Connoisseur B Rods
Salmon and steelhead river rods for float, drift, and swing presentations
The Connoisseur B Series is Okuma's dedicated salmon and steelhead rod lineup, built specifically for West Coast and Great Lakes tributary anglers who drift, float, or swing for steelhead and salmon. The designation serves freshwater drifters and float fishers working current, not surf, not saltwater. The B suffix distinguishes it from the Connoisseur A; the B series leans toward longer, lighter builds suited to finesse river presentations. Blanks are 24-ton carbon throughout, keeping weight down for all-day casting and mending.
The UFR (Ultimate Flex Reinforcement) tip section adds durability at the thinnest point of the blank without sacrificing responsiveness, relevant when loading a long drift rod against river current. Tip-over-butt ferrule connection improves power transfer and blank balance relative to standard spigot designs. Stainless guide frames with zirconium inserts handle braid and flourocarbon leaders; full neo-cork fore and rear grips maintain grip in cold or wet conditions. No Fuji components listed; Sea Guide hardware throughout.
The ten models run almost entirely spinning, with one casting rod (CQ-C-862MHb) for bait-casting steelheaders. Lengths span 8'6" to 11', predominantly 9' to 10'. Powers run L to MH, with several M and ML options. The extended 10'-11' models (L and ML power) are river float-fishing or Centerpin-adjacent tools where reach and line-mend distance matter; the 8'6" models in M and MH cover swinging and heavier bait presentations. The lineup coalesces around the 9' length as a do-it-all river steelhead length.
Shaded band: the spread of the lineup's 10 models, as percentile rank among same-type rods. Solid line = series median · dashed ring = catalog median.
- Models
- 10 9 spinning · 1 casting
- Length
- 8'6"–11' 2.60–3.40 m
- Power
- L–MH 4 classes
- Action
- MF–M
- Line
- 2–25 lb
- Lure
- 1/16–4 oz 1.8–113 g
- List price
- $89.99–$94.99
Rods in this series
10 models| Save | Model | Length | Power | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CQ-S-862Mb | 8'6" | M | Buy from Okuma | |
| CQ-C-862MHb | 8'6" | MH | Buy from Okuma | |
| CQ-S-862MHb | 8'6" | MH | Buy from Okuma | |
| CQ-S-902Lb | 9' | L | Buy from Okuma | |
| CQ-S-902MLb | 9' | ML | Buy from Okuma | |
| CQ-S-902Mb | 9' | M | Buy from Okuma | |
| CQ-S-962MLb | 9'6" | ML | Buy from Okuma | |
| CQ-S-1002Lb | 10' | L | Buy from Okuma | |
| CQ-S-1002MLb | 10' | ML | Buy from Okuma | |
| CQ-S-1102Lb | 11' | L | Buy from Okuma |
Model notes
3 of 10 modelsOnly casting model in the lineup; MH power and MF action suit plug fishing, bait-casting salmon setups, or heavier spinner/spoon applications for those who prefer a low-profile baitcasting setup over spinning for river salmon.
Heaviest spinning model in the series at 15-25lb line and 1/2-4oz lure weight. Positioned for chinook salmon or heavy steelhead work, beads, heavy roe bags, or larger spinners, where a lighter build would be overtaxed.
Longest and lightest model; 11' L-power M-action blank is specialized for long-line float fishing or light nymphing-style drift work. Line 4-10lb and sub-quarter-oz lure rating confirm ultra-light-presentation focus; extra length aids extended mending.