Thread: KastKing Kestrel 1000 SFS

Sounds like a great reel

I spent about an hour with the new reel this afternoon.
I spooled it up with my favorite line , 2# P-Line Floroclear and mounted it on an older model 5’6” St Croix Trout Seriee rod .
The rod is similar to the one I’ve ordered specifically for this reel , a 5’6” St Croix Avid ULF2 .
The new rod is scheduled to be delivered tomorrow.
I took the combo out to my driveway for a few casts with a 1/64 Trout Magnet jig and TM body .
Trying to time the breeze this afternoon I was able to get 58’-59’ feet consistently. With one cast about six inches short of sixty feet.
The reel feels like a quality reel , from the click when I open the the bail , to the smooth wobble free handle and spool when winding .
The the only con I find on this reel is the gear ratio , a 6.2/1 . I would have been happier with a 4.9/1 .
I expected it be hard to start up when winding due to the fast gearing, but it’s rather easy to wind .
I think KastKing has built an ultralight contender .
We’ll see . I hope to take it fishing at the Town pond tomorrow morning for a couple hours . Hopefully I can find one of the shellcrackers that swim in there and give this reel a workout .
BTW , the 10/1 stainless steel double shielded ball bearing carbon body reel has a carbon disc drag .
Oh yeah , I almost forgot , it only weighs 4.6oz.
I took a picture of it with a Daiwa Fuego LT 1000 on top and a Shimano Sahara 500 on the bottom.
Like the new Daiwa Presso , it’s made in China , but at almost a third of the price.
And if I find I don’t like it , I’ve got thirty days to return it.
More pics tomorrow, hopefully with fish .

Sweet! Looking forward to your success posting.

Good looking reels

Looks good and fits into the group size pretty well. I’m looking forward to hearing how it works. Lots lighter than the Sahara, but they keep reaching out to me too. I’ve already have a few of those in the bigger sizes and they do very well.

Congrats!


Regards

An update on my KastKing Kestrel SFS reel.
I liked the Kestrel’s super lightweight and smoothness, so I bought a second .
I’m bad about buying things I like in twos .
Well , I’m not as happy with the second purchase .
It has a defect and is going back .
Thing one has a bump at the top and the bottom of the spool cycle . Similar to what I experienced with my Shimano Ultegra LT , except the Ultegra sticks at the bottom of the spool cycle.
Very annoying when slow cranking a small spinner or swimming a light jig .
Poor quality control or just my bad luck !
I can find the lemon in a group .

I can find them also