For the past month, I’ve been giving a workout to KastKing’s top-of-the-line reel in their lineup of high-speed, low-profile reels, the KastKing Bassinator Elite baitcasting reel. Weighing in at just 5.7 ounces, this reel falls into the featherweight category. Weight is shed by utilizing carbon fiber side plates and mainly internal aluminum components. The durable aluminum frame forms a sturdy foundation that keeps its inner workings in perfect alignment despite the lightweight.
The Swing-Wing style side cover opens easily and swings out and away to access the spool. It stays attached to the frame and will never be lost. The centrifugal braking system under the cover features six adjustable braking shoes to virtually eliminate overruns and backlashes with baits of any size in all conditions. The aluminum tension control knob has click adjustments and won’t back off during use.
I could easily fine-tune the reel to my personal preferences as I switched lures and casting techniques. It was easy to cast and control, even in the wind and light lures.
It’s a feature-packed reel for the price. Key features include 11 stainless steel ball bearings (10BB+1RB), including two free-spin super speed bearings on either side of its CNC aluminum spool. These exceptional bearings significantly reduce noise and increase performance for farther casting distance. The reel also features aluminum construction with carbon side covers, a carbon drag system that delivers over 17lbs of drag, an audible star drag, and a 6.6:1 gear ratio. It also comes in an 8.1:1gear ration model, at 27.8 and 34.1 IPT, respectively. The reel holds 130 yards of 12-pound test line.
On the water, I found the reel to be smooth and responsive. Most new reels can take an hour or two of fishing before you have the cast controls fully dialed in. But I had this reel set perfectly within a few casts. And I didn’t find the need to mess with the controls much as I switched between lures and techniques.
One thing that took getting used to was the reel's sound during casting and retrieving. It’s a little louder than more expensive reels in my collection, but it didn’t reduce performance. I believe the thinner walls of the lightweight materials don’t muffle the gears as well, a trade-off between weight and noise. The drag performed exceptionally well while fighting big fish. It’s plenty strong, smooth, and responsive.
I could tell KastKing spent considerable time and effort perfecting the creature comforts of the reel. The curved aluminum handle and the low-profile design of the reel gave it an ergonomic, comfortable feel in the palm of my hand. I like the fact that the cork grips don’t feel bulky. It’s just a more comfortable fit for me.
In a sea of choices, the KastKing Bassinator is for anyone looking to add a super lightweight, feature-packed baitcaster to their arsenal at a reasonable price. The reel is available in both left- and right-hand retrieves and comes with a full 1-year warranty.
