Sougayilang Fishing Baitcasting Reels, 8:1 Gear Ratio Super Smooth Baitcast Reel with Magnetic Braking System, 9 + 1 Ball Bearings Anti-Corrosion Baitcaster Reel review and price compare 2025

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Product overview

Brand	Sougayilang
Material	Aluminum
Hand Orientation	Right Hand
Color	Right hand
Handle Material	Stainless Steel
Bearing Material	Stainless Steel

product features

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1 YEAR SUPPORT-- We give 100% heart to our customers, so whatever the problem you have, as long as you ask for help about our products, Sougayilang will help you solve it within 24 hours!
LIGHT AND STRONG -- Red and black color anodized CNC machined aluminum forged spool offers maximum strength while reducing weight. 1-10 magnetic brake system makes easier for fighting with fishes.
EXTRAORDINARY DESIGN -- A Swing-Wing side cover offers a conveniently with a design according to ergonomic principles, it will still attach to the fish reel although it is opened.
TRUSTWORTHY -- Sougayilang provides you a fantastic baitcast reel with comfortable rubber wood handle, which equips 10 dependable, stainless-steel bearings, an instant anti-reverse system, which can use both in freshwater and saltwater.
EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE -- The black and red stylish decent design bait caster reel with a super silent high speed gear ratio 8.0:1 line retrieve.

Product Description

Product Details:

Gear ratio: 8:1
Max Drag: 18lb
Weight: 7.4oz
Ball Bearings: 9+1 Stainless Steel
Line Capacity (mm/m): 0.235mm-190m 0.285mm-150m 0.330mm-130m

Sougayilang MDC Baitcasting Reel

Light and compact body, more suitable for long distance casting and more suitable for Americans.
The side cover is designed to connect to the fishing reel, so that there is no need to worry about accidental shedding.

Black and red appearance design is full of fashion.
it is suitable for different fishing many places, like lakeside, pond, stream, riverside.


There are ten button magnets reasonable placed. The mature magnetic braking system provide a longer casting with good stability, and the effective braking will prevent the backlash, so that the novices also can do without fear!	10 high quality ball bearings can provide a longer life of the baitcast reel. Best quality and service is always our ultimate goal to achieve. So you can buy it with confident. Abrasion resistance, smooth and waterproof, giving you the ultimate silent experience.	Titanium-plated magnetic ring, high-speed O-type line guide, reducing outlet resistance. Excellent wear-resistance and heat dissipation performance, more smooth to pay off and take up the line. Longer throwing distance, reduce the probability of backlash.


Star drag can achieve speed and power balance, and can calmly deal with big fish. It is smoother which general operation lever does not have, turn easily and adjust simple.	Aviation aluminum alloy material, precision CNC technology, lightweight spool, the inertia of the spool in casting greatly improve the distance and feeling.	8:1 high speed ratio, can quickly recover the bait, quickly find the target fish. Fishing more quickly and can effectively control back to fish, improve the efficiency and pleasure of fishing.



Gear ratio	8.0:1	8.0:1	8.0:1	8.0:1	8.0:1	8.0:1
Weight(OZ)	7.4	7.3	7.4	7.4	7.4	.4
Ball bearings	9+1	9+1	9+1	9+1	9+1	9+1
Max Drag(LB)	18	18	18	18	25	25
Hand	Left/Right handle	Left/Right handle	Left/Right handle	Left/Right handle	Left/Right handle	Left/Right handle

product description

product details

Date First Available ‏ : ‎ November 3, 2019
Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Sougayilang
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07ZYNFVWK

important information

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Questions about Sougayilang Fishing Baitcasting Reels, 8:1 Gear Ratio Super Smooth Baitcast Reel with Magnetic Braking System, 9 + 1 Ball Bearings Anti-Corrosion Baitcaster Reel

is this reel's frame composite plastic or a metal alloy?

Answer: It's both plastic and medal little heavy but reels very smooth tension knob is very sensitive too overall great budget reel

Answer: Metal Alloy

Answer: Metal its really nice so far

Answer: Hello, in its description it is described as being aluminum. Although I have not had a decent chance to fish with it I can tell you that it feels solid. It has good weight to it and feels very sturdy. If you decide to purchase, I don't think you will be disappointed....and tight lines to you!

how much drag have that reel?

Answer: 18lbs max drag according to the description. Ordered one today.

Answer: No manuals so not sure, but I use it for pitching /flipping. Just got back from the lake, didn't lose any fish.

Where do you order replacement parts.

Answer: I would say you cannot order parts. This model has changed already, updated some way. Trying to locate the correct model number and such....Its a cheap, it is a great reel though, I will just toss it out.

How do you open the cover to remove spool? I like the reel but I see no way to open the cover to access the spool reel.

Answer: The black dial on the non handle side has arrows showing the direction to turn it to unlock or lock the side plate. When you close it back up, turn it the opposite way to lock it down.

Answer: Push in the brake dial on left hand side and press side plate forward I believe.

Where is this reel made at?

Answer: This reel is made in China.

Answer: China most likely. Spend the extra and get a shimano 150 slx. They make a wierd sound when you retrieve it.

Answer: China

Answer: China, on the box.

Is it possible to order extra spools? Would be great to switch lines.

Answer: Please contact us, we can send you a new spool if you can provide your order number.

would this fir a medium ugly stik gx2 ?

Answer: We suggest you buy it, you can return it if it can't be work for your rod.

Answer: Yes..

can be used in salt water ok or not

Answer: I would say no salt water. I use it fir flipping in fresh water. It doesn't come with any instructions so if you wanted to take it apart and clean it, so you're on your own.

Answer: It says in the feature list that it can be used in salt water. I would recommend cleaning it after each trip to prevent corrosion.

Need the number to customer service?

Answer: I could never find the number to customer service, sorry

What is the retrieve rate of this reel/ what is the ipt? (inch per turn) ?

Answer: 8:1 and I think 32 " per turn

How do i get parts that are missing on reel?

Answer: They sent them to me by accident. Wanna come over?

Test line?

Answer: There is no line that comes with the reel I just put 8 pound mono on the reel.

Answer: My son uses it for 10lb, for tossing under docks. Works great.

Got mine tonight, out of the box when reeling it, it would make a ratcheting sound and was not silent/smooth. Is this normal or do I need to replace?

Answer: It should not make any noise mine was very smooth

Is this strong enough for jigging or trolling for lake trout?

Answer: Yes I use mine for lake fork texas bass

Answer: yes it is great reel

Answer: Yes it’s very sturdy

So why do the have lighting bolt ss for thier marking? Jw

Answer: Glad you said lighting bolt. They look like SS from the Nazis' to me. Also they come with NO manuals. I have no idea about the logo. Reel works great. I use it for pitching /flipping.

Answer: What you see is not SS but the 2 thick lines that make the S insignia of a Sougayilang Reel. Ya kinda have to read between the lines...for reel. Sorry.

where is it made

Answer: Seriously?? China, it works very well. Well worth the cost, which is cheap. Seems well made. Takes abuse from my 10year old.

Answer: china. Just about all fishing reels are these days :-(

Answer: Brazil worth every penny

Do some baitcasting reels (as opposed to spinning reels) have the kind of two-drag "bait runner" system that is seen on many spinning reels?

Answer: On a baitcaster there may be a lever or a button that will sound off if a fish is running away with the bait. But, on a baitcaster if you want a baitfeeder setup, you first click the freespool *casting) button or lever to free the spool, then set the clicker. As soon as to crank the handle, the spool resets and the drag takes over and you can fight the fish.

Answer: This particular reel does not have that feature. I have seen much larger reels with a lever to shift drag speed but they were for big game sea fishing.

What Is the magnetic brake max setting ?

Answer: This is the best reel I have ever bought, This reel is as good as my Shamano calis reels which cost $400.00 the braking system on this reel is amazing

Answer: If I understand your question, the max brake setting is 10. The knob has a little white dot to indicate where it is and it clicks to let you know how much you've moved it.

Flip switch

Answer: No Flip Switch

Is this a strong, reliable reel for , bass, (smaller)catfish,

Answer: Yes, for sure. I have mine on a very light, collapsible rod and it's too springy. A light or medium light, 6.5-7" is best I think. I have lightweight spiderwire braid and that works well. This is a great value reel, but make sure to tune it properly for the best experience.

Answer: Yes it is. Great reel. Cant go wrong.

Answer: I asked my husband. The reels were for him. He said yes, good for that.

Answer: My son liked it very much. Seems to last well. We'll see if he keeps with fishing. Didn't want to spend a lot for spinner reel as he never used them before. Well worth the money. Real good foe lite duty fishing.

Answer: I use it as a flipping reel. I've had no problems getting fish out of heavy cover.

Answer: Smallmouth Bass

Answer: tried to see how it would work. was not happy with the drag system.

I use my left hand to reel and cast with my right hand....so which version do I buy? I am assuming the left hand?

Answer: Hi, Thank you so much for your choice!

Can you use this reel for muskie fishing

Answer: For dedicated no, but you for sure can catch muskie with it and a 7 foot jigging rod. I caught two muskie on a 3000 spinning reel and a small swimbait in two hours last year.

Answer: I have never fished for muskie, but this reel probably does not hold enough heavy line for casting big baits for large fish. A 300 size reel might be a better choice.

Answer: lol, good luck. It is well made but a 36" Muskie might just push it's lil spool to the limit.

Answer: yes I love this reel

Answer: Yes it has a fast gear ratio

where can i get parts for sougayilang baitcaster er kw150r

Answer: Please contact us on amazon. Click the ASK A QUESTION

Why won't the spool tension knob work haven't been able to use the reel

Answer: You have to “please” each time you use the reel. It’s detailed in the manual.

missing parts?

Answer: I found them, Wanna come get them?

What is the black key ring thing that comes with it?

Answer: I don't know man, I didn't get one with mine. If it is a small black ring, it is an extra washer for the drag system.

Answer: That is just used to tie to end of fishing line so the line does not got through the eye of the reel and back on the the spool. This way you don't need to keep resetting the line back through the little hole. So it's used during storage of your reel.

where to find Replacement reel knobs

Answer: Try the Sougayilang store at AliExpress. Not sure, but good place to try

Dose it come pre spooled?

Answer: unfortunately they don't. come with line.

Answer: It is a new baitcasting reel without line, it has a line keeper. You can see the picture 2 about the line keeper.

Answer: No it does not

Why isn't there a customer service contact?

Answer: Because they don’t want to talk you.

Does it come pre spooled?

Answer: Yes but they use strands of an extremely thin monofilament, so so so thin. Almost like it’s not even there.

i bought a SE S804M 8 ft rod for my son for christmas. we used ot for the first time this weekend snd the rod snapped. i would like this replaced

Answer: Ok, send it to back.

Is there suppose to be a washer and a rubber washer in the spool tensioning knob?

Answer: I had same question by my dog Rosie said no need. It’s a simple friction knob. Her rod doesn’t have one.

What is the max drag?

Answer: 25lbs

how do i adjust the brakes on this reel?

Answer: The star drag just behind the handle that set line drag when you have a fish on. There is also a setting that set drag on the reel when casting (it’s on the face opposite the handle) this helps to slow down the spool to prevent birds nests. This is a little tricky at first and need to be fine tuned for what is at the end of your line.

Answer: I adjust the spool tension know first. Then use the brake dial until the bait falls very slowly. Hope this helps. I use mine mainly for flipping.

Answer: On the side of the reel the black knob turn it clock wise to put on the brake.

What braided line would be best for this reel??

Answer: 25 to 30 lbs braid works good for this reel!!

Answer: I use Hercules 50 lb black braid no problems so far

How to contact customer service?

Answer: Call, email, or chat

Is the notch head replacement availabl? I bought it a week ago and just deceived it today and already lost that part I do have a warranty.?

Answer: Good luck with parts. I could never locate correct model number and they change them all the time.

What is the lightest lure weight for these reels ?

Answer: I'm not exactly sure. I use the reel for flipping.

Answer: As for most baitcaster reels id stick with heavier baits like 6” soft plastics, crank baits, etc.

what is the drag stack made of?

Answer: These are most likely carbon, a lot of today's reels are using carbon fiber instead of leather washers.

How much 40# braided will this take? Wanting to do some shore Lingcod fishing

Answer: 40# braid is equivalent to 12# mono. I put 125 yard of 10# mono. So you should be able to fit so least 100 yds

Why does the product description show a multi stack carbon fiber drag? I took mine apart and it has a single rubber disk?

Answer: Because it is a Chinese product. Just read the description of it on the Amazon app. Will not answer what you are asking, but give you an idea why I say this.

How do you open Cover switch to remove the spool to add new line ?

Answer: Twist black lock counter clock wise. The black piece where your tension is is actually a lock. You turn it left to unlock. You will fill it when it does. It's not come off like a usual casting reel, where you have to keep twisting till it comes off. Once it unlocks, it should pop open. Word of advice for first time use. It spins very freely when you cast. I suggest you start on highest tension and work your way down to lower setting.

Answer: The metal rod that runs across the top of the spool needs to be turned to the left to unscrew from the spool cover.

What line capacity do I need for a 5’8’’ pole

Answer: I usually use mono line 10 or 12 pound test. I put about 110 yards of 12 pound test on it. Heaver line it would hold less and lighter line more.

Answer: Sorry I don't know I thought the reel as a gift

Product reviews of Sougayilang Fishing Baitcasting Reels, 8:1 Gear Ratio Super Smooth Baitcast Reel with Magnetic Braking System, 9 + 1 Ball Bearings Anti-Corrosion Baitcaster Reel

Mike Parsons : Made with cheap components which caused the reel to fail.

First time I used it First had a big Bass explode on top of water I set the hook handle fell off lost the fish and the handle to my brand-new real repaired that myself. Had a few trips later the insert on the line guard broke in half which caused the line to fray every cast and every retrieve making it virtually worthless. Price point intrigued me but you get what you pay for junk components

Daxenoz : NOT A VALUE

TWICE WHAT IT SHOULD COST

Eric Fisher : Works great

Reel works great was a lil sceptical but no fear this thing rocks

Ellie C. : Awesome Reel and value

I really like this reel. The settings dial on very well. I have been able to cast lures from 1/10 oz up to 1 oz and it will handle with ease and no backlash. I the magnetic drag is very sensitive and allowed the wide range of lure weights. I was casting a 1/10 oz jig head 50 ft easily. I fished it side by side up against my abu Garcia blackmaxx and I prefer the sougayilang. It’s settings dial in better and reels smoother. I think I’ll be buying another soon. This quality at this price range for me can’t be beat.

Dech S. : Excellent pro quality reel for the money

Unexpectedly great quality for the price. On par with or better than some $100 reels. The 10-magnet brake allow for surprisingly long casts without backlashes. Low profile and a good fit in my hands. Caught many fish and still going strong.

DJ Cameron : So nice I bought it twice!

Great reel for the price! I have some thick slick braid spoiled up and I can cast a country mile with it. Make sure to always figure out your prefers cast setting whether using the spool tension or free spoiling with thumb break. It’s a great reel to get people starting on baitcasters. I love the cork finger grips and the reel itself is pretty light.

STANLEY WIELGORZ : Million dollar reel for pennies

I will be using it this weekend at a short cast it was great liked the stop action.

Travis Clark : Trash

Absolutely horrible I'll never buy this garbage again

Jeff M. : Light, fast but uncomfortable on the palm of your hand.

Very fast retrieve & low profile on the rod. Grips are similar to that of the older shimano reels. The awkward brake adjustment on the side of the reel will eventually start to get annoying if you grip your reel firmly like I do & is a rather uncomfortable fit in the hand for an extended period of time.

martino : This is a quality reel and as good or better than some of my $400.00 reels

The quality of this reel blows my mind it is as good if not better than some of my $400.00 reels

Cynthia Sierra Acosta : Not worth it

Broke after 2nd use will not reel back.

D.W. : Beware.....

The first time I used it a handle came off....Customer service is sending a replacement....BUT THEN the worm shaft keeps grinding and hard to reel in line....Very upset and hopefully they will replace the reel for me!!!....UPDATE.....They replaced my reel!!!!......OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!!!!!

Felix J. : Reel nice for the price

Right out of the box. I think it’s a great reel for the price. It’s nice and smooth. I definitely like the cork handles. I Matched it up with a kalex XR3 baitcast rod. I will be writing another review after I take it out a few times.
Been a few weeks already took it out a handful of times already. A great beginner reel. I have been looking at other reviews and have seen a lot of fuss about the line getting in between the spool and inner part of the reel. It has happened a few times. Just had to make sure the spool tensioner was adjusted correctly. If the spool is to loose and your able to move the spool from side to side even just a bit the line can and will get in between and can be a problem getting the line out. But if you tighten the tensioner it can take care of the problem. All in all I am satisfied with the product.

Tebra : Son loves it!

My son, an avid fisherman, bought this reel. He's been using it for a couple months. He is very happy with it! Says he loves how lightweight it is and easy to reel. Says he will definitely buy another.

WalkingDeadJedi : No fear here!!

Fantastic reel for the money. No regerts!!

TC : Nick named Spider

Put into action today, it’s light wait and smooth to cast and retrieve

henry escajeda : Workmanship

Awesome quality

Daxenoz : NOT A VALUE

TWICE WHAT IT SHOULD COST

N. Flake : Fantastic Reel for a great price

This thing is smooth, operates as smooth as a more expensive reel.

MikeyHoover : Low Expectations....

I didn’t have high expectations for a sub-$50 baitcasting reel. I have dozens of rod and reel combos and literally fish almost EVERY DAY. I have made over 2500 casts with this reel since I bought it. I’m running it on a 7’ MH Dobyns rod. It took a few dozen casts to get the reel dialed in and stop back lashing. But after the initial setup, I’ve had ZERO issues that are due to the reel and not mistakes on my part. Make no mistake, this is not a $500 Shimano, but you absolutely can not beat VALUE FOR MONEY!!! I tend to use this reel more than any other currently in my boat. I have it spooled with 30lb 8 strand braid to a 10lb copoly leader. You can’t go wrong with buying this. Take the time to set it up right and you’ll have 1000s of casts before any major maintenance is needed. If you need a baitcasting reel on the cheap, BUY IT!

Christopher Cornell : Very good reel

Very easy to set reel for the lure weight. Very balanced

Upthehillcreations : Best casting reel under 100$

No doubt the best casting reel under 100 dollars. The 10 magnet system is nice, makes casting easy. If you're looking to get into baitcasting reels and not sure this is the one to try first.

gary g. : 8to1 awsome

made identical to a revo awsome reel smoke buzz bait
would refer to friends

Louise : It's a good product

Like every thing about it

Louise : It's a good product

Like every thing about it

Martin Blanchard : Fast shipping

Smooth reel fits the hand very well cast well.

Andrea : Great deal!

My son, who LOVES fishing, bought this reel. He says it is a great reel and worth the money he paid. Fast shipping with prime.

Chastyfreeze : Ill buy another

I dont know much about baitcasters, but i purchased this one alongside the Abu Garcia Black max and i can tell you that without a doubt this is a better reel in all categories. Its build stronger, casts further, and is much more operator ergonomic than the black max. This reel really surprised me in quality.

José Hugo Gonzalez : Muy complejo de trabajar

Se le enreda el sedal

Gabe robinson : Birdnest maker

So the reel looks good and has some neat features but other than that it didn't really perform like it should have I've used baicasters for a solid 4 years and know how to use one. That being said this thing was prone to birdnesting the tension knob honestly sucked I had to tighten it basically all the way just to make it a little easier for myself but even doing that about every cast was a birds nest and it kinda ruined my fishing trip. I don't know if it was just my reel or not but yea based on what my experience is I wouldn't recommend

Amazon Customer : This reel is not as good as it seems to be.

I order this reel in left handed and I used this reel once for like 5 minutes and it was not casting verry well and it is not very smooth ( it says that the reel is 9+1 ball bearings but it actually should be 2+1) I AM VERY DISAPOINTED And I Plan To Return This Item. I do not recommend this item ☹️????????

Upthehillcreations : Best casting reel under 100$

No doubt the best casting reel under 100 dollars. The 10 magnet system is nice, makes casting easy. If you're looking to get into baitcasting reels and not sure this is the one to try first.

DJ Cameron : So nice I bought it twice!

LauraG : Great reel for the money

That It looks to me like it's the same as the kast king yoyal legend elite in 8:1 probably built by the same company. The difference is more brakes on this reel

Eric S. : I would buy it again for the low cost.

If you don't have the right fishing line and it set just right. A lot of lures will be lost in casting. I only use bait casting reels and this one is very sensitive to line. Spiderwire is on it now and is working great.

Kindle Customer : Better instructions

Looks like a good reel/ Instructions printed on tiny card-pretty colors but impossible to read. New to fishing.No explanation of how to load fishing line.
No response from customer support. Disappointed.

Ron F. : Not a smooth reel

Out of the box the reel seems fine and well constructed. However, after using it for a couple of weeks the reel started to make "grinding" sounds on the retrieve and was not smooth. I only used it a few times in fresh water. Returned (thanks Amazon).

Josiah mccoy : Definitely worth it!

This bait caster by far is amazing! I love the the feel of it. No backlash and it’s easy to tune! Idk if this is just luck but I caught a fish I’m on the first cast and it was 4lbs largemouth and it help very well! No lock ups or anything. I’m very pleased with the price and the quality of this reel. I highly recommend this! Have fun fishing!

Amazon Customer : Smooth Reel

Not bad for a 40 dollar baitcaster reel that really list for 100 bucks on there website ,its there top of the line reel with some nice features like the cork handles, 8 to 1 gear ratio very fast, easy to adjust the braking system cast really well gears seem to be okay but I highly recommend all you users to take it apart and throw a little oil on the bearings being there stainless steel, I may only using it for inshore fishing spotted bay bass, halibut,corvina, barracudas white sea bass ect. With 18 lb of drag is strong, the drags really touchy though so make sure you adjust it accordingly 25% of the line strength and and like some of the reviews I've read it's pretty much a copy of the cast king royal elite series with a couple upgrades so I highly recommend you first time users the purchase is real and keep fishing never stop. Back for review number two after fishing is real for 4 months it is not really saltwater worthy it could be if you take it apart every time you use it because the problem is that the washer that sits on top of the drag washer is not stainless steel so what happens is even if you wash it off every time you use it in the saltwater the freshwater will sit inside the reel on top of the non-stainless steel washer and start rusting the drag washer and rust the brass gear so you can use it in salt water but make sure you know what you're doing when you take it apart and clean the insides grease the washers grease the drag washers put grease on the pinion shafts because they will make noise after a while a squeaky noise it seems like all cheap reels that I've bought especially even cascade will do that too if you don't fully take it apart after you use it in the salt water

Matthew Wilson : Good reel.

As well as being ready to adjust, this reel was inexpensive and head held up wonderfully. My only complaint is that I don't particularly care for the color. 100% would buy again.

Jeimy Sucelly Huber : Easily broke apart

Broke after first use - within 30 mins

Lindsay Taylor : Great value, does exactly what I need it to

First off, I didn't get this product for free, nor was I asked to write a review. I also waited until I had a chance to use the reel before writing this review. I also want to add that I've now used this reel on 3 occasions, so I can't really speak on longevity or durability. Also, to qualify myself, I'll mention that I normally DO NOT go cheap on fishing gear. I own 10+ Shimano reels (Curado, Chronarch CI4+, Calcutta), and 5+ Lew's reels (BBZ1, Tournament Pro, Speed Spool), and have them paired on Loomis, Dobyns, Powell, Falcon rods.
I purchased this reel specifically for throwing lipless crankbaits and swim jigs. I didn't want to spend a ton of money on a reel that won't get used year round. I wanted the fast line retrieve for ripping lipless out of grass. After you rip a lipless, it's important to be able to quickly catch back up to your lure before it falls back in the grass. I'm telling you this so you understand what I do with the reel, because not all uses/techniques are the same. I also use 30lb braid with a mono leader.
Casting - I can cast this thing a mile. Again, I'm throwing a 3/8 - 1/2 oz lipless bait, which are amongst the easiest lures to cast. How this reel would do throwing a 1/4 oz crankbait, I don't know, but I'd guess it may be a little tougher. I was pleasantly surprised with how well it casts (I'm not a beginner, so there was no learning curve. If you've never thrown a baitcast reel, expect to be frustrated no matter what reel you buy).
Smoothness - It's OK in this department. Not the smoothest for sure, but for working a heavy bait quickly it does just fine. I can slightly hear and feel the gears moving when I retrieve a cast, but not grinding or anything like that. It's about what I'd expect from a reel in this price point. If you want a "buttery" smooth reel, you're going to pay a lot more money. I know, I have them. They're fun to fish, and you just marvel at how smooth they are. However, there's one thing they don't do any better than this reel...and that's catch fish! This reel will cast a lure and retrieve a fish the same as any of my other high dollar reels.
Drag - I'm just going to say it, the drag is not smooth. If you plan on using light line and needing to really play a fish, you may want a smoother drag (you could probably upgrade the drag washers). I'm using braid and have the drag locked down pretty tight, so this isn't an issue for me. The drag settings are also very fast, meaning there are fewer settings. With a few clicks of the drag dial, you go from loose to tight (again, for me this is great, but not so much if you really need to fine tune). How durable the drag is if you use it a lot, I can't say. I'd guess it won't last too long if you're getting line peeled by big stripers or something. A drag upgrade might fix that, but again, not my territory.
Braking - I didn't really play with this a lot. I typically set mine very loose and use my thumb to control the spool. There is an exterior brake adjustment, and I assume it works OK. I'm guessing it probably doesn't have a ton of adjustments, similar to the drag.
Fit & Finish - This reel feels great in the hand. I like the handle knobs, they're very comfortable. Nothing stood out to me either way, it's a reel and feels like a reel. I'm not one of those guys that says "it just didn't feel good in my hand." I guess if you fish tournaments everyday, this might come in to play, but for an average Joe I doubt you'll feel a difference in hand between this reel and a top dollar reel. I have it paired on a Falcon Bucoo 7' med heavy rod. It feels just fine to me, and I didn't really notice any difference between this reel or the Lew's BBZ1 I had on there previously (as far as balance, etc..)

Another thing I'll mention, is that I did remove the bearings and strip the old oil before using the reel. I always remove the stock oil/grease and start fresh. I find that most, if not all, reels come packed with too much oil. You only need one drop of oil, or a touch of grease on a bearing. How well it would have casted before I did this, I'm not sure. I assume for a heavy bait it would have done just fine. There are also 2 different size bearings. The bearing on the outside plate is a standard size (same size you'll find in a Curado or Lew's), but the bearing under the spool tension cap is smaller (and looks less quality). A bearing upgrade would probably do wonders for this reel. If I were going to use this for lighter baits, I probably would upgrade the bearings.

Final thoughts: I'm very happy with this reel. Again, if I were going to be using light line, trying to cast light baits, or consistently fight big fish needing a lot of drag, I'd probably go a little higher quality. For heavier baits, and not using a lot of drag, this thing is excellent. You aren't going to say "Oh my gosh, feel how smooth this thing is!" and you probably won't impress anyone. If you just want a reel that will sling a bait way out there and bring it back VERY quickly, this is a great option. I would 100% buy this reel again (any may pick up more if I need additional technique specific setups). Hope this helps.

ivy collins : junk

got two new reels and the drag cap adjustment has gone away cap is all the way down and no drag what so ever and the spools are lose n the reels you can move the back and forth I have used Sougayilang reels for years with no problems but this reel did not work out for me

Rob H : I love this reel!

This bait caster is amazing. It works really well with light or heavy lures. I really feel like it is impossible to birdsnest. Great reel for beginners and pros alike!

Rob_Sancho

TC : Nick named Spider

Put into action today, it’s light wait and smooth to cast and retrieve

Ellie C. : Awesome Reel and value

cullen : Excellent first reel

I lovers it this was my first personal bait casting reel and tbh it was amazing. Went out side and practiced with it for about 2 hours. Got really good with it and am ready to catch some fish.

Lyle waudby : Garbage

This is a small reel and on full reel tightening I can pull the line out very easily. Dont think you could catch small trout on this reel. I recommend not buying it.

Chris S. : Beats my $100 revo x

Amazing reel it’s smoother then my Slx dc that was 200$ and hands down better then my revo x all around ..I also fish this reel and I fish 13 hr days so it gets abused ....great reel I just purchased two more!!!

Matthew Wilson : Good reel.

As well as being ready to adjust, this reel was inexpensive and head held up wonderfully. My only complaint is that I don't particularly care for the color. 100% would buy again.

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