Okuma Aventa

[Tinca10]

I got two Marco Cortesi reels when they first appeared a couple of years ago. I'd never used a centrepin before, and after a few early minor disasters, got the hang of it. I couldn't afford the price of a decent, 'name' pin, but I found them a great affordable introduction to centrepin fishing. I've since got myself a fairly beat up Allcocks Match Aerial, which is sublime, but I still like the Cortesi reels for some of the rougher commercial carp puddles that I frequent. I have no complaints; with a bit of care and a little basic cleaning and maintainance, they actually seem to improve with use. There is some variation in quality, which I guess is only to be expected at the price- the second reel, which I didn't use for a year, spun much more freely than the first, although with repeated use, the first has caught up.
I do, however, quite fancy the Okuma Raw II, lovely blingy beast.