From the carbon fiber reel seats, premium Fuji components, and un-sanded blanks, the Okuma X-Series Rods boast a clean aesthetic and a splash of modern JDM flare that’s a huge step up in the refinement of Okuma bass fishing rods. At a quick glance, these rods have no excess glue, bent guides, or blemishes, and the EVA and cork handle type cosmetics are reminiscent of other high-end rods on the market like the Shimano Expride series. After a quick wiggle and flex into the carpet, the X-Series rods feel insanely lightweight and well-balanced, and the power ratings appear to all be accurately represented by the ratings printed on the blanks. Marketed as Okuma’s high-end series of bass rods built to meet the demands of serious anglers, the product reviewers all agree these rods ‘look the part’ and are eager to put them to the test to confirm the price is on par with performance.

“I'm very excited to get these out on the water for a true test. I would consider the X-Series to be Okuma’s flagship bass series and expect these rods to be true to their provided action, sensitive, and effortless to fish with. Anything less is unacceptable at this price.” - Jacob

Crafted from a light and responsive 46-ton Toray carbon fiber blank, the X-Series rods are reinforced with Okuma's Ultimate X Reinforced Multi-Directional Fiber Technology for incredible strength and durability with extreme weight reduction. The proprietary construction uses X-shaped wrapping to create multi-directional fibers in three different directions to significantly enhance durability, responsiveness, and create a feather-light rod that you can fish for hours with minimal fatigue. The spinning rods include Fuji VSS reel seats to reduce weight, while the casting rods are fitted with SeaGuide HSC HyperSensitive reel seats that enable direct contact with the rod blank. From our experience, the Okuma X-Series undoubtedly boosts feel and sensitivity using Fuji KW-concept angled guide frames and Fuji SiC inserts that allow you to easily detect subtle bites and changes in bottom composition.

While the Okuma X-Series is impressively lightweight with weights that start as low as 3.1oz, many of us initially questioned whether they would hold up well over time or if they would be prone to breaking. At times these rods almost felt too lightweight, like they could break it easily if you applied too much pressure on a hookset or snag. Despite our best efforts to flex these blanks past the limit, none of the reviewers reported any broken rods, damaged guides, or issues with the reel seats, and everyone provided extremely positive feedback when it came to durability. By the end of the test period, it became clear to all of us that Okuma’s UXR multi-directional fiber wrapping isn’t just another fancy marketing name, but the key differentiator that allows it to achieve exceptional lightweight durability.

For a flagship lineup, we believe the $279.99 -299.99 is a great price for a rod of this caliber, as the X-Series raises the bar for Okuma’s application-specific bass offerings with new materials and updated technology. Considering the exceptional durability ratings, we would contend that the X-Series is a high-end bottom contact rod that will deliver long-lasting performance and tons of value to anglers who choose to invest in one. The X-Series rods aren’t only offered at the same price as a Dobyns Champion XP or Shimano Expride, but they absolutely compete in terms of performance and are backed by a limited lifetime warranty that’s easily handled through Tackle Warehouse or Okuma.

All of the rods currently offered in the Okuma X-Series are built in 7’ – 7’6” lengths with universal actions that lend themselves to being extremely versatile for a variety of fishing techniques within their specified lure ratings. One reviewer mentioned how the 7’3” Heavy X-Series Casting Rod was able to easily handle hollow body frogs, Carolina rigs, heavy bladed jigs, small paddletail swimbaits, and oversized topwater lures throughout the test period. The entire X-series is comprised of fast or extra-fast tapers, so one drawback is that there isn’t a rod in the lineup that’s specifically designed for crankbaits or treble hook lures. Built with open-style hook keepers that allow you to conveniently store Texas rig baits without removing the hook from the plastic, we found the placement of the keeper in between the split grip to be convenient for quick transitions. Multiple reviewers reported success with bladed jigs, but it became clear these rods are best used for bottom contact applications as opposed to moving baits.

“I initially planned on using this rod for heavier bottom contact applications such as jigs and Carolina rigs, but I found myself picking it up for pretty much any lure between the 3/8oz - 1oz range.” – Walker

Over the years, Okuma has built a solid reputation for offering hundreds of unique rod and reel model options that cover unique territories, species of fish, and techniques in both fresh and saltwater environments. Although they aren’t primarily known for being a rod manufacturer that specializes in high-end bass fishing equipment, our whole staff agrees that the Okuma X-Series legitimizes the brand as a true competitor against the household names in the industry. Earning a higher score than many of us initially expected, the X-series shattered expectations throughout the test period, being regarded as one of the best combinations of strength and lightweight durability that we’ve seen in some time. If you’re an angler who’s looking for a lightweight and sensitive rod to use exclusively for bottom contact fishing applications, we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the Okuma X-series.