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turns out blowing up a reel is a real thing. When I first started salmon fishing a few years back I bought a couple cheap combos to get in the game. Had a big king on - long fight with lots of runs, the first run took hundreds of feet of line. Beside the boat it took one more run, the drag failed and the line snapped. The drag had totally seized up so I took reel apart to discover it had basically melted on the inside. Live and learn.

In the Okuma line up the Coldwater is OK, but the Convector and Magda have just way too much plastic for my taste. However, it's the drags that are a problem for me. They suffer from "drag creep" so you're constantly tinkering with the setting (especially when pulling something substantial like Dipsy's). Plus they also exhibit "drag fade" particularly with a fish that makes long powerful runs like a big King. Like I said, that's been my personal experience. Depending on the application you may have a different opinion. Okuma's come in at a great price point, but in terms of "value" like most things you get what you pay for.

Shimano Tekota's are bulletproof. The 500 is a good all around size. If you'd prefer a low profile reel, I'd look at the Daiwa Lexa. Not as rugged as the Shimano, but a good drag and easy to handle. From my own personal experience, I'd stay away from Okuma's. The drags are terrible, and they fall apart quickly.

My buddy who runs charters is sponsored by Okuma...so of course he uses them. However, he upgrades the drags to carbon fibre. Inexpensive and easy to do...makes a big difference. https://stores.tunasreeltroubles.com/carbon-fiber-drag-washer-set-by-dragmasters-for-okuma-cold-water-cw-303d-303dlx-303ds-453d-453ds-trolling-reels/

Been running Convectors for probably 10+ years, I love them compared to the Coldwaters. Although if you're a do it once kind of guy, Tekotas are the easy choice. 500/600/700 pick your poison.

I was going to cry FUD! but that was before looking at the mfg page and reading the manual. Not a mention of Canada approval anywhere! After some further digging this isn't the first year Costco has sold these. Last year they cleared them out for $50. This site here appears to be a Costco return clearance center: https://www.rjpwholesale.com/products/havasu-24-gm-automaticmanual-inflatable-pfd They list it as Transport Canada approved. I guess someone has to go an check the product or ask Costco and check for the stamp before buying.

I have some Coldwater with 5-6 seasons under there belt still holding up well. Yet to blow up a convector but some are on last legs.

One thing I do is buy the biggest one. does the cold water come in a big size? I know they have a left hand model but the one my friend has is not big enough for 10 colour.

i bought a couple Okuma Coldwaters as they came recommended by a musky guide on St. C. Run one with with braid for a dipsy and run one with mono for a downrigger when I use them for salmon. When musky fishing the braid one will be a down rod and the mono one will be off planer

Left at 3am. Back at midnight. Fished 3hrs in the morning the 3 before dark. Sat on shore middle of the day. Very sunny. ate ice cream instead of blowing a seal. owensound. 30over 65’. Nothing happening on the spoons. Changed to a Lyman and bam rainbow. Went deep. 65/125. Spoon. Look back rod is straight up. Yell fish and buddy is reeling like mad. It swam straight at the boat. Over the rail and in the pail. some bait 60’ to 80’ of water. Some big fish marked. At least 50 boats so a few fish getting caught. A guy caught 3 Lakers 80/125. It’s just starting out there.

Another consideration is the rod holders you use or plan to use. I have Down East holders which work great for large, round traditional type line counters but they do not work for low profile line counters. Many other rod holders would work with either type of reel.

I liked the Tekota 600LC reels for trolling for musky but have no experience with salmon.

I have had Okuma's for several years without any issues whatsover.

Most of the outer limbs were allowed to freefall Dave but the heavy ones were lowered by rope so as not to gouge the lawn when they hit and also my septic bed was nearby so the ones above that were all lowered by rope.

Impressive, but as a forester I often wonder why they take them down piece by piece when there is adequate room to fell them and cut them up on the ground, I can see that method in a built up urban area with buildings, fences and stuff, just seems a lot of added effort. Shame , not many elms left at that size, most succumb to Dutch Elm long before that size.