Many anglers are pleasantly surprised the first time they use KastKing reels. Through design ingenuity, the company has managed to add features to their products that you don’t generally see for anything less than double the price. For example, their reels very rarely depend on cheap plastic parts in the spool and handle, and many even use corrosion-resistant materials like graphite, which is great news for surf anglers.

Sharp design and high functionality make this model one of the best KastKing spinning reels on the market. It can haul in fish like a tornado with its impressive 33 pounds of drag power, and the combination of aluminum and graphite in the reel body makes it lightweight and strong as a tank. The aluminum skeletal frame also keeps rust out of the reel, making it a great KastKing surf reel. It operates smoothly and, for its size, pulls in a fair amount of line (21.3 inches) per turn.

Strong metal gears ensure that this reel operates smoothly, and the handle is made of sturdy aluminum that will give you great leverage over whatever species you’re trying to catch. Specifically, the KastKing Megatron reel is perfect for panfish, bass, and walleye in freshwater and bigger species like wahoo and mackerel in saltwater. As long as you have the right line on the spool, you can battle monsters and pull them right out of the surf.

It can fit inside a glove compartment or in the trunk with your favorite rod, making the Spartacus F as effective a KastKing musky reel as it is a bass reel. Younger anglers who are ready to move up to a baitcaster will also love this reel's slim profile.

For such an inexpensive baitcasting reel, there are tons of ball bearings in the Spartacus. In addition to the fluid movement that gives this reel, there’s also an anti-reverse bearing that will stop the handle in its tracks. When there’s a fish on, that anti-reverse feature works with the dual centrifugal and magnetic brakes to keep the target from going on a run and turn it back toward the boat. That braking system also gives this reel some fantastic casting.

The name might put you in mind of fishing on a sunny day, but the Summer is also a phenomenal KastKing reel for fishing on frozen lakes and rivers.

KastKing says it’s lightweight, ultra smooth, and powerful.

That ultralight weight lends itself to the generally smaller scale of ice fishing gear, and its graphite frame can handle icy conditions quite ably. Take the reel apart, and you'll find bearing housing and gears that shine with machined precision. The spool is made out of machined aluminum, which will keep it from wearing down for longer, and it can hold enough line for ice fishing despite the low-profile design.

Pair this KastKing spinning reel with the right ice fishing rod and fish finder, and you'll be pulling crappie, sunfish, and bluegill up through the ice in no time. The 19.7 IPT retrieval rate is excellent for vertical jigging in a hole or casting and slow-rolling spinnerbaits in cold water from a bank or boat. It's a sturdy reel that casts like a dream. The only slight issue is that the bail wire is a bit thick, and the bail itself is a bit harder to close than you might expect, but snapping the bail down becomes easier once you get used to it.

If you came to this guide looking for a KastKing musky reel, look no further. This one is built of stainless steel that won't succumb to corrosion from salt water, and it handles line well enough to cast and give a realistic presentation to classic musky lures like bucktails. Like other round reels, the KastKing Rover conventional reel round baitcasting reel has better line control and casting than either spinning reels or baitcasters. It can also hold a great deal of line.

Anglers who like to sneak up on their targets, especially using flipping techniques, will love this reel. You can drop the lure in nice and slow or, with enough practice, land it like a feather a fair distance away. The handle is long enough for leverage and the grips comfortable enough to grip so that you can have better control over all aspects of a catch from cast to dehooking.

Beyond being what is called KastKing’s No. 1 highest-rated conventional reel, the Rover Round 50 just looks great.

The red side plates are eye-catching, and the gold and silver interior help the reel look clean even after plenty of use. The more open round reel design is also much easier to rinse off the reel after each trip.

With a classy black graphite body that will withstand the corrosive elements of saltwater environments and practically enough drag power to drag your boat back to shore, the Sharky III is the best saltwater fishing reel KastKing has ever produced. This one is pretty lightweight for a reel that can pull tuna and snapper out of the ocean. It's heavy enough to balance on a long saltwater fishing rod, but it's light enough to prevent hand and wrist fatigue and be transported easily from the car.

You might not be able to tell when the waves are rolling and causing a commotion on the deck, but the Sharky III is a really quiet reel, with satisfied users writing it’s smooth as silk, quiet, and has a great feel. Both casting and retrieving are nearly silent. For that matter, it has a 33.4 IPT retrieval rate that will help you cast more and catch more fish.

KastKing has also added a water- and dirt-resistant seal around the body to keep the reel's inner workings clean and functioning. If you like kayak fishing, the extra distance this reel can cast will help you hit more of the water in less time. As long as you keep it rinsed clean and add some lubricant now and then, this reel should last a long time.

Spincast reels have been the best for getting out on the water with minimal preparation, and the KastKing Brutus spincast reel is an exceptional example of that quick convenience. It comes pre-spooled with mono line that can handle all sorts of fishing for mid-sized targets. The Brutus also holds a bit more line than most other spincast reels, so you can go after fish that might spook and go on a run. Beginners also love the spincast because it’s so easy to use and doesn’t involve a lot of fuss.

If you’re the kind of angler who likes to operate on your reels, the spincast might be a bit cumbersome because it’s a closed-face reel. But KastKing says this reel is built for smooth performance with 5 MaxiDur ball bearings, and you can tell with this reel's action. Once you remove the plates, everything looks basically the same, but that’s not something you want to do out on the water. If you do want to swap out the factory line with some stronger test, it’s a better bet to do it before your next fishing trip.

Performance-wise, you’d have to be pretty lucky to catch a monster-sized fish with this reel. That being said, it can certainly handle any mid-sized bass, musky, pike, and similar common freshwater targets. It's sensitive enough to give your lures a fair presentation but don’t expect to cast out a mile like you can with the KastKing spinning reels and baitcasters in this guide.

KastKing is shockingly young for such an influential company. It was founded in 2011 by some Syracuse University students who loved enjoying nature by fishing on the Finger Lakes in upstate New York, where they’re still headquartered today. Their mission is to provide design and innovation common in high-end reels at an affordable price for everyone. They use great high-quality materials and perform so well they've become a mainstay for anglers of all kinds.

KastKing protects its reels with a one-year limited warranty to make sure you get the reel you expect. Although that’s shorter than some other companies, KastKing reels are inexpensive enough to replace quickly if they wear down outside of the warranty period.

You can reach out to KastKing with an email to service@kastking.com, or you can contact them with a form on their warranty page.