Okuma Cerros Casting Reel Product Review

Reel Review

Okuma Gets Stealthy with the Cerros Baitcaster

Date:	5/18/19
Tackle Type:	Reel
Manufacturer:	Okuma
Reviewer:	Cal

Total Score: 7.58 - GOOD

Introduction: This past year at ICAST was relatively quiet for Okuma, but while surveying their low profile casting reels, I spotted a reel of which I was not familiar. It's an understated little gloss black number that felt good in hand and surprised me a little bit with the price tag of only $104.99, so after the show, I ordered one for a closer look.

Okuma Cerros Casting Reel Specifications
Line Capacity - Rated	12/130
Line Capacity - Spool Volume	16.2 cm³
Retrieve Ratio	6.6	7.3 (right only)
Inches Per Turn (IPT) - calculated	14 - 28.5	15 - 31.5
Weight	8 oz
Spool Weight	17 g
Handle Length	85 mm
Bearings	9 + 1 roller bearing
Bearings per Knob	2 bearings
Levelwind Bearings	None
Rated Max Drag	11 lbs
Origin	Made in China
MSRP	$104.99

Introducing Okuma's Cerros low profile baitcasting reel

Impressions: Okuma's Cerros low profile baitcaster is compact reel featuring gloss black sideplates and a matte black frame and dragstar. It has a standard size handle and EVA foam knobs and a magnetic cast control braking system.

Something about the Cerros's compact shape caught my interest

Tolerances for this reel are fairly tight with minimal play in the handle. It's certainly a no frills reel, but for the price point, it feels like a solid contender hence my interest in checking it out for review.

It has a comfortable, low stance on the reel seat

Real World Tests: I spooled the Cerros up with Finatic's new fluorocarbon line in ten (10) pound test and paired it with Phenix's Editor's Choice Award winning FTX-S 71L Feather Series casting rod and put it through the paces over the course of several testing trips during the Fall of 2018.

Rigged and ready to go aboard a Phenix Feather casting rod

Casting: The Cerros is equipped with a basic, but effective magnetic braking system. Okuma labels this system as having 24 points of adjustment, but the external dial features numbers from one to ten. The dial itself adjust with micro-clicks that do not coincide with these numbers, but ours only clicked 22 times, for 23 points of adjustment, not 24. Pretty minor points, but all areas we think the manufacturer can continue to refine.

The Cerros sports a simple, but effective magnetic braking system

Adjustments aside, during actual casting and pitching, the reel's magnetic braking system does a good job helping you moderate the spool and manage the line coming off to avoid the seemingly inevitable professional overruns. This can be especially tricky with fluorocarbon lines, but all in all, I had zero issues casting baits from about three eighths of an ounce on up with this reel.

The external dial goes from zero to ten, but there were 22 micro clicks for 23 points of adjustment

Next Section: Retrieve and Power with brass gearing