Because goods from China are often cheap, you can hear a lot of bad things about their quality. One brand that I’ve read a lot of good stuff about over the past few weeks is KastKing. This review will focus on the Kastking Spartacus fishing reels. You will be surprised that high-quality spinning or baitcasting reels can be purchased for little money.
About Brand Kastking
The company was founded on March 15th, 2013 in New York. The company’s products are sold in more than 150 countries around the world and are a popular and recognizable brand in the USA, Canada, and Europe. The main office of the company is located in Shenzhen, China, official warehouses are open in New York (USA), Frankfurt (Germany), Vancouver (Canada), Birmingham (UK). In 2013, KastKing became the largest seller of fishing tackle and the exclusive brand supplier for Amazon.
In 2015, he won the prestigious Best Fishing Brand award at the prestigious US Fishing Trade Show. KastKing is the only award-winning Chinese manufacturer in the US for the first time since 1933. In 2015, KastKing products are represented in the largest US sporting goods store DICK’S. The chain has 640 stores in more than 500 US cities. This is a brand that produces exceptionally high-quality products. The advantage over competing companies is the price. All Kastking products are significantly cheaper because they are made in China.
The 7 Best KastKing Spartacus Plus – Fishing Rods, Reels, Line & Knots
This Kastking Spartacus reel in a fairly short period was able to gain popularity among a large number of anglers who use it for spinning fishing. The secret of such success lies in the affordable price, high quality of the coil itself, and its sufficient reliability. Kastking Spartacus has high technological characteristics and is made of quality material. In terms of its characteristics, the reel is not inferior to the brand models, and in terms of price policy, it surpasses them. After all, it is difficult to find a similar model that combines high quality and affordable prices for most anglers. During the casting, the angler can sometimes hear a rustling at the location of the bearings. This drawback is easily solved by lubricating the bearings located in the reel housing with oil. Based on feedback from anglers, the reel is best suited for fishing with wobblers.
Kastking Spartacus Spinning Reel
1# KastKing Spartacus II Fishing Reel 3000 – Amazon’s Choice
This is a high-quality fishing reel that has won the love of fishermen from all over the world in a fairly short period of time. This model is suitable for a variety of fishing conditions, whether you are fishing in seawater or freshwater. The reel contains 7 + 1 bearings, which ensures smooth casting and uniform line exhaust. They are made of stainless steel and resist corrosion. This is a triple-disc fishing reel that weighs 22 lbs. This product is made from carbon fibre. This reel can be used with light fishing lines. This model is equipped with an aluminum EVA handle knob. It ensures smooth rotation.
2# KastKing Spartacus II Fishing Reel 5000
The new KastKing Spartacus spinning reel captivates with its design and technical equipment. Smooth running is one of the main characteristics of the reel. Thanks to the triple-disc carbon fiber drag, Kastking engineers have significantly reduced weight. For example, the weight of a size 5000 reel has been reduced by more than 10%. The new pinion design provides this reel with better load distribution and a smoother ride than other models. This product is equipped with 7 + 1 double-shielded stainless steel ball bearings and also has a reinforced nylon body and rotor. You can use the coil in both sea and freshwater.
Fastking Spartacus Baitcasting Reel
3# KastKing Spartacus I & II Baitcasting Fishing Reel
The reel has a sturdy plastic body and a red aluminum spool. There are two EVA knobs on the CNC milled aluminium handle which I especially like because of their grip. The reel works easily and quietly. I recommend beginners initially throwing larger lures, so I mostly had jerk-baits that were over 40 g into the water. The more training, the higher the throw distance. However, do not be careless and accelerate the bait too quickly or abruptly, otherwise, the reel will rewind and the hated bird nests will appear. In the worst case, the bait stops so abruptly that the line breaks, and the bait fly away. There were no problems with the rig, the finely adjustable sprocket resistance started out smoothly and so many (albeit smaller) peaks could be safely landed. This reel has 7 + 1 ball bearings. They are made of stainless steel and are corrosion resistant.
4# KastKing Spartacus Baitcasting Reel
The washers of the device are made of carbon fiber, which allows them to withstand the weight of the extraction up to 8 kg 12 bearings provide smooth running and even line unwinding. The gear ratio of the model is 6.3: 1, so it is classified as a high-speed mechanism. The ability to catch large fish is also due to the presence of magnetic and centrifugal brakes, which regulate the process of deflecting the line from the reel. For the manufacture of the handle, aluminum material is used, which provides a long service life and a comfortable hand-holding. The body has a comfortable shape and no sharp corners. The device weighs 222 grams. The spool weighs almost 20g.
5# KastKing Spartacus Maximus Metal Baitcasting Reels
This reel can be wound up to 150 meters of braided cord. The presence of 11 bearings guarantees smooth performance and uniform stretching of the line. The reel gear ratio is 6.3: 1 and 11.33 kg of carbon fiber drag. The reel runs very smoothly without a coiled string, but one cannot deny a very slight grinding noise. Although this is only noticeable in a quiet environment. Kastking Spartacus star brake adjuster wheels, reel brakes, and reel brake buttons operate smoothly and thus make a good impression. Visually, the coil also makes a good impression, birch and black go very well with each other. In addition, KastKing did not exaggerate and only discreetly placed the logo on top and on the foam handles. The brand and name of the reel are also printed on the right and left side of the reel.
6# KastKing Spartacus I & II Baitcasting Fishing Reel
KastKing Spartacus is available in 7 different colors. The colors are amazing! For me, the look of my fishing equipment plays an important role. Therefore, I consider this to be an important advantage of this coil. On the first inspection, I noticed that the color is really sharp, the photos were not exaggerated. The difference between the highlights on the handles and the color of the body is minimal. This is also logical since the body does not feel at all like the metal of the handles to the touch.
When it comes to brakes, Spartacus is playing to its fullest. I like it when nothing is left out. There is, of course, a reel break just like any other baitcasting reel. Then comes a centrifugal brake with six possible settings and a magnetic brake with five magnets and 25 possible settings. When it comes to ball bearings, the KastKing Spartacus shines with 7 + 1 ball bearings. By the way, according to the manufacturer, they are safe for saltwater.
KastKing Spartacus Fillet Knives
7# KastKing Spartacus Fillet Boning Food Prep Knives
This KastKing Spartacus fishing knife will come in handy when fishing so read its specifications. This model is designed for cutting fillets, and also easily peels skin, film, and separate fish veins from the bone. A uniformly tapering 8Cr14 stainless steel blade with an extra sharp blade and full-length shank. The blades stay sharp for a long time due to their high carbon content. In addition, the blade contains a sufficient amount of chromium which provides increased resistance to corrosion. Also, the blade has a ceramic coating that also protects against corrosion and can withstand temperatures up to 2000 degrees. The polymer handle is UV resistant and provides a comfortable grip.
Conclusion
Kastking is an American company that produces various fishing products. The products quickly gained popularity among users. In order to preserve their quality and reduce the price, the owners moved their production facilities to China. In production, only durable materials are used, which reduces the risk of breakage during intensive use. The Kastking Spartacus fishing reels are suitable for both experienced anglers and beginners. My favorite models from my review are 1# KastKing Spartacus II ing Reel – Amazon’s Choice and 3# KastKing Spartacus I & II Baitcasting Fishing Reel.
Tags: #kastking spartacus / #kastking spartacus maximus / #kastking spartacus plus / #kastking spartacus review / #kastking spartacus rod
I live in Tenerife (Canary Islands) for the last 10+ years and share my daily fishing experiences on my website. Many years of personal experience as a fisherman and the vast experience of my friends allow me to write professionally on any fishing topics (from choosing a flashlight and equipment to deep-sea fishing).
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The KastKing Spartacus was perfect for my fishing needs – from inshore to offshore, I found it could handle whatever I threw at it! Definitely one of my favorite reels.
I recently bought the Kastking Spartacus and have been pleasantly surprised with the quality. It’s a great reel for its price and can handle just about anything I throw at it, whether in freshwater or saltwater.
The drag system is smooth, the gear ratios are excellent and the spool is really durable. It also comes in left or right-handed models with two color options, so you can really customize it to your liking.
I’m not sure if it’s necessarily the best choice for beginners since it takes some getting used to, but once you get the hang of it you’ll be pulling in catches like a pro! All in all, I’m impressed and would highly recommend this reel.
I also love that it comes with a one-year warranty – great for those fishing trips where anything can happen. Highly recommend this reel if you’re looking for something that won’t break the bank but will still give you reliable performance.
I recently got my hands on the new KastKing Spartacus II spinning reel and I’m highly impressed. It’s incredibly lightweight and strong, with a reinforced nylon body and rotor plus 22 lbs of triple disc carbon fiber drag that allows you to use light fishing lines.
The gears are Hamai cut precision ones, with an oversized stainless steel main shaft, CNC aluminum handle, and anodized aluminum spool for dependability when battling bigger fish. It also has brass pinion gear, ceramic line roller, and stainless steel hardware for added durability. Plus, the innovative S.S.R. technology (Sliding Stabilizer Rod) helps stabilize the pinion gear and main gear for increased strength even more.
It looks great too with its silver, purple, and red color scheme along with the sure grip EVA knob – truly a standout of a reel! All in all, this is an awesome choice for anyone looking for superior quality at a reasonable price point. Highly recommended!
I got a KastKing Spartacus reel and I’m impressed with its quality of it. The drag system is smooth, the gear ratios are great, and the spool is plenty durable. It’s an awesome choice for any serious angler!
I’m a big fan of Kastking reels and the Spartacus Plus is my go-to workhorse reel. I have two of them that I’ve used for multiple seasons and they haven’t let me down yet. I recently had to retire my first KastKing reel (the Royale Legend) due to having too many, but it was still in perfect working order after all those years.
What really stands out about these reels is the quality you get for the price point. They look great and are incredibly durable, which is why they’re the only brand I trust when fishing tournaments and taking people on guided trips.
I definitely recommend trying out a Spartacus Plus if you’re looking for a reliable reel at an affordable price. You won’t be disappointed!
As someone who has used KastKing’s rods and found them to be of good quality for their price, I don’t have a strong opinion either way about their reels. However, I wanted to offer a suggestion to those considering purchasing the Spartacus Maximus reel.
While I won’t weigh in on whether or not someone should buy the Spartacus Maximus, I did want to mention that for just $10 more, a brand-new Daiwa Tatula 200 can be purchased on eBay. This reel is very well-made, with an aluminum frame and deep spool to hold a large amount of line.
Additionally, the Magforce brake on the Daiwa Tatula 200 is one of the best magnetic brakes available. I believe this may be a good alternative for those considering the Spartacus Maximus, as it falls within the same price range. I hope this helps someone in their decision-making process!
I have been using a Brutus 4000 spinning reel that I bought 3 years ago for just $16, and I have caught over 50 striped bass that was over 24 inches in size. Additionally, I have caught around 100 bluefish and black sea bass using the same reel, and it is still as smooth as it was on the first day.
However, I have to admit that hooking a big fish with this reel can be a bit worrying since the pinion doesn’t have any support. Nonetheless, I have cranked down on the drag pretty tight, and it has yet to break or give up on me.
I also have experience with KastKing reels, which I use for ice fishing. A few years ago, I owned a Sharky and another one, both of which broke while fighting fish that weren’t even that big. The Sharky broke at the neck when I was fighting a sub-31-inch striper, and the other one, which I can’t recall the name of, broke on a fluke. The anti-reverse just gave up on the second trip that I used it.
That being said, I know many people who use KastKing reels without any issues. Additionally, the reels I use for ice fishing from KastKing have held up very well for me.
In my experience, KastKing, Googan Squad, and various other generic Chinese brands all come from the same factory. If you take a close look at their bodies, you will notice that they have the same shapes, with only different colors and parts specified according to the brand’s order.
A few years back, I owned one of these reels before I decided to go all in and buy high-end equipment. I used it for just one day and returned it because it felt cheap and didn’t function well.
If a KastKing reel is all you can afford, I suggest looking up YouTube videos about some generic Chinese brands that may cost you half the price. This is how cheap KastKing reels actually are; you’re mainly paying for the marketing.
In my personal experience, I have had no issues with the KastKing Carbon X, and in fact, I have started to replace my Pflueger presidents with them. They are much lighter, just as smooth, and have a smoother, cleaner drag system than the presidents. I even prefer my Carbon X reels over my Daiwa Revros reels.
My KastKing Alijos 300 is decent, and while it’s not exceptional like a Tranx, it costs only a quarter of the price. However, my experience with their ICX 5 ice reels has been a bit hit or miss. One is pretty good, another is acceptable, and one was rough right out of the box. On the other hand, the Piscifun Viper and Honour are significantly nicer than a Shimano Sienna.
In general, I have found that almost all of the KastKing reels I have tried performed equally well or better than similar-priced reels from major manufacturers, up until about the $60-$70 mark. At that level, I typically stick to the major manufacturers like Shimano and Daiwa.