I wanted to try something different so I decided to try one these guys. I was at a local shop back in spring and a sales guy there had one. It felt different from anything else I have seen. I had a good coupon code and they were giving away a pair of pliers and a couple of soft plastic bags on their website so I placed my order.  

 

My initial thoughts after fishing it a few times..... It's crazy light almost too light. I have it on a Megabass P5 Kasumi Six Eleven with 8lb FC and it almost feels tip heavy. It took me a minute to get use to. They claim it can handle BFS type lures down to 1/16oz. I put that to the test with a couple of little 1/8oz crankbaits/jerkbaits and it did pretty well but it's definitely not its strong suit.  I felt like a I was fishing a reel with a shallow spool. It's actually kind of cool.  It does a good job of controlling a cast with little baits but it's not as good as a regular BFS reel.  When bringing in fish, it's actually really powerful and solid for how light it feels. The drag is just ok and the drag clicker sounds cheap. The retrieve though is super smooth, again almost too smooth, like nothing I have used.  You can't feel a thing when you crank it. The thumb bar is also really light and is effortless to push. It's kind of weird and it takes some getting use to.  The brake dial is the one thing I don't like. If you palm it and try to work a jerkbait, it's easy for it move. It should be tighter.  I found I had to check the setting from time to time. Overall I like it and it is different. I do feel that a JDM Metanium shallow spool would have been a better purchase for a few more dollars. I do think Kastking has come a long way and this reel is a major step. It's solid, fun to fish, and handles a wide variety of lures weights with a regular spool. 

 

i wonder for how long the smoothness will last with a reel like this.

1 hour ago, FishTank said:

 The brake dial is the one thing I don't like. If you palm it and try to work a jerkbait,

it's easy for it move. It should be tighter.  I found I had to check the setting from time to time. 

Nice review, but this is a Deal breaker for me.

The backlashes will start adding up.

It gets old fast.

🙁

A-Jay

 

Cool. Thanks for sharing. I’m wondering the same thing @Micro Module Police is. How long will the smoothness last. It’ll be interesting to see how it holds up in the long run. Seems like kastking has been gaining popularity lately.

2 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Nice review, but this is a Deal breaker for me.

The backlashes will start adding up.

It gets old fast.

🙁

A-Jay

 

 

I am kind of thinking the same but as my first day went on, I sort of figured it out. It was more in how I was trying hold the reel and snapping the X-Nanahan (pictured above) while sitting in a kayak than anything else.  I use to have the same issue with a few Daiwas and my thumb. Also, the backlashing with this thing is pretty generous. It's not as forgiving as a DC reel but then again the heaviest thing I casted on it was a 3/16oz jerkbait with a full spool.  I need to spend some more time with it and I also need to cast some heavier lures. 

 

3 hours ago, Micro Module Police said:

i wonder for how long the smoothness will last with a reel like this.

 

I also would normally say the same thing with any Kastking reel. The ones I have held have been clunky right out of the box and worse as time goes by. This thing feels more tight, like some of the upper end Daiwas but still a little different and somewhat tighter. The guy that sold me on it used his for 1/2oz and 3/4oz jigs and as a punching reel with heavy FC, maybe 16-20lb. He had put it through the wringer for a few months. I am planing using it for finesse/BFS cranks and jerkbaits. Only time will tell. 

@FishTank This is exactly why I’m glad to be a member here, reading real reviews from people who have real world experience with high, low and everything in between gear vs trying to distinguish between fan bias or hate for that matter against any brand. I for one am looking forward to reading your thoughts after using the reel for a season.

I received a big coupon and bought one. I have beat it to death on some private lakes without issues. I love it and bought another one. No backlash issues so far. 

I read Big Swimbait post above, him buying a second one, so i got curious on how much these are going for, because i don't follow anything from KK. Then i see it being sold for $400, and $300 on sale. This will get you two and half Tats100, two alphas from Japan, almost two zillions, almost two bantams, almost a Metanium even when purchased in the US, etc. Okay no, that's an abysmal deal. Sorry, but when the strong point of a $400 reel is "i have no backlash issues", that's a no no in my book.

17 minutes ago, Micro Module Police said:

Then i see it being sold for $400, and $300 on sale.

It's been listed as $300 on their site for a long time. Coupons drop it even more.

2 hours ago, PhishLI said:

It's been listed as $300 on their site for a long time. Coupons drop it even more.

That's expensive. I originally thought that this was a $150 reel, so just "trying it" was just OK. But $300 that's an investment that can get you an amazing reel that you don't need to try to see how it performs, and it's pros aren't you being able to cast without backlashes because that's a given that doesn't even need to be mentioned in a reel properly designed.

3 hours ago, Micro Module Police said:

I read Big Swimbait post above, him buying a second one, so i got curious on how much these are going for, because i don't follow anything from KK. Then i see it being sold for $400, and $300 on sale. This will get you two and half Tats100, two alphas from Japan, almost two zillions, almost two bantams, almost a Metanium even when purchased in the US, etc. Okay no, that's an abysmal deal. Sorry, but when the strong point of a $400 reel is "i have no backlash issues", that's a no no in my book.

 

It's listed at $400 because of all the stuff that comes with it. The reel was listing for $300 but they are adding a pair of pliers and two 3700 boxes. It is an exaggeration though. The freebies aren't worth $100 but they're nice. I have several of the boxes.  The pliers are ok. I need to use them more. 

 

With the coupon code I had someone send me, I got it for $225 with the free stuff.  Not bad but again my money might have been better spent on a JDM Metanium. We will see how it does. 

On 12/3/2025 at 10:45 PM, FishTank said:

 

It's listed at $400 because of all the stuff that comes with it. The reel was listing for $300 but they are adding a pair of pliers and two 3700 boxes. It is an exaggeration though. The freebies aren't worth $100 but they're nice. I have several of the boxes.  The pliers are ok. I need to use them more. 

 

With the coupon code I had someone send me, I got it for $225 with the free stuff.  Not bad but again my money might have been better spent on a JDM Metanium. We will see how it does. 

Are you still able to get the reel for 225? Also, have you gotten to fish the reel anymore? After watching the reel test videos, it may be worth a shot trying one. Also looking at getting a metanium so let me know if you have any thoughts.

@Brycecover I was sent a one time use code from KastKing. Not exactly sure how to get it.

I have used it a few more times but on a limited basis. I went out on my kayak a few days after Christmas and to a local pond. I unfortunately didn't catch anything on it on those two days. It did cast well and was fun to use.

If you are deciding between the Metanium and MG Ti, I would go with the Metanium but with right line the MG Ti can do light weight lures. For me, I have several reels and wanted to try something outside the box and the MG Ti fit the bill.

2 hours ago, FishTank said:

@Brycecover I was sent a one time use code from KastKing. Not exactly sure how to get it.

I have used it a few more times but on a limited basis. I went out on my kayak a few days after Christmas and to a local pond. I unfortunately didn't catch anything on it on those two days. It did cast well and was fun to use.

If you are deciding between the Metanium and MG Ti, I would go with the Metanium but with right line the MG Ti can do light weight lures. For me, I have several reels and wanted to try something outside the box and the MG Ti fit the bill.

Yeah I would like to feel a metanium in person. Maybe at a fishing show I will be able to soon. I was originally planning on getting the slx dc xt, but I feel like the metanium will be a big step up in refinement for not that much more money. Also, there’s really no need for a dc and it cost extra.

3 hours ago, Brycecover said:

Yeah I would like to feel a metanium in person. Maybe at a fishing show I will be able to soon. I was originally planning on getting the slx dc xt, but I feel like the metanium will be a big step up in refinement for not that much more money. Also, there’s really no need for a dc and it cost extra.

Do you know what the difference is between the 23 metanium and 20 metanium? It looks like they have the same line capacity based on JLS.