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| Okuma Serrano sr-200 |
JustGoFishin purchased a new baitcaster for it's new custom built fishing pole. We read several reviews on this particular reel and found it worthy of our purchase. After our purchase we decided to write our own review because we felt there were some things left out. Things you'd only discover by being an owner. We placed the reel on a light action medium pole with spiral recoil guides.
We spooled on 20 lb braided line for light weight and strength. Although the reel specs for 12 to 15 lb line we knew we could get away with heavier test with braided line.
Since I had some experiences with baitcasters and the enjoyment of birdsnest with improper use and techniques so I first must say that there is a learning curve with any baitcaster.
Overall you'll like the reel and its light weight. Be sure as you mount it on your fishing rod and that you follow the instructions to set the drag properly. This should help you with preventing birdsnest from the start. Just adjust the drag settings using a 1 ounce weight and turn the drag knob until you get a slow drop in weight. (More details in manual)
There is another way to make adjustments to this reel during different conditions. This reel comes with easy controls to make centrifugal velocity adjustments to this braking system. You just twist off the left side panel of the Serrano reel and you can adjust the centrifugal velocity. When you purchase this reel the setting will be on zero and you''ll have a "settings" choice of 0 to 6. Be sure to set your drag adjustments with the centrifugal velocity set at zero. Then make any additional adjustments based on conditions.
The casting is smooth and the cylinder stops as weight/lure hits the water. That's the way I like my settings. Some anglers like to have their finger on the cylinder as they cast, I just prefer to set the brake properly and the the reel do it's work. (This may effect the distance of your cast)
I sure like the low profile and the sleek looks of the reel that go with our
JGF 7-im6 fishing poles. The price is said to be a little high for what you get. But, many of the reviews I've read don't seem to know much about the centrifugal velocity control system on the reel.
Many people don't realize that the Okuma Serrano sr-200 is made for saltwater fishing and uses materials that are corrosive resistant. This is one of Okuma's first bay type baitcasters as they enter this market. They or more well known for the offshore models.
August, 2011 Update: Updating our review on this baitcaster reel. After using this reel for a few month's the mechanism that lock's and frees the spindle broke. For the amount of use we got out of this reel we are very disappointed in the quality of the reels durability.
JGF Rating: Excellent Poor
Dave Alexander
