Okuma introduces
their own Green Baitcaster and it is a good one, meet the Serrano
| Date: |
3/13/10 |
| Tackle type: |
Reels |
| Manufacturer: |
Okuma |
| Reviewer: |
Zander |
Total Score: 8.50 -
BEST VALUE AWARD!
Introduction: Okuma introduced their new baitcasters last ICAST and
since that time both the Serrano and Cayenne sibling reels have continued to
gain momentum in the hands of anglers willing to give these low profile reels a
shot. Okuma has always garnered a good amount of respect worldwide for their
spinning reels and has become a popular brand for a number of their heavy
saltwater and trolling reels over the last few seasons but when it comes to low
profile baitcasters the company just hasn’t had the right product to compete
with the other Tier 1 reel manufacturers… until now.
|
Okuma
Serrano SR-200W
Specifications |
| Line
Capacity (lb/yds) |
10/160,
12/130, 14/95 |
| Gear
Ratio |
6.2:1 |
| Line
retrieve per crank |
26
inches |
|
Weight |
7.2
oz |
|
Bearings |
10BB,
1RB |
|
Additional Features |
ALC: Rigid diecast aluminum frame, CRC:
Corrosion Resistant Coating process, Aluminum right side plate holds gears
in perfect alignment, A6061-T6 machined aluminum, anodized spool, Magnum
light spool on SR-200W for reduced weight, Heavy duty, machine cut, Dura
brass gearing, Multi-disc Carbonite drag system, Micro-click drag star for
precise drag settings, Precision Japanese ABEC-5 spool bearings, Quick-Set
anti-reverse roller bearing, 8-position Velocity Control System, Easy change
left side plate access port, Zirconium line guide insert, 3-year warranty
program |
| MSRP |
$169.99 |
Okuma's highest end low profile
baitcaster, meet the Serrano
Impressions:
The first thing
most anglers think about when they think “green baitcaster” is the Shimano
Curado, but there have been other reels with green finishes and anglers can now
add the Okuma Serrano to the list. The Serrano sports a much brighter green
finish than the dark green Curado but has a profile more along the lines of a
Daiwa. This baitcaster is the company’s smallest and most feature rich yet.
The Serrano makes use of an
aluminum frame and handle side sideplate
The previous Okuma VS
baitcasters represented a major advance for the company and made a statement
that they were serious about low profile baitcasters. The only problem was the
reel was heavy, somewhat bulky and still unrefined. While it did a lot of things
right it felt like the reel was still chasing the competition in terms of both
performance and ergonomics. The Serrano and the slightly more modestly composed
Cayenne bring Okuma right up to the forefront of lightweight low profile
baitcasters and not only share the same profile but are obviously made from the
same tooling. The Serrano being the higher end of the two incorporates some
extra features that improve refinement and durability.
The reel finishes a two tone
design and the green sideplates are striking
The Serrano sports a new
look and Okuma outfits the reel with the components within to back up the reel’s
aggressive looks. There are two versions available with different spools, the
SR200 has a deeper spool which has a line capacity of 160/12lb. while the
SR-200W (which we tested) has a ported spool and can hold 130/12lb. Both reels
have the same 6.2:1 retrieve ratio and weigh the same at 7.2oz.
The reel pairs beautifully with
Okuma's own C3 rods
Real World Tests:
To test the Okuma Serrano SR-200W we paired the reel with an Okuma C3 rod and
boy did the combination look sharp. The reel matches up very well with the lower
powered rods in terms of design, color and even balance. We fished the reel with
both straight mono as well as hollow braid with a Seaguar fluorocarbon topshot
at a number of clear water lakes including Pardee and we concluded our tests
targeting big fish at Lake Falcon, Texas.
The Serrano provides good access
to the spool
