KastKing Megatron Spinning Reel, Freshwater and Saltwater Spinning Fishing Reel, Rigid Aluminum Frame 7+1 Double-Shielded Stainless-Steel BB, Over 30 lbs. Carbon Drag, CNC Aluminum Spool & Handle

Hard to beat for its affordability and quality construction. The reel I used before this was Kastking Spartacus, another quality reel. Upon taking this reel out of the box, I immediately notice how light and smooth it is. When mounted on the rod, the clearance is plenty and that the spool doesn't hit my fingers. Thanks to its spool design, any knot you use to line this reel, your line won't slip around. Haven't fought a decent fish with this reel yet, but first impressions are highly positive. From it's sleek and light design, smooth action and just good general feeling when holding it.

Honestly, this is such a great reel. I’ve used it for everything from small freshwater trout to saltwater surf fishing. So far, I’ve landed three striped bass over 20 inches in the past 23 days with no issues. I’ve even had to rinse it in saltwater when it got covered in sand, and it’s shown no signs of rust. I always try to rinse my gear after fishing, but even on the days I forget, it still performs great. Not heavy, smooth reeling, casts great, and drag is solid either way this bigger fish. (3000 reel

Gear ratios range between 4.5:1 and 5:1, with the smaller reel spool sizes sporting a surprisingly impressive 33lbs of drag. They can tackle larger gamefish with a much lower price tag.\ Made from a durable, lightweight aluminum body, stainless steel shaft, and brass gears, this unit will survive the harsh saltwater fishing environments avoiding corrosion over years of serious use. Added to this the Kastking Megatron comes with 7+1 double shielded stainless steel bearings providing further protection against the elements. Retrieve feels smooth, albeit not as smooth as my Dawai BG Spinning Reel, but at this price point, it works admirably. Drag feels strong with the Megatron providing a triple disk carbon fiber drag system to do all the heavy lifting. With up to 46lbs of drag available on larger models this reel is home to all the stopping power you could ever require. Kastking has undoubtedly proven they know how to make high-quality equipment for low budget wallets with the Megatron ready to tackle large gamefish in any conditions. A perfect starting point for those new to saltwater fishing or on a tight budget. The market for saltwater fishing reels under $100 is fierce, and the Megatron not only competes well in that category but will perform alongside your higher budget reels too.

I needed a good budget reel for guests on my boat, so I purchased this reel after reading a bunch of reviews on it and visiting the KastKing website. I must say, so far it is living up to everything I read about it. The fit and finish on the reel seems to be of good quality and is comparable to some of my much more expensive reels. I have not yet fished with it so there will likely be a follow to this review in the near future. As of now, I can confirm that the build quality is good, the materials seem to be of decent quality and the reel feels smooth and casts well. It is of course the 6000 size and I've spooled it with 300 yards of 30lb braid and there is ample room for more line if needed! I'll be using this one for a combination of inshore and offshore fishing here in the gulf, primarily targeting Redfish, Cobia, Snapper and maybe the occasional small blacktip or spinner shark. I have it mounted on a 6'6" fast action, heavy spinning rod with plenty of backbone for the larger catches! Now I just need the weather to cooperate! I'll update this review a bit later, but for now, based on first impressions, I would definitely buy again and would recommend this reel to anyone looking for a good quality budget reel. Thanks for reading!

It looks and feels well made, but I've not used it yet.

Used 2 of these for crab snaring. 6000 size. While a bit smaller than other brand 6000 size reels, these held their own just fine. If anything I appreciate the smaller size and lighter weight reel. Smooth reeling, easy to use, holds a lot of line to size, casts without issue, all in a smaller size than typical. Even with 2-3 crabs on one snare, they don’t hold me back reeling them in from 60-80 yards of surf and beach. Only thing I have to wait for is their longevity, surf casting has killed everything I have used in the past. Only time and rust will tell if these were a worthy purchase. I do my best to maintain my equipment, but most reels last 3-4 seasons max before the bearings rust through and they die! I’m hoping these two 6000s last! So far I’m impressed.

I'm using this reel on my catfish rod. Previously I've broken several reels fishing flathead. Body flex from fighting 40lbs+ cats will wreck a reel quickly. This 6000 Megatron reel has a full aluminum body with absolutely no flex. It's a far better reel for the money than you'd assume from the price. I've had this reel on 5 trips so far and caught a significant number of good size fish as well as a few over 40lbs and even one 90lbs alligator gar. So far this reel is handling the fish as well as the abuse from backpacking the river banks. I certainly abuse the reel but I also wash oil and grease it after use. Hope this review helps.

THE PRO's. I picked up the reel about 4 months ago. Out of the box, it looks awesome. The 3000 is a smaller size reel with a deep spool. I liked that it was compact and paired nicely with the KastKing Perigee II 7ft MH rod. Performed well, I liked the metal body and it felt strong when reeling in 5-10 lb sheepheads and sea trout that I caught on it. THE CONS. The reel started hesitating after a hour or so of fishing in saltwater with multiple retrieves and fish. After a freshwater rinse it would seem to get better but, each time out after the first hour or so it started sticking again. The saltwater must be entering from under the spool getting the spray. I've never submerged the reel and rinsed it with fresh water after using. I had a similar issue with the valiant eagle reel from kast king. Also, I began noticing the finish peeling/flaking off which I assume is another issue with the saltwater and the metal body. Overall, great reel. Super strong, great drag and very smooth when it's working properly. BUT!! It's not Saltwater ready. Look for a reel that is SEALED. Kast King offers the Spartacus 2 in a sealed version and the sharky 3 with a water resistant channeling feature called KISS. I may try one of those. For now I got a deal on a penn combo to replace the megatron. While not the smoothest they seem to hold up better to the saltwater.