Which one would you guys go with? They are both priced at $199, so money can't be a factor.

Is the Stx a Gen 3? If so I have heard a lot of bad things about that series. But for the Okuma I have heard some good things, many seem to have overlook it, but really liked iy when they tried it. I'd give Okuma a chance.

Is the Stx a Gen 3? If so I have heard a lot of bad things about that series. But for the Okuma I have heard some good things, many seem to have overlook it, but really liked iy when they tried it. I'd give Okuma a chance.

 

That's what I have been hearing as well. I actually loved the way the Okuma felt. They also offer a 3 year warranty on the reels which is better than anyone else!

wait till people start screaming shimano, lol I have a gen 3 stx 8 gear abu on the way, pray it is normal. I liek abu but most my spinning reels are okuma, last year I had a komodo, a krios and a centrix they were extreamly great reels. the centrix did not like casting small lures no matter how a fiddled with it.  Alot of people really overlook okuma, they are great IMO. I have a helios on my list for this year, there was a few new helios's on ebay for around 130 last time i checked.

For that kind of money get a Lew's Tourney pro or a.....shimano chronarch. The gen 3 revos have poor qc. The Helios got a good review from tackletour so give that one a shot as well.

get a lews Touranment pro. you can find brand new ones on Ebay for like $155-165. you wont regret it.

guy want a choice between the TWO he asked for,  I am sure he did his homework and narrowed it down

Between them two I'd choose the Helios. 

I had a Helios for about a month. It started making a coulpe of noises. One noise a clicking sound due to the thumbbar internals would not disengage is the best I can put it. Press the thumbbar then turn handle to retrieve and clikc click click click. IT would happen sporatically then more often like happen 4-5 casts in a row then stop for a few then start back again. I found another user that had same issue. Other sound was from the braking on a cast a whizzing sound started after a few weeks use. Cleaned oiled the bearings didnt help much. It was a very nice reel up til these issues felt solid smooth. I bought Chronarch knobs for it plus it could have 2 bearings per knob. Went great on my Smoke rod but cause of the issues returned. So I cant say from my experience to get one but if you can get one locally from a place that has a good return policy then might take a chance on one.

I presume you are referring to the HS-273VA?

Tackle Tour did not review the HS-273VA they tested the HS-262V and it got great reviews. It is the one I have. Its a nice reel but I like my Gen 3 STX a lot better.

When looking ay the NEW Abu reels and Okuma reels around $200 I would take the Okuma everytime. I don't own a Helios but do have a Komodo going on its second season and I have nothing bad to say about it. Picked one up for about $144 shipped. To me it is a solid general purpose reel. There seems to be to many complaints about the Gen 3 Revo line to venture that route.

Haven't hadn't any problems with Komodo plus like others have said you do have a 3 year warranty to work with should anything go wrong.

I'd have to go with the Okuma, just because of the warranty though.

 

Tight lines.

Matthew

I absolutely love my helios reels.

 

Can be had for cheap on that auction site too.

FYI Okuma reel warranty does charge for return shipping $8. Or if you are a cynic think of it as an $8 insurance policy, other top brands dont charge for return shipping.

I own a gen 3 stx, have never thrown a Helios, but I recommend the Helios.

I have never had a problem with my REVO's, I just bought a REVO gen 3 premier and I like it, but I do like my GEN 2 better. I like the heavier feel of the GEN 2's. If I were you, I would go on EBAY, and get a new GEN 2 STX for 150.00. They have a lot on there for sale and cheap.

guy want a choice between the TWO he asked for,  I am sure he did his homework and narrowed it down

I agree, but there have been TONS of people, including myself that have had constant issues with the Revos. People are just trying to save him from the headache.

I agree, but there have been TONS of people, including myself that have had constant issues with the Revos. People are just trying to save him from the headache.

But there are also a lot of people like myself who have had no problems with any of my Gen 3 Revo STX reels and I have 5 of them .

I agree, but there have been TONS of people, including myself that have had constant issues with the Revos. People are just trying to save him from the headache.

several people on here dont account for "tons" ...... for as many people that have had issues with their revo3 there are many many more that havent.. i love my stx, its super smooth and can cast lighter lures than my lews BB1, which is one reason i went with it over the tourney pro.. im not a big fan of okuma baitcasters.. bought the wife a surrano and it wasnt smooth at all and didnt cast very well... the helios may be different but what i would do is find someone local who has both and cast and retrieve each one and see which you like

Between the 2 I'd get the Helios. I don't want to mess around the gen 3 Revos because of all the qc issues I've heard about. I'd also check out the Lews TP and Shimano Chronarch if you haven't already.

No experience with Okuma reels.  I did buy my Lews Tournament Pro from a guy who was using a Komodo and liked it well enough that he wanted to try the Helios.

 

I have a Gen 1 STX-L that has been in use for 4 years now with nary a problem.  Can't offer any experience on the Gen 3.  Personally I would try the Helios because I like trying different reels, and what I have read about the Helios so far has pretty much been good.  You can get a bad specimen in any product.

Never used an Okuma baitcast reel but the spinners I have used were good. You can get a helios for $139.99 shipped on ebay right now.