Any Kastking fans out there?

[Alex Ball]

16 hours ago, NYWayfarer said:

I forgot to mention. Kastking Superpower is my go to braid.

 

I also have several Kastking tools. Pliers, scales, knives, line spooling station, grippers, and scissors. All but the scissors are decent quality.

They'll have to pry my gamkatsu braid scissors from my cold dead hands lol. Just got the spooler. Might get a rack.. Do you like the scales? I need a new one. Mine's from the 90s.. 

   I'm absolutely sold on the Calamus Bastion braid. Might step up to the KK soon. Same company.

[NYWayfarer]

7 hours ago, Alex Ball said:

They'll have to pry my gamkatsu braid scissors from my cold dead hands lol. Just got the spooler. Might get a rack.. Do you like the scales? I need a new one. Mine's from the 90s.. 

   I'm absolutely sold on the Calamus Bastion braid. Might step up to the KK soon. Same company.

I have the floating waterproof scale. Still works fine. Thought it died on me but I had the battery in backwards ?

 

I have the aluminum rack. Nice and sturdy, well made no tools required to assemble.

[Cgolf]

On 5/5/2022 at 3:48 PM, Alex Ball said:

Haven't had those issues. Bought mine in December. Had a sticky spool on one. Had a bad thumb bar on one. Both were easy fixes. I'll say that their customer service is fantastic so far. I asked about service on one and they just sent me a new one instead. Got the old one figured out and they still sent me another no charge. 

   I'm also pretty active on their Facebook page, and that might be why I get the service I do. Compiled a list of all the retrieve rates for their reels. Got a free rod for that. I'm actually okay with a clunker from KK cuz I know they'll replace it. Can't really say that about the big boys especially Abu. They soured me with terrible CS 

 

I am really curious why you are fine with reels where you bought two and each had an issue. I have not gone back to Pfluegar because the two Presidents I bought were so geary feeling out of the box I couldn't use them. Abu I am on the fence about, because I bought older models at a cheap discount and the grease was dry or they didn't put enough in. Other major brands like Daiwa, Quantum, and Lew's have been solid out of the box and Daiwa's customer service has been great to get free bail springs for the Regals I have when needed.

 

If I bought two reels from some place and both had issues, I wouldn't purchase anything else from them, regardless of how much free stuff they gave me for my trouble.

[Tatulatard]

With these cheap reels you need a bit if a stomach.  You can get high performance, smooth or problem free longevity in a cheap reel but not all 3 at the same time.  An assasin  or phantom would offer high performance with a 14 gram spool paired to a centrifugal brake that could sling a weightless fluke out there right up with the higher end reels in the $200-$300 range and be very light weight too.  It will however flex under load.  Be very geary out of the box with poorly cut aluminum gears and a composite frame that will only get worse over time.  It will lose all the silk screened lettering on the outside.  The level wind may need regular adjustment to lay line right (they get loose on these) and some day the clutch will fail and need to be replaced.  If you can stomach these not so pleasant quirks you can have a very cheap very high performance reel. 

 

On the other end there is the abu black max.  Its not a high performance reel with a heavy magnetic brake only spool and a weight of nearly 8 oz for the gen 3.  It is a smooth out the box reel that while it does get geary with use, will keep working for a while and is one of the better long lasting cheap composite reels.  They just work.

 

I play around with cheap reels that catch my interest and will often give them away later.  I go for the high performance cheap reels to see how good a performer something can be for how cheap it can be and I compare the performance to my higher end reels.  Because of this I have a bit of a stomach to tinker or fix a reel that is acting up and I don't rely on them as my main use reels.  More of a novelty and spare or backup thing to tinker with.

[Alex Ball]

On 5/25/2022 at 7:30 AM, Cgolf said:

 

I am really curious why you are fine with reels where you bought two and each had an issue. I have not gone back to Pfluegar because the two Presidents I bought were so geary feeling out of the box I couldn't use them. Abu I am on the fence about, because I bought older models at a cheap discount and the grease was dry or they didn't put enough in. Other major brands like Daiwa, Quantum, and Lew's have been solid out of the box and Daiwa's customer service has been great to get free bail springs for the Regals I have when needed.

 

If I bought two reels from some place and both had issues, I wouldn't purchase anything else from them, regardless of how much free stuff they gave me for my trouble.  

   Fair question.  It comes down to 3 things. 

1. In both cases, the issues occured due to me dropping them. Learned how to fix and maintain reels on KK. Didn't want to bother CS, because I knew they'd replace it no question. Called on one because I couldn't figure out how the thumb bar was sticking. They just sent me another even though I admitted fault.

2. Initially, I was buying reels for 2 people. Started with a friend because we worked food service during COVID peak. 

  KK had options, cool cosmetics, and they were way less than the high end Abus, which we hailed as the Goat because the tackle shop in town was an Abu exclusive store. Pure fishing I mean. To us, this and Lew's were the world. Shimanos were like Ferraris, neat to look at, but not a viable option. 

    We felt like wed found something nobody had.

3. I've had nothing but positive experiences with my spinning reels from them, and personal error led to the issues with the casters. I'm actually pretty dead set on getting all the Zephyr spinners and the entire MJ line. I like them that much.

      I'm never going to be serious about fishing outside of gaining knowledge on how to catch em. Don't have a boat. Almost exclusive to banks and creeks. 

    TTard mentioned the BMax, I have 2 and a promax. Love em. Got em St Walmart. Got heavy into the whole "good equipment" thing.Had almost 10k in rods and reels. Broke a $300 G. Loomis and the reel nested bad, a Revo STX. Had to use my backup, a cherrywood/KK RL2. Went off after being skunked on $500 setups for months . 

    For me, it's all about the time spent. Grew up hard, did some time in State.

Got lucky in the music industry. Quit to live a regular life. I promise you, I have more fun on my $79 setups than any big brand guy. I can afford to replace these forever.

 

[Alex Ball]

On 5/25/2022 at 8:51 AM, Tatulatard said:

With these cheap reels you need a bit if a stomach.  You can get high performance, smooth or problem free longevity in a cheap reel but not all 3 at the same time.  An assasin  or phantom would offer high performance with a 14 gram spool paired to a centrifugal brake that could sling a weightless fluke out there right up with the higher end reels in the $200-$300 range and be very light weight too.  It will however flex under load.  Be very geary out of the box with poorly cut aluminum gears and a composite frame that will only get worse over time.  It will lose all the silk screened lettering on the outside.  The level wind may need regular adjustment to lay line right (they get loose on these) and some day the clutch will fail and need to be replaced.  If you can stomach these not so pleasant quirks you can have a very cheap very high performance reel. 

 

On the other end there is the abu black max.  Its not a high performance reel with a heavy magnetic brake only spool and a weight of nearly 8 oz for the gen 3.  It is a smooth out the box reel that while it does get geary with use, will keep working for a while and is one of the better long lasting cheap composite reels.  They just work.

 

I play around with cheap reels that catch my interest and will often give them away later.  I go for the high performance cheap reels to see how good a performer something can be for how cheap it can be and I compare the performance to my higher end reels.  Because of this I have a bit of a stomach to tinker or fix a reel that is acting up and I don't rely on them as my main use reels.  More of a novelty and spare or backup thing to tinker with.

All this. Yes. Like reading my own thoughts. 

[Eric 26]

Wanted to point out one thing here about the Piscifun Carbon X, I’m interested in getting a Kastking zephyr spinning reel in the black & orange color. But if anyone is like me and enjoys color coordinated combos the Piscifun has an available shallow spool for an additional $13.99 and being all black it makes it easier to pair with any colored rod if that’s important. Also it appears to be the same reel as the Kastking just no colors.

[Tatulatard]

I have been looking for a cheap spinning reel to use with a cheap ml spinning rod and have been looking at these cheap ali and amazon reels.  After some looking is hard to pass on daiwa regal.  I checked out a bunch of egg beaters at bass pro today and the regal lt is so smooth.  The piscifun carbon x, trulinoya jaguar, kastking sharky, and seaknight reels were all on the short list but that regal is too nice.  

[ATA]

I have two kastking for about 7 years, They really working good. I use them for trout fishing. I have size 2000

https://kastking.com/collections/fishing-reels/products/kastking-megatron-spinning-reel

 

Also I suggest you check okuma ceymar, Specially the line feeder which is option might come handy. I have two c10 and two size 1000 and they are holding very good as well.

https://www.okumafishing.com/en/product/ceymar-spinning-reel.html

[Alex Ball]

20 hours ago, Eric 26 said:

Wanted to point out one thing here about the Piscifun Carbon X, I’m interested in getting a Kastking zephyr spinning reel in the black & orange color. But if anyone is like me and enjoys color coordinated combos the Piscifun has an available shallow spool for an additional $13.99 and being all black it makes it easier to pair with any colored rod if that’s important. Also it appears to be the same reel as the Kastking just no colors.

Ya the Zephyr Carbon is the same reel as the PFun. Check out Cadence, I'm extremely impressed with them. The one you're talking about is the Zephyr SFS. I've heard abnormally excellent reviews on that from guys I trust.

 

13 hours ago, Tatulatard said:

I have been looking for a cheap spinning reel to use with a cheap ml spinning rod and have been looking at these cheap ali and amazon reels.  After some looking is hard to pass on daiwa regal.  I checked out a bunch of egg beaters at bass pro today and the regal lt is so smooth.  The piscifun carbon x, trulinoya jaguar, kastking sharky, and seaknight reels were all on the short list but that regal is too nice.  

Can't go wrong with Daiwa. I have the Sweepfire and an LT Walmart reel. Both are great.

12 hours ago, ATA said:

I have two kastking for about 7 years, They really working good. I use them for trout fishing. I have size 2000

https://kastking.com/collections/fishing-reels/products/kastking-megatron-spinning-reel

 

Also I suggest you check okuma ceymar, Specially the line feeder which is option might come handy. I have two c10 and two size 1000 and they are holding very good as well.

https://www.okumafishing.com/en/product/ceymar-spinning-reel.html

Man, I need to get a Megatron. I look at it all the time.

[Eric 26]

1 hour ago, Alex Ball said:

Ya the Zephyr Carbon is the same reel as the PFun. Check out Cadence, I'm extremely impressed with them. The one you're talking about is the Zephyr SFS. I've heard abnormally excellent reviews on that from guys I trust.

 

Can't go wrong with Daiwa. I have the Sweepfire and an LT Walmart reel. Both are great.

Man, I need to get a Megatron. I look at it all the time.

I have (2) 1000 & (1) 2000 size Carbon X which is why I want the zephyr sfs even though I don’t need it? Going to take a look at Cadence again and I agree about Daiwa, as far as I’m concerned no other well known  name brand comes close to Daiwas lower end reels. Also took out my Kastking Royal Legend 2 today and although I upgraded a couple of reels this year I’m definitely keeping this reel, as I said for me it’s much better than the comparably priced Piscifun spark.

[Alex Ball]

2 hours ago, Eric 26 said:

Also took out my Kastking Royal Legend 2 today and although I upgraded a couple of reels this year I’m definitely keeping this reel, as I said for me it’s much better than the comparably priced Piscifun spark.

Oh indeed. That's a very reliable low end reel. Never understood PFuns logic on spool size for the spark. The RL 2 has roughly 3 times the capacity at the same weight. If you're gonna make a bfs reel make one. If you're gonna make a flipping reel make one. This feels like an unsuccessful hybrid. Too shallow for most bass uses, to heavy for bfs. I use it for crappie. Works great flipping a 1/8 oz baby bitsy bug. I'll throw Flicker shads on it. That's about it.

[Alex Ball]

2 hours ago, Eric 26 said:

I have (2) 1000 & (1) 2000 size Carbon X which is why I want the zephyr sfs even though I don’t need it? Going to take a look at Cadence again and I agree about Daiwa, as far as I’m concerned no other well known  name brand comes close to Daiwas lower end reels. Also took out my Kastking Royal Legend 2 today and although I upgraded a couple of reels this year I’m definitely keeping this reel, as I said for me it’s much better than the comparably priced Piscifun spark.

    You've used both companies stuff. How would you compare the 2?

    For me it's pretty simple. 

KK is essentially Abu Garcia for Po folks. LoL. I think Piscifun badly wants to be Lew's. 

   Rods- At the bottom, KK. More options. A push in the middle. Better materials for pf but less options. At he top, the new Carbon X rods are looking like a game changer. They have a slight caster for $90 and multiple bfs rods in that line. Still, no bfs reel. But I give it to KK here, they get serious on rods around $80. So many styles and applications.

Reels- For spinners, if you like speed, PF wins hands down. Almost every line has 6:1 reels. Again, less options. If you like em light and big on power, KK walks away. The CX is special, but it's the only one PF has that is. KK has the Zephyr, ZC, Megatron, Sharky, SDE. KK wins for depth, but pf had the best player.

Casting- It's not even a conversation. KK wallops PF here. The Phantom and Alloy M are excellent. The new CX could be special. But again, depth. Top to bottom, KK is solid everywhere. They may actually have too many options. 

   If everything I buy is $125 total for a setup or less, I'll go with KK all day. Cadence is interesting. I'll get more in depth when I get enough time on em. Their rods are special.

 

[abzack]

I have the KK Zephyr and Spartacus II, and 2x PF Phantoms. I took them all apart, cleaned and lubed, added Carbontex drag washers and bfs hybrid ceramic micro bearings. I added the shallow spool to one of the Phantoms. I fish the Zephyr and a Phantom on UL/F, the other Phantom on L/F, and the Spartacus II on ML/F. I like them all. I really like the Zephyr, but I think my favorite for light line fishing is the Phantom on the L/F rod. It seems to be the one I keep going back to. I'm going to try the Zephyr on the L/F rod and see how it does.