If you’re a fisherman then you know the importance of using reliable gear. This is often at the forefront of our mind whenever we make a purchase. In the early fishing years most of us have purchased cheaper reels or rods. Taking the cheap route can eventually led to disappointment when that rod breaks or that reel blows up or falls off the rod seat. I suspect 99 out of 100 fishermen have had this experience.
For a long time I held the belief that a quality reel should not cost less than $90. I have had multiple reels made by name brands and store brands. I used to think the Bass Pro Pro-Qualifier was the only reel available under $100 that I would call a true value.
What is a true value? It certainly does not mean something that has a cheap price. I consider the word cheap to be directly connected to quality. A true value is the balance of price and quality. The KastKing Royale Legend is a true value. I really wasn't a believer until I had the reel in my hands for a while and had the pleasure to cast with it and use it to catch fish.
I initially spooled the real with 30-pound braid and used it on my workhorse medium heavy action rod for jigs, and soft plastics. I fished everything from 5/8 oz. jigs to weightless wacky rigged Senkos. The reel cast beautifully. The reel has multiple cast control adjustments to include a magnetic cast control system and a centrifugal just control system. The spool tension is easy to adjust and get dialed in correctly. The reel is extremely smooth and it stays smooth after multiple catches. The ability for a real to stay smooth after multiple catches is usually a sign it has quality internal parts.
I fish out of kayaks and boats. A smooth casting real is extremely important when you’re in a kayak and casting from a seated position. The demands that kayak fishing places on a reel can be quite a bit more extreme than when you're fishing out of a boat. Often when landing finish your reel gets wet and you're a lot closer to the elements and it can be tough on equipment. This reel has not disappointed me with its ability to stand up to harsh fishing conditions.
Most people do not disassemble something until it breaks or it is time to clean it. I fished with the Kastking reel to get a good first impression. Then, I broke it down and compared it to the Bass Pro Shops Pro-Qualifier which is one of my favorite reels. I personally like the overall look of the KastKing Royale Legend. The black with red color scheme is really appealing to the eye. The overall size of the reels are comparable. The Pro-Qualifier is a little smaller in reference to the height of the profile of the reel. However, the KastKing Royale Legend is quite a bit lighter. It is 1.2 ounces lighter and you can tell when holding it that there is a weight difference.
The magnetic cast control in the KastKing Royale Legend has a total of 7 magnets while the Pro Qualifier only has 5. It makes a huge difference when it comes to the adjustability of the magnetic cast control. The spindle that the spool rides on for the KastKing Royale Legend is quite a bit thicker which will result in more strength and a more solid feeling. The big difference is in the centrifugal cast control system in the two reels. The design in the Pro Qualifier reel resembles the older Shimano style and is used in several brands of bait cast reels.
The KastKing Royale Legend has a continuous centrifugal cast control system. I was skeptical about how well this system functioned, but the proof was in the cast. It has four adjustment pins and you can really dial in your cast quickly. The way that the reel cast is by far the most impressive thing about the reel.
Both reels feature brass gears which are durable and make for a long lasting and smooth operating reel. The bearings in the KastKing are quality. After cleaning the bearings and applying my own oil the reel performed even better (almost every reel comes loaded with packaging grease and heavy oil to preserve the reel in the packaging). The final aspect of the KastKing reel that impressed me was the drag. The carbon fiber drag is smooth and has a total of 12 pounds of drag. Most reels in this price range do not even come close to that much drag.
Bottom line, I am extremely impressed with the KastKing Royale Legend reel. It is a true value. I suspect the company’s other products are just as impressive. I challenge you to give their products a try. You could even just buy one of the reels as a back up. I would say that after using it you might end up replacing a bunch of your reels with KastKing. The ability to have a great reel at such a great price helps me get more bang for my buck when it comes to fishing equipment. It is vital to get the most bang for your buck when it comes to fishing and keeping a budget for a family of five going.