Although I have been bass fishing for years, I just recently
started throwing large swim baits. The reel I am currently
using is a Calcutta TE 401 and I have no complaints except for
the price tag. I ran into a guy a week or so ago who was using
an Okuma Induron ID400LX. He said he had recently purchased it
and he "liked it,so far". 
Does anyone have any experience using these reels? I would
appreciate any opinions anyone has about these reels because
from a cost standpoint($100)they sound like a pretty good
deal.
Tree

Happiness is a tight line and a stiff pole.

I have 3 of the 150's and they are great. The 7+1 bb and super
free spool are awesome. Get one you'll be happy

I have an Induron 300 and tried it out some this spring. The freespool on these reels is incredible, and they cast great. The frame is pretty solid and the gears are decent. The handle is on the small side in my opinion. I wouldn't say I have huge hands but the handle just feels kind of small for the reel size. The 300 size has a non-disengaging levelwind which I also don't really like but it's not the end of the world. The one thing I did not like at all on the reel was the drag. I fish a tight drag in general, and it was very jerky with I set it for what I would usually set with 20lb test. Think of it like a Shimano Catala with the most insane freespool you've ever seen but a crappy drag. That's my honest feedback on the reel. If you could put a better drag washer in there somehow, it would be pretty solid.

I would stick with the Shimano myself,I've always heard that you get what you pay for. Also the service is the best in the industry.The quality of the Okuma bearings is really poor in my opinion, I have seen them fail in my buddies reels more than once.Now he switched over to Shimano and has been happy ever since. But I can understamd not wanting to pay all the $$ for a reel.

In a perfect world I'd have all Conquests or TE's. Being that living in the bay area ain't cheap, I have a lot of decent, but not super expensive reels.

Disclaimer:
Jacking around with the parts in your reel will void the warranty.

How to build a pretty kick ass swimbait reel for a good price:

Get a Shimano Cardiff 300.
Get a dartainium drag washer and some shimano drag grease
Replace the washer and coat lightly with grease
The washer you are replacing is the innermost one, the one that sits inside the big gear
Get a handle for a 400TE
The hole in the TE handle is too big for the Cardiff
But if you just screw it in super tight, it will hold on the reel no problem
Lube the levelwind up, I just use some generic Penn reel lube
Spool it up with 25lb and go to town

I've been fishing my Cardiffs for going on 3 years with about zero maintenance and they are still sweet. They aren't TE's, they don't have phenomenal casting, but they get the job done.

Hey magmaster...

Don't you do reel repair for Shimano??? Kind of convenient that you downgrade another manufacture and play up Shimano's customer service. I'm not disagreeing with you though. Shimano has great customers service, Okuma does too.

"disclaimer... I work for Okuma"

I have no idea what you're talking about....I have lots of friends there...and I never said anything about Okuma's service.Sorry if it struck a nerve.

As far as Okumas reels go I own several of their spinning reels.
In my opinion they are by far the best for the money. I would compare the metaloids with the the stelas at a fraction of the cost. I have had one for 3 years now and use it in the salt were I regularly catch 30+ sand bass each trip.It has caught over a thousand fish and that reel is still smooth and the drag is the best I have ever felt in a spinning reel. Their service is good to. I dropped the spool cap one day into the bay and they replaced it for free. I dont own a casting reel from okuma but I do plan on getting one I will fish it hard and let you guys know how it holds up
I am not offiliated with any reel companies. Just telling you my opinion.
Matt

Here is a link that BigLimit sent me regarding tricking out Curados. He had a Cardiff 300 tweaked like this and he says it will cast as well as the Calcutta 300 TE. A good way to make an economic reel a little more dynamic. I don't have any experience with the Okuma reels but would trust what Rob, Lake or Mark say without any reservation.

Disclaimer- I fish Shimano exclusively, but get good deals to be able to do so.

http://jdntackle.home.mindspring.com/i1.html

CJ, thanks for that link. That is some great info!!!

Allright guys here's a tip for Shimano reels and getting them to cast better.#1 Get yourself a few q-tips and some rubbing alcohol, pull the spool out and clean the spool shaft and the outer diameter of the spool. Then clean the spool raceway on the reels frame. Pull some of the cotton off of the q-tip so there is a small amount on the stick and stick it right through the center of the pinion gear.You will be amazed at how much grease/dirt comes out of there. For the reels that have non-disengaging level winds try and clean as much of the grease out of the worm tracks and apply a light amount of light weight oil such as Speed X or even the light mineral oil that comes with the Shimano reels. I will post pics of how to service Shimano reels as soon as I get my new digital camera.Try this out and watch your lure fly!!

Dan - I tried out your tip on cleaning the spool shaft and edges with a qtip. I didn't use alcohol, but just used that super light oil that Shimano makes. I had a cardiff 200 I don't use much with crappy freespool, and in 10 minutes it went from barely spinning to spinning for 30 seconds! stoked! I just did a half dozen other reels. I had never thought to clean the spool shaft before, but it totally worked. Thanks

-Rob

I did the same thing with my CT100 and CT250 and they spin like tops now! Thanks for the tip.

Jake

No problem guys, I have more tips but just not a lot of time to post them. My only computer is here at work so it makes it difficult to post all the info that I have. But I will make the time soon and post service tips with pics!