I've been using the Kapstan for over 3 years now. I bought 4 and one has an issue with the drag. I need to disassemble it and see what's up. They cast a mile and are perfect for catfish up to any size but works well for the 1-2 pound eater class too. Braid works better on them due to the limited line capacity if you load it with like 40# mono, but I hate braid because of how easy it tangles. The power handle is a must have for this reel and I feel it should have come with it. I pair this up with a Pro Angler Tackle 7.5 Foot Medium/Heavy Eva Rod. It's a match made in heaven.
We buy the cheap Amazon reels for throwing a-rigs in the fall, catching 3 or 4 stripe at a time in swift current will strip gears like crazy. That's why we use the cheap ones. For some reason I thought the kastking was 45 bucks and got excited. Not worth 130 though. Best low profile for taking all out abuse in my opinion? Revo Toro Beast without a doubt. Pair it with a Villain rod and you have a sexxxxxxy combo that begs for anything a stripe or blue cat can throw. Great video and I really appreciate the work it takes to make it. Thank you!!
hehe, yeah, its a good reel but its 399. If you like this reel you should go get the Revo Toro S which is on sale on Abu's website. I want to see the striper that will strip the gears of a Revo Toro S 50 (you can get even 60 but there is no need). It really is a tank. The Kasking will have sales events and will drop under 100 eventually. If u can get it for $80 - you should. You will be surprised. High quality bearings and HUGE brass gears. I wish they cut some stupid things like the expensive box and the dial, and u don't need to seal the bearings on a freshwater reel, and make that reel $50 cheaper.. I gota come next striper season and brink my kapstan reels. Would LOVE to strip the gears on some 40 lb stripers..
Piscifun Allios is a superior reel to even the Daiwa Lexa or 300 Tranx and is in the bargain category . This reel is as good as Abu Garcia Toros which if you know reels sucked balls but also kinda didnt .
I have the Daiwa Lexa 400 HD and that thing is a beast. I have caught 25-40 pound Amberjacks with it, no maintenance other than freshwater rinse. You thought the Kattech was a broom stick? I have the medium action and it felt flimsy to me. Was good for carp and fish under 10 pounds. Caught an 18 pound Flathead on it, felt underpowered. Cast diamond jigs real far and its great for beach fish. Ive caught plenty of spanish mackerel with it, I love it for that.
Really a great review. I've been thinking of doing some musky fishing next year and even though I prefer spinning reels for almost everything, casting big lures over and over again can get a little cumbersome with a spinning reel. I think your point at the end about resell value is key, not because I plan to resell any of my reels, but because the KK will almost certainly not age as well as the Diawa and Shimano. I had pretty good luck with the KK Sharky 2 1500 size reels a few years ago. I liked the design, weight and spool capacity. Nothing ever broke on them, but after 2 years of use, they simply got worn out. Little knocks and creeks, slight rubbing. I still use them for back up reels and loaners, but after a couple of years, the plastic parts didn't have much life left. (And, they are only $35 reels, so that's not horrible.) But I think I would spend an extra $15 for a Diawa or $30 for the Shimano, knowing they are probably going to last longer.
This reels have better bearings than the daiwa and better clutch... but at the end you will probably end up right. I bought a second and will use them for night fishing for carp and catfish because of the loud clicker. Will see next year
LOL! That's funny, a line test memory dial 😆. Great review. I have been using a set of Piscifun Thunders. They are very simplistic, no bells and whistles. I lubed them well before using them. They have been working excellent so far, I swapped the factory handles for Abu power handles. They are 300 series reel, no clicker. I go for the simple designs. This is a really good, in depth review. I agree with your assessment of the KK rods! Yay, I survived the boredom lol, thanks for sharing!
The Piscifun Thunder has 300 written on the side of it but it is actually a 200 sized reel and has the line capacity of a 200 sized reel. Trust me I have a Piscifun Thunder and its much smaller than the Daiwa Lexa 300 and the Okuma Komodo SS 364. Its the same size as a Komodo SS 273 holding them side by side or any other 200 sized reel.
Awesome Vid as always brotha!!!I was pretty surprised just how good the bass ninja series of premium baitcasters felt at the classic. better than anything else they offered...and steez weight for a quarter the price. Very refined in feel when off the rack.(better than what you get out of abu and daiwa for the same money in the "smoothness while free spinning on a show floor" category.. Very different feel in hand than the sub 100$ reels I've fished and handled from them in the past. For 120$ I don't think you'll see anything close to what this offers. I know the 2019 2020 lexas are being upgraded with new clutches but remaining for the most part unchanged. (they mentioned greased bearings to quiet them but they're already greased so to see that in writing I found odd (at least my hd's were greased)
I'm glad you seem to like it. I've had 2 Speed demon pros, I believe 9.3 to 1 and they were too good to be true, both seized but they refunded me. I throw big Swimbaits and took a chance on this reel. I'm an admitted Shimano fanboy, and own several, I hope I don't regret saving for a Curado K 300, which will still be my next reel probably.
I think the dial would've been better if they made it to where if you set it on your line weight, then the drag would knob would not let you go higher than the drag so you wont break your line when using braid.
Kapstan is the name of the guys youtube channel who worked with kastking to make the reel. Also I had the same problem with the rover my clutch broke on a 35 inch fish when I tried to set the hook.
i think they are the best off brand reel , of core its not top line but they are ok, but i have used few their products and own some the reels are ok but rest is junk , glasses, rods, lines
Thanks for the review. I have just bought this reel. I'm currently using the Piscifun Alijos 300 and it is incredible. Super solid aluminium frame reel, SUPER smooth casting with 35LB drag. Would be great to see a comparison review between the KAPSTAN V ALIJOS. Thanks.
i considered it but it's kind of ugly, i don't have a rod for that reel. Also i don't like round knobs, and both handles have round knobs. I am sure mechanically its similar.
@@ifishcatfish I just received the Kaptsan and it is a great reel but, i'd say the Kapstan and Alijos are pretty much identical, performance wise. If i were to buy another of either reel it would be the Alijos because of the aluminum frame and magnetic brake. It just feels like a stronger reel and is half the price. I think if the Kapstan comes out with an upgrade model, they should definitely get rid of the gimmick "braid strength" dial and replace it with a magnetic brake. Also have the option of the power reel like the Alijos. Also, if you have a rod for the Kapstan, the Alijos will definitely fit it. They are the same size. Just my thoughts.
@@cjay1262 i agree with you if you only talk about performance. Definitely the aluminum frame is advantage. Unfortunately just too ugly for me, and the handle will have to immediately be replaced and that will increase cost, and the high gear ratio is a No Go for me also. Maybe if they make a 5.0 gear ratio in normal color and normal handle i will try it
Piscifun Allios is the best reel on the market in this category , Value and quality with a 33 lbs drag . It rivals the Shimano Tranx 300 and the handle placement give you so much torque on super models and other big bucktails or spinners . This reel is fine but a better value is out there . The cast king is ugly and a complete copy of the gen 1 revo toro . Which means the trigger bar is unsupported on the opposite of the gear side and with time the handle bar will bind .
i_fish yea I wouldn’t use it for cat fishing or any of that sort of fishing I do feel like for the price of the piscifun reel that it’s a good pike/Muskie reel I would probably end up using it for float fishing for salmon
Purchased and reviewed after subscriber request. If you want to send me a reel for review please use the email in the description. Thanks for stopping !
there is no Shimano in this class, i said that in the video. Curado is a bass reel, and the 300 size is made for musky. No clicker and smaller everything. The Tranx is comparable but costs double these reels.
Excellent review, just like your rod reviews. Very in depth and good honest feedback. Sometimes a biased review is a good thing, as long as your up front about it. Thanks for taking the time to review this reel, it lets us know if it’s worth taking a chance on. One question, what rod did you have the reel mounted on in the footage of you fighting a fish?
i have the whole video on my channel. If you don't want to watch it - Shimano Teramar 7' MH. I don't recommend that rod though - very stiff. But its very shiny and kind of matches the reel. I am having trouble finding matching rods for these kapstan reels (just bought a second kapstan because i can only use them in pairs)
Great video, great review, but the Abu Toro cost is closer to 300$. At least in America it is, and the Lexa is a smaller reel with less line capacity and drag. If anything compare it to a Lexa 300 and a Tranx, which are the highest of brands and cost.
Did I just watch 34 minutes of this wow very good reviews though I like information not just sales pitches I want to know information like I want to know what's good I want to know what's bad why would I want this product why would I want that product compared to just the upside of everything and never the downsides thank you very much
i-fish, have you tried the original version of the Abu Revo Toro? You have to find them used but they come up on E-Bay. They do have the bait clicker which I find almost essential for my style of catfishing. I was able to get a couple of Revo Toro Winch 50's new in the box off eBay for around 225 each and I love them. Come with both a power handle and double paddle handle and are geared 4.6-1. Just thought I'd mention it to you. I love your channel and really appreciate the really detailed product reviews. Looking to buy a couple of the Ugly Stik Tiger Lites now.
I used to have the 60 in 5:3-1 and although it wasn't the smoothest but musky fishing is very abusive on reels because of the lure size and the continuous non stop casting all day and it held up for 3 years of hard abuse so it was a good reel just not very smooth I bought my for about $200 at the Minnesota musky expo back in 2011 years
Only reason I choose kapstan over all those is bcus it's a baitcaster we with a clicker and carries more line than any of her real with one at that price and has a good amount of drag .the revo s only get 100yd of 50lb braid. The kapstan gets about 300yds of 50lb braid
i have never been in situation where i need more line on the spool. Maybe if use planer boards and drag 100 yards behind the boat... I don't know why people need more than 100 yards of line for freshwater
@@ifishcatfish in the great lakes when you have large fish that will snap line no problem unless you let them drag line, it does come in handy needing extra line. But yes I get what you are saying. But that extra line is good for saltwater fishing too... Hey bro I know of some cleaner that will clean eva foam. Try the Penn cleaner, that will work pretty well. If not there is a cleaner at the dollar tree that works amazing if the Penn don't work.its called green something.its a all purpose cleaner
Thank you very much for another great video. The kastking is 10.8 oz on its website. Maybe they made a mistake? Or after you put line on it , the total is 12 oz. Thank you.
i think graphite frame is best for such reels. Aluminum is both too heavy and too expensive and not necessary. 10 pounds for sure. Maybe 15. It has HUGE drag disks, some of the best in the business. Drag disks are not the limitation. The line guide will snap if u put a lot of pressure. It is a very strong reel. Trust me - me no fan of chinese reels but this is a powerful reel.
@@ifishcatfish Thank you. I appreciate your help. My concern is graphite frame is not strong enough for 10 lb of drag. My daiwa fuego lt , is also graphite, man , it flexes like crazy. I don't think it can survive 6 lb of drag. This kastking looks like it designed to tackle bigger fish. I understand the drag disks are big enough to produce more than 10lb of drag. It's just I prefer aluminum , it's tougher. But I believe you, maybe this graphite is different , it's stronger. Thank you.
I went back to Kapstan...the daiwa nice but I'm not paying 200 for a daiwa lexa300 cc.the plastic gears under the main gear on Lew's gx3 video u made was the reason I went to Kapstan ...
yes. Good reel but very ugly, very uncomfortable handle, and high gear ratio. Even the 'low gear ratio' model they have is high. I dont know why they made this type of resistance fishing reel with high gear ratio. But if none of that bothers you - its a good value
I have noticed the big low profile reels that u take apart to look inside all have plastic gears under big gear .The daiwa ..the Abu ..the Lew's the kapstan .What do u think of the gears such as worm gear being plastic on all the low pros
Yes, it is plastic even on expensive reels, so there must be a reason. The biggest reason is that if u have nondisengaging levelwind these gears will have to spin as fast as the spool. U have to make them light, otherwise they will reduce casting distance and cause birds nests at the same time, because u will have too much inertia at the end of the cast. Plastic can also be quieter. However in my opinion on disengaging levelwind reels they should be aluminum. Just to remove wear from use.
So I bought this about a year ago. Notice it felt like sand was in the frame when retrieving it on with just 3/4 spoon. Is this normal or can I do something to improve grainy feeling?
well its a little late to ask this question now.. U should have just returned this reel. How it feels sandy is a huge mystery as this reel has amazing gears and nothing can happen to make it feel sandy, as long as you bought it brand new. If you bought it used, then some ass hole just rolled it on the bank in the sand and filled it with sand. If that is the case, you can open and clean it, and it will be better, but once u have used it with the sand, the gears are destroyed forever and will never feel smooth again
Well, it does have sealed berings. And DEFINITELY will hold up more than Abu Garcia 7000C. But I still would not say this is a saltwater reel. If u take care of ur reels, and keep sand out, and wash the salt out, and lube them every winter... then u can use any freshwater reel for saltwater. But still would not say this is a saltwater reel.
@@ifishcatfish that is my point , I do maintain my reals and take care of them. I think I'm going to give it a try . Sounds like a sturdy reel. I'm not in the market yet so maybe it will be cheaper later
Every bearing inside is sealed. However there are no seals on the reel itself, like daiwa and shimano. This means that water and salt can get inside, but wont ruin your bearings. However if u don't clean the reel, it will ruin your gears and other internals anyway. So it should be fine as long as u clean it regularly
I use my kastking reels out on the bay and caught big fish and have no problems. I try out all kinds of reels, Shimano, Abu, Lews, Penn, 13 Fishing etc., …It's what you like and works for you. I use them all.....
better than other castking reels. Every bearing is sealed. However the reel itself is NOT sealed. Meaning that water and salt will get in, and eat your gears, but spare your bearings. If u clean your tackle well, it should be OK. If u never clean ur tackle... don't do it. In all fairness, none of the reels I showed are saltwater reels, even though they more expensive.
İ recently discovered your ch and subbed.one question , Can i use this reel for shore jigging and cast 60-80 gr jigs for about 100 meters? I know it is designed for offshore sw and for monster fishes in freshwater but I’d like to know if it can be also used for shore jogging ?
you can use it.. it has the gears and the drag and sealed bearings.. as long as u clean it u should be fine saltwater.. I just don't know about 100 meters with a baitcaster.. Have u cast 100 meters with another baitcaster? Maybe if it doesn't have a levelwind... even then baitcasters are dangerous for long casting. It takes just one error and u blow the spool. 50-60 meters may be doable..
Buy Pen Slammer or if you are in the money,high end Shimano/Daiwa.I used Slammer and viking jigs weight 70,100gr , for cod fishing in Norwey.With Sheakspire 3m 3oz seabass rod i did just fine about 80,100m cast.
good components but bad choices made with that piscifun. Only ugly colors. Only high gear ratio. Only nasty handles. If it came in a black color with low gear ratio and normal handle, then yes, great reel. But the way it is now i wouldn't even touch it.
i_fish Victor I have 15 percent of my hearing left and when cat fishing with a clicker in any current, the clicker must be stiff or it will click every time the current pulls a little different
Don't release the clutch. Leave the reel in gear, and instead losen the drag to whatever level u please. I never leave the reel with open clutch... don't want to get spooled when i don't pay attention. This clicker will work for u though - VERY STIFF
I don't know... None of my other reels have that and I never once wondered what line i have on. To be honest I don't care very much. I can see if its braid on mono, and how thick it is. Manufacturer labels are not accurate to begin with.. I would rather they save the money for this and make the reel cheaper
NO. Not sure what u got from the video but this is a big heavy reel, with a huge metal spool. Even 1/4 ounce is pushing it. I think u can work with 1/2 ounce but would be a poor choice for such low weight. This is a heavy duty equipment
It's a really good reel at a really good price. I've been using two of them for 2 years now. Never had any problems with them. Good luck catching the big ones!!!!
Joe, I've been looking at the Titan and I've heard the the clicker is not loud and is kind of weak (as in pulls out to easy). What is your personal experience with those issues?
i don't think backlash is a problem that comes from reels. It is user error. I have never seen a reel prone to backlash. Just use more brakes if u have backlash.
right. I felt a lot of anglers will have that sentiment and Kastking should have dropped some useless features like the dial that tells you what pound line u have, and try to offer the reel under 100$, where i would recommend it to anyone
haha... i don't know if its that bad, but maybe if they cut that dial and the fancy box they could drop the reel $20 lower to make it more financially attractive
@@ifishcatfish Is there any way you could point me in the direction of a video or have any recommendations on an entry/mid level carp rod with a budget around $150? Saw 4 absolutely gorgeous commons patrolling around my local waters and now im compelled to hook one. I can post more info but this is already a wall of text haha
@@ifishcatfish Bank, and very close quarters. I could comfortably cast with ~7-8ft. There is a downed tree nearby that really worries me if it decides to take a run. Its actually very similar to your spot in "October carp fishing from the bank" In spinning (other than my 1000-2500s) I have a daiwa bg 3000, okuma ceymar 5500 both of which feel either too large or too small.
@@ifishcatfish Tranx 400, got 4 of them, never had smoother reel in my hand, would love to have the 500 but they are not made in lefty. Another awesome and reasonably priced reel is Okuma Komodo SS, great for pounders or for burning large double bucktails. Both of these reels come in shitty box 🤣🤣🤣
well, the tranx is better than this reel but costs 300. If u can afford it - u don't need castking. However, I am here to tell you that this kastking is just as smooth out of the box as ur tranx. I don't think it will be as durable with the plastic frame, but nobody can say it isn't smooth
@@ifishcatfish The reel needs to stay smooth after 10000 casts and there is 0 chance this reel can handle that. BTW you can get tranx way cheaper on ebay, just wait for coupon.
Hey, the tranx is a better reel. If you can afford it - life is perfect. No need to go kastking. It is kind of silly to waste all these posts to say that a 300$ shimano is a better reel than a Kastking - nobody is arguing with u!
maybe.. never really tested this with giants... This has smoother gears though, the antireverse is better.. you can immediately tell this is a smoother reel if u hold both of them. The komodo is starting to show age... gears today are cut with much higher precision.
Maybe add an arrow to show where you have cast the bait? Come on KK, silly feature..But the rest looks good for a loaner light jigging reel for saltwater
I've been using the Kapstan for over 3 years now. I bought 4 and one has an issue with the drag. I need to disassemble it and see what's up. They cast a mile and are perfect for catfish up to any size but works well for the 1-2 pound eater class too. Braid works better on them due to the limited line capacity if you load it with like 40# mono, but I hate braid because of how easy it tangles. The power handle is a must have for this reel and I feel it should have come with it. I pair this up with a Pro Angler Tackle 7.5 Foot Medium/Heavy Eva Rod. It's a match made in heaven.
this reel has incredible drag. Maybe u just have to clean some dirt stuck somewhere
We buy the cheap Amazon reels for throwing a-rigs in the fall, catching 3 or 4 stripe at a time in swift current will strip gears like crazy. That's why we use the cheap ones. For some reason I thought the kastking was 45 bucks and got excited. Not worth 130 though. Best low profile for taking all out abuse in my opinion? Revo Toro Beast without a doubt. Pair it with a Villain rod and you have a sexxxxxxy combo that begs for anything a stripe or blue cat can throw. Great video and I really appreciate the work it takes to make it. Thank you!!
hehe, yeah, its a good reel but its 399. If you like this reel you should go get the Revo Toro S which is on sale on Abu's website. I want to see the striper that will strip the gears of a Revo Toro S 50 (you can get even 60 but there is no need). It really is a tank.
The Kasking will have sales events and will drop under 100 eventually. If u can get it for $80 - you should. You will be surprised. High quality bearings and HUGE brass gears. I wish they cut some stupid things like the expensive box and the dial, and u don't need to seal the bearings on a freshwater reel, and make that reel $50 cheaper..
I gota come next striper season and brink my kapstan reels. Would LOVE to strip the gears on some 40 lb stripers..
Again you have sold me, I really appreciate what you are doing , thanks I will have this reel when I up grade
Piscifun Allios is a superior reel to even the Daiwa Lexa or 300 Tranx and is in the bargain category . This reel is as good as Abu Garcia Toros which if you know reels sucked balls but also kinda didnt .
jesusoftheapes I will check that out
I have the Daiwa Lexa 400 HD and that thing is a beast. I have caught 25-40 pound Amberjacks with it, no maintenance other than freshwater rinse. You thought the Kattech was a broom stick? I have the medium action and it felt flimsy to me. Was good for carp and fish under 10 pounds. Caught an 18 pound Flathead on it, felt underpowered. Cast diamond jigs real far and its great for beach fish. Ive caught plenty of spanish mackerel with it, I love it for that.
Not a broomstick. The tip was too soft and body too stiff. Super weird blank. Mine was med heavy power. Not broomstick tho. Very light
The Okuma Citrix 300 and the even better Komodo SS 300 is also a Competitor.
Really a great review. I've been thinking of doing some musky fishing next year and even though I prefer spinning reels for almost everything, casting big lures over and over again can get a little cumbersome with a spinning reel. I think your point at the end about resell value is key, not because I plan to resell any of my reels, but because the KK will almost certainly not age as well as the Diawa and Shimano. I had pretty good luck with the KK Sharky 2 1500 size reels a few years ago. I liked the design, weight and spool capacity. Nothing ever broke on them, but after 2 years of use, they simply got worn out. Little knocks and creeks, slight rubbing. I still use them for back up reels and loaners, but after a couple of years, the plastic parts didn't have much life left. (And, they are only $35 reels, so that's not horrible.) But I think I would spend an extra $15 for a Diawa or $30 for the Shimano, knowing they are probably going to last longer.
This reels have better bearings than the daiwa and better clutch... but at the end you will probably end up right. I bought a second and will use them for night fishing for carp and catfish because of the loud clicker. Will see next year
LOL! That's funny, a line test memory dial 😆. Great review. I have been using a set of Piscifun Thunders. They are very simplistic, no bells and whistles. I lubed them well before using them. They have been working excellent so far, I swapped the factory handles for Abu power handles. They are 300 series reel, no clicker. I go for the simple designs. This is a really good, in depth review. I agree with your assessment of the KK rods! Yay, I survived the boredom lol, thanks for sharing!
Thanks brother. I like simple too, even when i buy cars. All of these options is sh@t that will break and need fixing..
The Piscifun Thunder has 300 written on the side of it but it is actually a 200 sized reel and has the line capacity of a 200 sized reel. Trust me I have a Piscifun Thunder and its much smaller than the Daiwa Lexa 300 and the Okuma Komodo SS 364. Its the same size as a Komodo SS 273 holding them side by side or any other 200 sized reel.
Awesome Vid as always brotha!!!I was pretty surprised just how good the bass ninja series of premium baitcasters felt at the classic. better than anything else they offered...and steez weight for a quarter the price. Very refined in feel when off the rack.(better than what you get out of abu and daiwa for the same money in the "smoothness while free spinning on a show floor" category.. Very different feel in hand than the sub 100$ reels I've fished and handled from them in the past. For 120$ I don't think you'll see anything close to what this offers. I know the 2019 2020 lexas are being upgraded with new clutches but remaining for the most part unchanged. (they mentioned greased bearings to quiet them but they're already greased so to see that in writing I found odd (at least my hd's were greased)
I still can't figure them out. They have some total trash OEM reels, but they have some products that really aren't bad (those are not cheap tho).
I'm glad you seem to like it. I've had 2 Speed demon pros, I believe 9.3 to 1 and they were too good to be true, both seized but they refunded me. I throw big Swimbaits and took a chance on this reel. I'm an admitted Shimano fanboy, and own several, I hope I don't regret saving for a Curado K 300, which will still be my next reel probably.
very good review...I like to see good honest thoughts on products.
I think the dial would've been better if they made it to where if you set it on your line weight, then the drag would knob would not let you go higher than the drag so you wont break your line when using braid.
U are several ideas ahead of us, sir!
Kapstan is the name of the guys youtube channel who worked with kastking to make the reel. Also I had the same problem with the rover my clutch broke on a 35 inch fish when I tried to set the hook.
tried to find that channel but couldn't. TH-cam is showing me other stuff. if u give me link i can check it out.
i think they are the best off brand reel , of core its not top line but they are ok, but i have used few their products and own some the reels are ok but rest is junk , glasses, rods, lines
yeah.. with them u have to go product by product - you can't talk about the whole brand. They have some decent stuff, but 90% is OEM ebay stuff.
Thanks for the video.
Is it possible to buy kapstan spoll somewhere? I need additional one, but i can not find it anywhere..
Андрей dev message the company
Any plans of replacing the "braid dial" for a magnetic brake? Or even bringing out a second option reel?
Thanks for the review. I have just bought this reel. I'm currently using the Piscifun Alijos 300 and it is incredible. Super solid aluminium frame reel, SUPER smooth casting with 35LB drag.
Would be great to see a comparison review between the KAPSTAN V ALIJOS.
Thanks.
i considered it but it's kind of ugly, i don't have a rod for that reel. Also i don't like round knobs, and both handles have round knobs. I am sure mechanically its similar.
@@ifishcatfish I just received the Kaptsan and it is a great reel but, i'd say the Kapstan and Alijos are pretty much identical, performance wise. If i were to buy another of either reel it would be the Alijos because of the aluminum frame and magnetic brake. It just feels like a stronger reel and is half the price. I think if the Kapstan comes out with an upgrade model, they should definitely get rid of the gimmick "braid strength" dial and replace it with a magnetic brake. Also have the option of the power reel like the Alijos.
Also, if you have a rod for the Kapstan, the Alijos will definitely fit it. They are the same size.
Just my thoughts.
@@cjay1262 i agree with you if you only talk about performance. Definitely the aluminum frame is advantage. Unfortunately just too ugly for me, and the handle will have to immediately be replaced and that will increase cost, and the high gear ratio is a No Go for me also. Maybe if they make a 5.0 gear ratio in normal color and normal handle i will try it
Piscifun Allios is the best reel on the market in this category , Value and quality with a 33 lbs drag . It rivals the Shimano Tranx 300 and the handle placement give you so much torque on super models and other big bucktails or spinners .
This reel is fine but a better value is out there . The cast king is ugly and a complete copy of the gen 1 revo toro . Which means the trigger bar is unsupported on the opposite of the gear side and with time the handle bar will bind .
does it have a clicker?
i_fish no
then it is not in this category. There is a million amazing reels out there, but how can u fish night time without a clicker?
i_fish yea I wouldn’t use it for cat fishing or any of that sort of fishing I do feel like for the price of the piscifun reel that it’s a good pike/Muskie reel I would probably end up using it for float fishing for salmon
Purchased and reviewed after subscriber request. If you want to send me a reel for review please use the email in the description. Thanks for stopping !
Good catfish low profiles are the okuma Citrix and the okuma komodo!!!!
yes, i should have bought these years ago. Now I don't want to review an old reel...
Hey buddy, what do you think of Kastking's rover ? That red round casting reel if it's not a defective product when you get it. Thank you.
on paper should be OK. But every single one i have touched was defective. There may be ok reels out there, but i can't recommend that rees
The shimanos will out live the reels you reviewed. I would try the 300 curado. It's smooth forever.
there is no Shimano in this class, i said that in the video. Curado is a bass reel, and the 300 size is made for musky. No clicker and smaller everything. The Tranx is comparable but costs double these reels.
Excellent review, just like your rod reviews. Very in depth and good honest feedback. Sometimes a biased review is a good thing, as long as your up front about it. Thanks for taking the time to review this reel, it lets us know if it’s worth taking a chance on. One question, what rod did you have the reel mounted on in the footage of you fighting a fish?
i have the whole video on my channel. If you don't want to watch it - Shimano Teramar 7' MH. I don't recommend that rod though - very stiff. But its very shiny and kind of matches the reel. I am having trouble finding matching rods for these kapstan reels (just bought a second kapstan because i can only use them in pairs)
i_fish thanks for the reply, I will check the video out. I’m glad I’m not the only one who has to buy reels in pairs 👍🏼
Great video, great review, but the Abu Toro cost is closer to 300$. At least in America it is, and the Lexa is a smaller reel with less line capacity and drag. If anything compare it to a Lexa 300 and a Tranx, which are the highest of brands and cost.
I was talking about the revo toro S. Subsriber told me he found them for 120 after he watched my reviews, just last week
Did I just watch 34 minutes of this wow very good reviews though I like information not just sales pitches I want to know information like I want to know what's good I want to know what's bad why would I want this product why would I want that product compared to just the upside of everything and never the downsides thank you very much
There is a good one coming tomorrow!
i-fish, have you tried the original version of the Abu Revo Toro? You have to find them used but they come up on E-Bay. They do have the bait clicker which I find almost essential for my style of catfishing. I was able to get a couple of Revo Toro Winch 50's new in the box off eBay for around 225 each and I love them. Come with both a power handle and double paddle handle and are geared 4.6-1. Just thought I'd mention it to you. I love your channel and really appreciate the really detailed product reviews. Looking to buy a couple of the Ugly Stik Tiger Lites now.
Sounds really good but i already have more reels than i can use. And a lot of these models are due for a makeover..
I used to have the 60 in 5:3-1 and although it wasn't the smoothest but musky fishing is very abusive on reels because of the lure size and the continuous non stop casting all day and it held up for 3 years of hard abuse so it was a good reel just not very smooth I bought my for about $200 at the Minnesota musky expo back in 2011 years
Only reason I choose kapstan over all those is bcus it's a baitcaster we with a clicker and carries more line than any of her real with one at that price and has a good amount of drag .the revo s only get 100yd of 50lb braid. The kapstan gets about 300yds of 50lb braid
i have never been in situation where i need more line on the spool. Maybe if use planer boards and drag 100 yards behind the boat... I don't know why people need more than 100 yards of line for freshwater
@@ifishcatfish in the great lakes when you have large fish that will snap line no problem unless you let them drag line, it does come in handy needing extra line. But yes I get what you are saying. But that extra line is good for saltwater fishing too... Hey bro I know of some cleaner that will clean eva foam. Try the Penn cleaner, that will work pretty well. If not there is a cleaner at the dollar tree that works amazing if the Penn don't work.its called green something.its a all purpose cleaner
Dude good review. Thanks so much
thanks for droppin a line bud
Thank you very much for another great video. The kastking is 10.8 oz on its website. Maybe they made a mistake? Or after you put line on it , the total is 12 oz. Thank you.
interesting. Should have weighed empty but how much does braid weigh... never thought of that..
@@ifishcatfish I don't like it that it has a graphite frame. Do you think it is strong enough survive 10 lb of drag?
i think graphite frame is best for such reels. Aluminum is both too heavy and too expensive and not necessary. 10 pounds for sure. Maybe 15. It has HUGE drag disks, some of the best in the business. Drag disks are not the limitation. The line guide will snap if u put a lot of pressure. It is a very strong reel. Trust me - me no fan of chinese reels but this is a powerful reel.
@@ifishcatfish Thank you. I appreciate your help. My concern is graphite frame is not strong enough for 10 lb of drag. My daiwa fuego lt , is also graphite, man , it flexes like crazy. I don't think it can survive 6 lb of drag. This kastking looks like it designed to tackle bigger fish. I understand the drag disks are big enough to produce more than 10lb of drag. It's just I prefer aluminum , it's tougher. But I believe you, maybe this graphite is different , it's stronger. Thank you.
There are aluminum reels from daiwa and abu. But this frame has 0 flex. None. I know the daiwa lt reels are too thin but this is nothi g like that
That diawa is way more than 130 new or used.i think the kapstan is the best way to go..sorry I confused the revo s with the revo beast
yeah, very different prices today.. but it was 130 new on amazon at the time of the video. I had it on my amazon page
I have all their baitcasters. Not one problem.
I went back to Kapstan...the daiwa nice but I'm not paying 200 for a daiwa lexa300 cc.the plastic gears under the main gear on Lew's gx3 video u made was the reason I went to Kapstan ...
Johncoo Titan ok too it 65 on Amazon
James Reed link?
@@ifishcatfish i never link anythin.its a Johncoo Titan on amazon
Never linked ever lol
@@ifishcatfish guys around my area use them and are happy at $65 price point .
I so much appreciate your review.
thank u sir!
I put 65 pound braid on mine. Still doesn’t quite reach but it doesn’t seem to matter
it doesn't. But bothers me and i can't wait to replace with mono.
Good review. Do you have any thoughts on the piscifun alijoz
yes. Good reel but very ugly, very uncomfortable handle, and high gear ratio. Even the 'low gear ratio' model they have is high. I dont know why they made this type of resistance fishing reel with high gear ratio. But if none of that bothers you - its a good value
I have noticed the big low profile reels that u take apart to look inside all have plastic gears under big gear .The daiwa ..the Abu ..the Lew's the kapstan .What do u think of the gears such as worm gear being plastic on all the low pros
Yes, it is plastic even on expensive reels, so there must be a reason. The biggest reason is that if u have nondisengaging levelwind these gears will have to spin as fast as the spool. U have to make them light, otherwise they will reduce casting distance and cause birds nests at the same time, because u will have too much inertia at the end of the cast. Plastic can also be quieter. However in my opinion on disengaging levelwind reels they should be aluminum. Just to remove wear from use.
So I bought this about a year ago. Notice it felt like sand was in the frame when retrieving it on with just 3/4 spoon. Is this normal or can I do something to improve grainy feeling?
well its a little late to ask this question now.. U should have just returned this reel. How it feels sandy is a huge mystery as this reel has amazing gears and nothing can happen to make it feel sandy, as long as you bought it brand new. If you bought it used, then some ass hole just rolled it on the bank in the sand and filled it with sand. If that is the case, you can open and clean it, and it will be better, but once u have used it with the sand, the gears are destroyed forever and will never feel smooth again
Have u tried the Lew's gx3 and johnnco Titan low pro with clickers.
I reviewed the Lews. On the edge about the chinese one... don't want to buy it just for review..
Great review
Very good review my friend. Do you think that kastking would hold up in saltwater? I currently use the Abu Garcia 7000c its holding up real good .
Well, it does have sealed berings. And DEFINITELY will hold up more than Abu Garcia 7000C. But I still would not say this is a saltwater reel. If u take care of ur reels, and keep sand out, and wash the salt out, and lube them every winter... then u can use any freshwater reel for saltwater. But still would not say this is a saltwater reel.
@@ifishcatfish that is my point , I do maintain my reals and take care of them. I think I'm going to give it a try . Sounds like a sturdy reel. I'm not in the market yet so maybe it will be cheaper later
@@ifishcatfish Kastking says it is a saltwater reel, just fyi
Every bearing inside is sealed. However there are no seals on the reel itself, like daiwa and shimano. This means that water and salt can get inside, but wont ruin your bearings. However if u don't clean the reel, it will ruin your gears and other internals anyway. So it should be fine as long as u clean it regularly
I use my kastking reels out on the bay and caught big fish and have no problems. I try out all kinds of reels, Shimano, Abu, Lews, Penn, 13 Fishing etc., …It's what you like and works for you. I use them all.....
Ive gotta ask. You seem to have more knowledge in physics and engineering than most people. What do you do for a living?
Finance analytics
i wonder how it will last against salt water use
better than other castking reels. Every bearing is sealed. However the reel itself is NOT sealed. Meaning that water and salt will get in, and eat your gears, but spare your bearings. If u clean your tackle well, it should be OK. If u never clean ur tackle... don't do it. In all fairness, none of the reels I showed are saltwater reels, even though they more expensive.
İ recently discovered your ch and subbed.one question , Can i use this reel for shore jigging and cast 60-80 gr jigs for about 100 meters? I know it is designed for offshore sw and for monster fishes in freshwater but I’d like to know if it can be also used for shore jogging ?
you can use it.. it has the gears and the drag and sealed bearings.. as long as u clean it u should be fine saltwater.. I just don't know about 100 meters with a baitcaster.. Have u cast 100 meters with another baitcaster? Maybe if it doesn't have a levelwind... even then baitcasters are dangerous for long casting. It takes just one error and u blow the spool. 50-60 meters may be doable..
Buy Pen Slammer or if you are in the money,high end Shimano/Daiwa.I used Slammer and viking jigs weight 70,100gr , for cod fishing in Norwey.With Sheakspire 3m 3oz seabass rod i did just fine about 80,100m cast.
Piscifun alijos 300 is heavy duty I think it gives kapstan 300 a run for it's money
good components but bad choices made with that piscifun. Only ugly colors. Only high gear ratio. Only nasty handles. If it came in a black color with low gear ratio and normal handle, then yes, great reel. But the way it is now i wouldn't even touch it.
Kapstan is a ancient worrier... and it starts with a K
And I am almost deaf so a loud clicker is a must for me
you DEFINITELY will hear that one! It will most likely cause vibration on your boat : )
i_fish Victor I have 15 percent of my hearing left and when cat fishing with a clicker in any current, the clicker must be stiff or it will click every time the current pulls a little different
Don't release the clutch. Leave the reel in gear, and instead losen the drag to whatever level u please. I never leave the reel with open clutch... don't want to get spooled when i don't pay attention. This clicker will work for u though - VERY STIFF
I wish there was a TLDR version of this video.
What is tldr?
Okuma citrix has clicker Good price good reel
Very old. Dont want to buy old reel. Nobody will watch the review. I will wait until they make a new model
I bought a Rover. Not impressed. Super happy with my kapstan though
nobody was ever happy with a rover : )
i did the same exact thing with the line wt knob haha. for about an hour, also felt the same way about usage. maybe if you had 4 of them...?
I don't know... None of my other reels have that and I never once wondered what line i have on. To be honest I don't care very much. I can see if its braid on mono, and how thick it is. Manufacturer labels are not accurate to begin with.. I would rather they save the money for this and make the reel cheaper
You should try to do a review on okuma komodo ss
i dont want to buy old reels. Maybe when the new one comes out
@@ifishcatfish right on man thank you for your reply. Have u tried a shimano Calcutta b in the 400bsize?
Can it be used with below 1/4 oz lure baits?
NO. Not sure what u got from the video but this is a big heavy reel, with a huge metal spool. Even 1/4 ounce is pushing it. I think u can work with 1/2 ounce but would be a poor choice for such low weight. This is a heavy duty equipment
Can u look at the johncoo titan Its 65 bucks and would love a review on it
if you can get someone to send me one for review. I am already way over budget and it will be tight for the rest of the year
@@ifishcatfish I'll look into it brother
It's a really good reel at a really good price.
I've been using two of them for 2 years now.
Never had any problems with them.
Good luck catching the big ones!!!!
Joe, I've been looking at the Titan and I've heard the the clicker is not loud and is kind of weak (as in pulls out to easy). What is your personal experience with those issues?
Is it prone to backlash?
i don't think backlash is a problem that comes from reels. It is user error. I have never seen a reel prone to backlash. Just use more brakes if u have backlash.
Abu Garcia Garcia max4 40lp is where it's at
looks good. Haven't seen that. One thing i dont like is that 6.4 gear ratio. It will have no power with that..
Yeah, that lb dial is worthless. They shoulda made it magged.
Gru is that you?
im not gettin that reference
@@ifishcatfish he’s talking abt the movie “Despicable Me” tbh u do kinda sound like him lol
Believe it's a good reel, but will not pay that price to get one because it's a Kastking
right. I felt a lot of anglers will have that sentiment and Kastking should have dropped some useless features like the dial that tells you what pound line u have, and try to offer the reel under 100$, where i would recommend it to anyone
Такое ощущение как будто текст читает учитель английского в российской школе )))
you are welcome
@@ifishcatfish you have a Russian accent )))
Isn’t Kastking one of the cheapest brands around?
well this reel is not at all cheap.. : )
Graphite body not plastic
technically you are more accurate, but I call all non metal reels plastic. CI4+ and Zaion are also plastics.
That dial really is an unnecessary eyesore.
haha... i don't know if its that bad, but maybe if they cut that dial and the fancy box they could drop the reel $20 lower to make it more financially attractive
@@ifishcatfish Is there any way you could point me in the direction of a video or have any recommendations on an entry/mid level carp rod with a budget around $150? Saw 4 absolutely gorgeous commons patrolling around my local waters and now im compelled to hook one. I can post more info but this is already a wall of text haha
Boat or bank? what length? What reel do u have?
@@ifishcatfish Bank, and very close quarters. I could comfortably cast with ~7-8ft. There is a downed tree nearby that really worries me if it decides to take a run. Its actually very similar to your spot in "October carp fishing from the bank" In spinning (other than my 1000-2500s) I have a daiwa bg 3000, okuma ceymar 5500 both of which feel either too large or too small.
Away right biw but will send u some stuff later. Didnt tell me what reel u have
You get what you pay for
generally..
The clicker is very loud
Loud is good, but the sound is kind of obnoxious
@@ifishcatfish Lew's now makes's a low pro with clicker....Gx3 super duty .
Thanks for the heads up. I contacted them to see if they will send me a pair. If not, i will buy it myself and review it either way.
Catfishing
soon
No way this reel will survive casting musky lures
What do u use for casting muskie lures?
@@ifishcatfish Tranx 400, got 4 of them, never had smoother reel in my hand, would love to have the 500 but they are not made in lefty. Another awesome and reasonably priced reel is Okuma Komodo SS, great for pounders or for burning large double bucktails. Both of these reels come in shitty box 🤣🤣🤣
well, the tranx is better than this reel but costs 300. If u can afford it - u don't need castking. However, I am here to tell you that this kastking is just as smooth out of the box as ur tranx. I don't think it will be as durable with the plastic frame, but nobody can say it isn't smooth
@@ifishcatfish The reel needs to stay smooth after 10000 casts and there is 0 chance this reel can handle that. BTW you can get tranx way cheaper on ebay, just wait for coupon.
Hey, the tranx is a better reel. If you can afford it - life is perfect. No need to go kastking. It is kind of silly to waste all these posts to say that a 300$ shimano is a better reel than a Kastking - nobody is arguing with u!
komdo 364
yeah. Komodo is old but still alright.
@@ifishcatfish komodo will out fish that junk youre talking
maybe.. never really tested this with giants... This has smoother gears though, the antireverse is better.. you can immediately tell this is a smoother reel if u hold both of them. The komodo is starting to show age... gears today are cut with much higher precision.
Maybe add an arrow to show where you have cast the bait? Come on KK, silly feature..But the rest looks good for a loaner light jigging reel for saltwater
lol - that was a good one. If u start putting arrows for stuff like this where do u draw the line..