Tackle manufacturers often say they rigorously tested a new product.

Ever wonder whether that’s true?

Okuma’s Makaira Spinning Reels, expected to arrive at stores in September, are so new that getting information about them was somewhat difficult.

At press time, Okuma itself was slow in providing us info

But we didn’t let that stop us, and we scoured every resource we could, including the internet, locating enough info to give a glimpse of the reel.

This is a big-game reel, the spinning version of the conventional Makaira, Okuma’s flagship product.

So it’s kind of a big deal.

A blog on the internet in March said Okuma had been testing the reel the previous 12 months around the world.

Okuma said the reel handled tuna heavier than 1,000 pounds and other big-game species of all different weights with flying colors, according to the blog.

The reel will come in two sizes: the 20,000 and the 30,000.

The 20,000 is for 580 yards of 20-pound mono to 330 yards of 30-pound, or 490 yards of 65-pound braid to 400 yards of 80.

The 30,000 is for 490 yards of 40-pound mono to 300 yards of 60, and 700 yards of 80-pound braid to 570 yards of 100-pound.

The forged-aluminum-bodied reels weigh 32.5 ounces and 36.7 ounces, respectively.

A 10,000 model will reportedly also be developed.

Watch a video from Sport Fishing Magazine at ICAST to get a better look at the reels.

Maximum drag is a powerful 66 pounds for both the 20,000 and the 30,000.

Another feature is a pre-set drag that can function like a lever-drag on a conventional reel.

The reels are fully sealed to prevent water, salt and sand from penetrating.

Watch a video of the reel underwater.

At press time, a page for the Makaira Spinning Reel was included on Okuma’s Australian website, with limited details.

Watch for a page to be included on Okuma’s American site eventually.

But an informative pdf brochure for both the conventional and spinning Makaira reels was included on the American site hours before this review was published.

See that for details.

The company still seems to be working on perfecting everything for introducing the reels at American stores.

Seems sometimes companies certainly do work on products as much as they say!