I cannot see paying the higher prices for the big name reels - they cannot be that much better than the Okuma.

I keep thinking I'll pick one of those up, but I seem to keep spending my Integrity money on other things. Was that auction a one of a kind deal or were there any more of them?

I've been writing about high quality "cheap" reels like the Okumas, FFBs, and Elkhorns for years. I've not had a single reader contact me with negative feedback since 2004 when I began with the Okumas. But I've had probably 100 or so thank me. I was just on the FFB site looking to replace a couple of my own that got stolen. They've got some on sale. They don't make them above 6wt size and I wish they did. They're the best of the 3 brands for the $$$ spent. The Elkhorn T-series will appeal to saltwater guys who like the cork on delrin centerpin drags (old school). They're bulletproof, dependable, and WAY less than anything like them. But my $$$ is on the Okumas for big game reels with sealed drags for the same reason you stated: sssmmmoooooooooooottthhh. And I've had a few of my Okumas now since 2002 and never worn one out or had a hiccup...with ZERO maintenance.

It was an auction for just this one, but there is another seller offering just the reel for $39.99. You can pick up an extra spool for about $30.00. I think the $39.99 plus $5.00 shipping. Do a search for Okuma Integrity 10/11 for the large reel. Here is a link to the $39.99 reel.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Okuma-Integrity-Larg...=item35a49bac2d

Does anyone know the difference between the Okuma Integrity and the Okuma SLV?? It appears the SLV is a little more expensive.

We had a pretty good discussion of the differences in this thread.

Glad you pointed out the misprint in line capacity of the SLV. Although I never figured I'd need what they list as the backing capacity, it was tempting (isn't bigger always better??). All things being equal, I think I will be putting a number of my older reels up for sale on Ebay and replacing them with Integrity's.

i just bought a slv 8/9. from the specs it was quiet a bit lighter than the 10/11 but it holds 150 yards of 30lb dacron backing with 10 wt line easily. If something gets a hold of it and takes all that away from me it needed it more than me anyway. I really doubt i will ever be in that situation any way. It seems to be a very good reel but i havent tried it out yet.

I have two SLV's and they are very good reels for the fishin I do.