KastKing Royale Legend Pro Baitcasting Reels - AutoMag Dual Braking System Fishing Reel, Arch Resistance Control, 16 Lbs Carbon Drag, 5.5oz Lightweight, 8.0:1 Gear Ratio, 11 + 1 Stainless Steel BB

KastKing makes surprisingly good stuff for the money.I have been using a KastKing Zephyr for a while and I like it a lot, but I tried this new one and I like it quite a bit more. Priced at about $10 more than the Zephyr, it gives me a bit more bang for the buck than expected so I will approach this review from the perspective of a comparison between the two bait cast reels from the same company. As with all bait casters you will need to learn to fine tune the reel constantly unless you always use the same weighted lure and never change it. When the weight of your lure changes - you need to take 30 seconds to fine tune the reels multiple brake systems in order to avoid backlash. None of us will ever get away from that with bait cast reels. All of that said, this reel is much easier to cast without backlash after about 20 seconds of fine tuning. If you tune it properly it comes closer than any other reel, I have used to being backlash free on a consistent basis.So why did I give it 4 stars instead of 5? The color. I really do not like the speckled purple color. I'm trying to catch fish not drive Barbie's Dream Car. It's a really well engineered reel. It's very light weight. If tuned well it will cast really good distances without backlash and the price is really good for such a well-designed reel. I would put the quality of this reel on par with much more expensive reels like Shimano - seriously. But that glittery purple color ... I could live without that and there are no alternative color choices as with most reels including the ones made by KastKing. OK, so KastKing lost a star for that which probably does not cause them to lose sleep, nor should it. It's a good reel. It will be my go-to bait cast reel. No doubt. If I were color blind, it would have gotten 5 stars.

Excellent quality and it really avoids most birds nests i usually encounter with other reels unless I make a jerky cast. I have bought 3 if that tells you anything.

I've not owned a baitcaster until now; I'm an avid spinning rod fisherman, however. I remember, as a teen, trying baitcasters that friends had, and I remember but one thing: backlash city.And then, just a few weeks ago, I was given two older baitcaster combos. Both, twins, were well used, and while the rods seem serviceable, the reels I decided to replace. I had no idea what to get.Since the rods are blue, and rated for 10 to 20 lbs line, and I could measure the beat-up reels, as to size, I began my search armed with that info. And then I discovered this Kastking reel, and I ordered it.It's basically a blue reel (close to the same blue as my rods) that sparkles purple meatalflake in the sun. Essentially the same size as the old metal reels, it weighs a whole lot less because its frame and covers are carbon fiber.I spooled it with 12 lbs mono. I've not fished it yet, but watching YT videos to learn, I think I've got it all setup, brake set correctly, drag set correctly, etc. Then I took it out in a field next door and practiced. I'm thrilled to report that I did not experience any major backlashes. It's certainly a different experience from spinning reels.I am so impressed with this reel that I went and bought a second. I'm happy.

Reel is super smooth with zero backlash in gears. It is a bit smaller than I expected, but still holds a lot of line so that's not a big deal.I took it out in the yard a couple weeks ago, and in a short time was zinging away. I only got a couple of birds nests at the beginning, but that's when I threw so poorly I lost sight of my sinker and it hit the ground before my thumb got to the spool. I cranked the magnet up to max and tried it without my thumb...it did not go well.I took it out fishing today and it performed well, but I never got a bite with this rod or any other.I feel like I held back the potential of this reel. I couldn't find a rod I owned that really felt perfect for the weight of line and lure.It's a wonderfully manufactured product, but didn't really solve any problems for me. I look forward to finding a matching rod, and going out when the fish are active.

haven't used it yet due to weather conditions

The KastKing Royale Legend Pro reel was impressive right out of the box. It has a stylish purple/blue pearl finish and is very lightweight. I have a tennis elbow injury so having a lighter reel that fits perfectly in the palm of my hand has helped with reducing discomfort found with repetitive motions under heavier loads.The mechanics of the reel is so smooth and responsive with easy access to drag adjustment and casting. The automag dual braking system helps with reducing overturning during casts without a compromise in casting distance. So far I have no complaints. This seems to be a solid reel that I look forward to using heavily on my fishing missions.I've been fishing for over 40 years and Penn and Shimano have been my go to brands. I've purchased a few KastKing reels now and have been pleased with the value and performance found in each of them. They have all held up well in the rugged saltwater environments that I fish in and I'm confident that this reel will be no different.

Awesome reel. I've bought bait casting reels 2 or 3 times more expensive then this one, that were terrible to use and adjusting nightmares. This royal legend pro is the best I've ever used

Garbage. Within 2 day it started to make a squeaking sound with every cast. I oiled it. Sound kind of went away. Fast forward 28 days and it started to sound like old door hinges squeaking. I returned this hunk of junk. There is a reason the reel is cheap but claims to be pro level. This reel is worse than any big box stores cheapest bait caster. Seriously. Dont let the cool factor reel you in.