Okuma Inspira Review

If you are looking for a great spinning reel without breaking the bank, you must look no further.

Okuma Fishing is a brand that has existed for over 30 years. It manufactures fishing reels and rods, bringing several quality products to the market at very affordable prices.

The new Okuma Inspira spinning reel, introduced to the market in 2015, is an amazing reel for the money.

Just like its big brother, the Okuma Helios SX, the Inspira has a C-40X carbon fiber frame and side plates that make it lightweight and provide an extremely high level of performance, which I will go into more detail later.

The Okuma Inspira spinning reel is available in 3 models: the 20 (2000 series), 30 (3000 series), and 40 (4000 series), with two color choices: an awesome blue and a standard clean-looking white.

Okuma Inspira 20

The Okuma Inspira 20, a 2000 series fishing reel, is the lightest of the three models, weighing only 6.5 oz. This is the perfect size if you like to fish the lightweight tackle and will only be going after smaller trout and reds and maybe some freshwater fish as well.

Okuma Inspira 30

The Okuma Inspira 30, a 3000 series fishing reel, is the next size up, weighing only 7.4 oz and increasing the line capacity by 25%. The drag is the same at 13 lbs.

Okuma Inspira 40

The Okuma Inspira 40, which is a 4000 series fishing reel and the largest of the three, weights in at an amazingly light 9.1 oz., bumps your line capacity up another 40%, and is just the ticket for the larger reds and snook while still maintaining a light setup.

If you are looking for a great spinning reel to fish inshore that you can also use on the lakes, this is a great choice. The best part is that you can have this carbon fiber fishing reel for under $80. YES, you heard me right—a carbon fiber reel with advanced technology for under $80.

The Bottom Line

It is a very lightweight reel due to the carbon fiber frame
Smooth with 13lbs. of carbon fiber drag
Precision brass pinion gears

Features

Okuma Inspira | Amazon

Inspira spinning reels deliver up to a whopping 13-pounds of smooth, even drag pressure to take on large, powerful fish in freshwater and inshore saltwater fishing applications.

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Lightweight C-40X carbon frame and side plates

Using a new long-strand carbon fiber technology that Okuma calls C-40X, they produce an extremely lightweight (25%) lighter than their graphite counterparts and a 50% stronger design.

An additional benefit of this design is that it is 100% corrosion-resistant to withstand the harsh conditions of saltwater fishing.

Cyclonic Flow Rotor

The sleek and modern design of the cyclonic flow rotor not only looks great, but the ported design allows for more even and increased airflow over the rotor, which means that it will dry faster and reduce the chances of corrosion from saltwater.

TCA: Torsion Control Armor

TCA, or Torsion Control Armor, is a unique design that reduces the twisting effect we sometimes feel on a reel. By utilizing two arms, like the fork of a bicycle, a much stronger arm is created that is separate from the body.

Eliminating the twisting keeps all the internal components in line for a smooth retrieval. Under loads like a large redfish, the pinion gear wants to lean forward, and this torsion control armor design eliminates twists.

Carbon Fiber Drag

The Inspira uses a carbon fiber drag system with a multi-ratcheted drag knob on top of the spool that provides a very smooth and strong drag for the weight of the reel.

8HPB + 1RB stainless steel bearings

The Helios uses eight corrosion-resistant stainless steel main bearings and one corrosion-resistant steel roller bearing.

Quick-Set anti-reverse roller bearing

This ensures that when you set the hook, you will not have any slop on the reel.

Rigid, machined aluminum, anodized handle

Design and testing determined that a lighter-weight handle could be achieved with the aluminum alloy than with a carbon fiber handle.

Heavy duty, solid aluminum bail wire

The Helios uses a CDB or Centrifugal Disc bail, which combines an aluminum bail wire with a new design that uses a heavy brass disc to create a smooth and well-balanced bail operation.

RESII: Computer-Balanced Rotor Equalizing System

Combining the RESII with the Torsion Control Armor gives you an extremely smooth and silky feel to the retrieve.

Features at a Glance

Lightweight C-40X carbon frame and sideplates
8BB + 1RB corrosion-resistant stainless steel bearings
Quick-Set anti-reverse roller bearing
Precision machine cut brass pinion gear
Rigid, forged aluminum, anodized handle
Lightweight, EVA handle knob
Precision Elliptical Gearing system
Machined aluminum, 2-tone anodized spool
Heavy duty, solid aluminum bail wire
CFR: Cyclonic Flow Rotor

For the inshore fisherman, I think that you will appreciate what Okuma has done with the Cyclonic Flow Rotor. How the spool is ported and the rotor is designed allows for much more airflow around the spool.

We know that one of the challenges with saltwater fishing is corrosion, which comes from water sitting on the reel for too long and seeping into your reel’s little areas.

While this design is not a substitute for a fully sealed reel, it is an excellent design innovation and has made a big difference in corrosion protection. When you combine this with the carbon fiber body and sideplates, you have a reel that should last you for years if washed down between fishing trips.

I must say that I took the Okuma Helios SX for a spin first and was very impressed with the reel and price point.

When I next unboxed the Inspira and mounted it to a lightweight 7′ Ugly Stik GX2, I was very surprised to see that this reel, which sells for 40% less than the Helios SX, had nearly all the same features, making this a ten on our scale for value.

I have paired an Okuma Inspira ISZ-30B with one of my favorite fishing rods, the St. Croix Mojo Inshore. This is an incredibly lightweight setup for inshore fishing that will handle everything I have thrown at it so far.

With a carbon fiber drag system and nine corrosion-resistant stainless steel ball bearings, you have a smooth reel when the line is being retrieved and when the line is screaming off the spool.

Pros

Cyclonic Flow Technology
Price
C-40X Carbon Fiber Technology
Very Lightweight
Smooth Drag

Cons

Not fully sealed
Not braid ready

Alternatives

There is nothing to compare the Okuma Inspira in the under $100 range of reels, as this is a true carbon fiber reel.

For about $60 more, you can take a look at the Okuma Helios SX, where you will pick up a few additional features such as the higher-end HPB ball bearings, a cyclonic flow rotor made of C-40X carbon fiber material vs aluminum, and higher-end ALG Precision AlumiLite main and oscillating gears.

The Pflueger Supreme XT and the Pflueger Purist are two other reels to compare. One of the things that you get with the Pflueger reels that you do not get with the Okuma Inspira or the Okuma Helios SX is a sealed carbon fiber drag system.

Neither Penn, Shimano, nor Daiwa have anything to compare with at this price point and weight.

In Conclusion

I love to fish with lightweight gear and to teach others to do the same. I am getting a few of these reels so we can go out and have fun when I have friends down to fish for trout, reds, and snook.

If you combine the Okuma Inspira with a Shakespeare Ugly Stik GX2, say a model USSP702M, a 7′ Medium Fast rod, you would have an incredible combination for under $125.

While I have just recently purchased these reels, I look forward to seeing how they will stand up after a year of fishing in the saltwater of SW Florida.