Reel Repair by Alan Tani

I have a Kastking Centron 2000 in the yak,I bought on a black Friday deal 5 years ago.I was curious has anyone else tried them.It works pretty good for leaving out in the weather year round.Ball bearings out the yin yang,with instant AR.Am I the only KK owner,please don't be embarrassed...

I do freshwater and primarily Muskie reels. I've serviced a few and they're a pretty solid reel. Worth the money I think. Basically a bass reel as I've encountered cracks in the frames from heavy Muskie fishing..

not really.  there are alot of very inexpensive reels out there.  i just wouldn't set your expectations too high.

My son just gave me a Kastking Zyphyr bait casting reel ,It's a very light reel under 5 oz .I don't think it can handle 3 lbs bass but it's OK for crappie , I like to use bait casting to use jigs under float

Under 5oz? Man how lite can reels get?

Very light Gfish ,this one belong to my son in law ,it's better built than mine with Magnesium flame and feel stronger .He caught a bunch of white bass few week ago

not at all. 

The kastking zephyr reel is a bfs reel. Bait finesse system for throwing 1-5 gram lures. It has about 7lbs of drag. It's a trend for fresh water bass fishing in heavily fished areas. I have been trying for saltwater fishing micro jigs for porgies and fluke.. Very effective. As far as my freshwater very light braid at six pounds for perch and chain pickerel using 1/8 plugs with success when nothing is biting bigger artificials.

I don't feel the love for their low profile reels all that much, but I am sort of a fan of their Rover line of round reels, or at least the small end. I already have a Black Max and a delightful little reel made by Piscifun that is great for flipping small baits and costed me chimp change. I may try one of the small KK reels some day but usually in that category of fishing, I go with a small or medium size spinner. I have a KK rod too, and it's okay for the price, not total junk but nothing special.

I have two model 40 Kast King reels, the smallest of the Rovers, and I also have a 60. In that price category, I think they definitely beat all the other Chinese reels in quality. The 40 is about right for bassing when you have to muscle lunkers our of stumps and bosquillos and drowned trees. Not bad for light saltwater redfish or flounder or trout chasing, and okay for catfishing where you don't expect to be getting bites from record size cats. It is what it is, and it's not what it's not. Casts okay, too. My 60 is what I would regard as a more serious deep river, deep lake catfisher or a light surf reel because of the greater line capacity. The 40, 50, and 60 sizes are all identical except that the spool and frame width are greater, the bigger the number. They have centrifugal brakes only, but there is room for magnets if you want to add them yourself. When you get up to the 70 and above, it is a somewhat different reel, bigger diameter sides and spool, presumably stronger. I haven't used any of those bigger reels, 70 through 90, but I am guessing they would be okay as up & downers, or for light trolling offshore.

For a tightly budgeted fisherman who wants to fish like the big boys, the ones I have used are pretty good. There is a natural bias toward nicer reels here, yeah, but nobody is going to tease you or tell you that you don't belong here, for using a reel from China. OTOH nobody is going to recommend one without disclaiming that they are not as strong nor as durable as most more expensive reels. Also, don't expect KK parts to be widely available for your reel, 30 years from now, just my guess. They are not meant to be your forever reel. They are meant to get you started and through a season or 5, after which you start saving your lunch money to get a new one. Also with even these better Chinese reels, you could get a lemon. I have not. I am told that some guys have. Buyer beware but don't be ashamed.

Never used one but some of the guys on the NE F&G forum claim that you get what you've paid for. 

I been  the zephyr for awhile like I need it...I Have said before Midway,they aint Cardinals

Just set up zephyr with Shimano Cumara ML with 6 lb mono ,will try it out this weekend for crappie

QT off topic wish I could see or get details of your slipper bobber rig.I dont use them with jigs but that looks interesting

My goto jig:

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/lake-fork-trophy-lures-sickle-tail-baby-shad

Black Pearl color has the most natural action & color of any crappie jig I ever used.Infused with garlic,you must keep the pack closed they will smell up a room.I have caught crappie,bass,bream,& 1 catfish with these guys.

I'd been using slip bobber with jig for more than 30 years ,also great for kids on live bait that they can cast very far .It fly out straight like a dart
I will write how to make them and also need some more for next season .All kids that I took them to fishing grow up to be good and success person ,stay away from drugs