KastKing Spartacus II Baitcasting Fishing Reel, 6oz Ultralight, Super Smooth with 17.6 LB Carbon Fiber Drag, 7.2:1 Gear Ratio, 39mm Palm Perfect Lower Profile Design review and price compare 2025
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Product overview
| Brand | KastKing |
| Material | Reinforced nylon |
| Hand Orientation | Left Hand |
| Color | D:Left-Flash Silver-7.2:1 |
| Handle Material | Stainless Steel |
| Bearing Material | Aluminum |
product features
- by entering your model number.
- NEW DESIGN - The totally new design KastKing Spartacus II baitcasting reel is a warrior! Spartacus II bait casting reels have the dynamic features, an extremely sleek lower profile of only 39 mm, about 10% lower than Spartacus I, and a weight of only 6 ounces for your battle in pursuit of your personal best. Match up one of the four-color patterns to your casting rod for a hot looking baitcasting combo.
- TECHNOLOGY - You will love the exceptional design of the powerful 5 button magnetic brakes (it is so efficient this baitcaster only needs one brake system instead of dual brakes) and the technologically advanced KastKing “Double Tapered Control Chute” Line Guide that reduces line friction for ultimate line control and birds nest reduction. Plus, tournament ready 4-disc carbon fiber drag with 17.6 LBs of trophy fish stopping power, make the Spartacus II baitcast reel a strong contender.
- SMOOTH - A Spartacus II bait casting reel has: superior shielded 7 + 1 corrosion resistant ball bearings, CNC anodized aluminum spool with power launch and aluminum handle for smooth casting, powerful precision machined hardened aluminum main gears, and KastKing logo embossed hi-grade EVA handle knobs. With an aluminum main gear, the reel is only 6 oz. That is unheard of for a reel under $50!
- NO MERCY - A KastKing Spartacus II baitcaster fishing reel with its versatile 7.2:1 gear ratio create an exceptional super low profile bait casting weapon in your fishing tackle collection that will save you money and bring you years of fishing pleasure.
- AFFORDABLE INNOVATION - Go beyond the limits with the new Spartacus II baitcasting reel that is smoother, smaller, lighter, and more powerful than any other brand bait casters in its price range.
This fits your .
Product Description
KastKing Spartacus II Baitcasting Fishing Reel Ultra Smooth 17.6 LB Carbon Fiber Drag
KastKing Spartacus II baitcasting reels are high quality, high performance baitcaster fishing reels at affordable innovation prices. Spartacus II’s sleek compact size and extremely low profile of only 39 mm and a light weight of only 6 ounces make it a top contender and is unheard of for a sub-50-dollar casting reel. By comparison, the height of the Spartacus I bait caster is 44mm tall. It has all the features you want in a baitcaster: 17.6 lbs. carbon fiber drag, 7.2:1 gear ratio, 7 + 1 stainless steel shielded ball bearings, plus instant stop anti-reverse, durable precision machined hardened aluminum main gears, CNC anodized aluminum spool with power-launch offer the best baitcasting reel value for you. For ultimate line control and birds nest reduction KastKing included a newly designed, more efficient 5 button magnetic brake system and the KastKing technologically advanced “Double Tapered Control Chute” Line Guide that reduces line friction.
The corrosion resistant components of a KastKing Spartacus II casting reel will give you hours on end of fish fighting performance and could be used freshwater or saltwater fishing. When shopping for a baitcaster reel compare the quality features and great value of a KastKing Spartacus II to baitcasting reels from other fishing reel brands. Spartacus II is available in right- or left-hand models. Make a KastKing Spartacus II bait caster your favorite fishing reel and bring it to your bass fishing arena and hear the crowd roar!
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Fish Like A GladiatorBring Spartacus II to the fishing battle, every detail is inspired by the warrior spirit. | Spearpoint PrecisionSpartacus II was created with precision for lightweight and balance. Every gear’s tooth is an engineering work of art. | Cutting Edge TechnologyLike Spartacus who required the most efficient tools of his trade, KastKing Affordable Innovation brings you that in Spartacus II. | Face Your CompetitionGladiator boldness required speed and toughness. Spartacus II gives you that in a baitcasting reel weighing only 6 oz. |
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CNC Machined Aluminum SpoolTo reduce weight and increase line speed, the new Spartacus II Baitcasting reel has a finely machined aluminum spool. | Dual Spring Assisted Thumb BarThe thumb bar features a dual spring system that ensures easy function and a long life. Much stronger than single spring designs. | Machined Aluminum Spool Tension Adjustment CapCasting distance and overrun control is managed through the magnetic braking system combined with the spool tension control cap. | Aluminum Handle and EVA Handle KnobsSpartacus II casting reels feature a lightweight aluminum handle and comfortable EVA handle knobs for complete control and comfort. |
Spartacus II - Specifications
| Frame | Reinforced Nylon |
| Gear Ratio | 7.2:1 |
| Max Drag (LB) | 17.64 |
| Brake System | Magnetic Brake |
| Ball Bearings | 7+1 |
| Reel Weight (OZ) | 6.0 |
| Main Gear | Brass |
| IPT(inch per turn) | 28 |
| Mono Line Capacity (LB/YD) | 10/140, 12/110, 15/90 |
| Braid Line Capacity (LB/YD) | 20/270, 30/140, 40/115 |
| Model | Left/Right Handed | Left/Right Handed | Left/Right Handed | Glacier White/Sea Spray/Dark Star | Great White/Pelagic Blue/Blacktip/Predator Red | Winner White/Metallic Blue/Jet Black/Rage Red |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frame | Graphite | Graphite | Graphite | Graphite | Graphite | Enhanced Graphite |
| Gear Ratio | 5.4:1-7.2:1 | 7.2:1 | 6.6:1-8.1:1 | 6.5:1-7.2:1 | 5.4:1-6.5:1-7.2:1-9.1:1 | 5.3:1-6.6:1-7.3:1-8.1:1 |
| Max Drag (LB) | 17.64 | 17.64 | 17.64 | 17.64 | 17.64 | 17.64 |
| Brake System | Magnetic Brake | Magnetic Brake | Magnetic Brake | Magnetic Brake | Magnetic Brake | Magnetic Brake |
| Ball Bearings | 5+1 | 5+1 | 7+1 | 7+1 | 11+1 | 11+1 |
| Reel Weight (OZ) | 7.2 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 7.3 | 7.5-7.6 | 7.2 |
| IPT(in per turn) | 22.4-29.8 | 29.8 | 26.1-32.1 | 26.9-29.8 | 22.5-26.9-29.8-37.7 | 22.3-27.8-30.7-34.1 |
| Mono Line Capacity (LB/YD) | 10/130, 12/110, 14/90 | 10/130, 12/110, 14/90 | 12/120, 14/100 | 10/130, 12/110, 14/90 | 10/125, 12/110, 14/90 | 12/130 |
| Braid Line Capacity (LB/YD) | 40/130, 50/110, 65/90 | 40/130, 50/110, 65/90 | 50/120, 60/100 | 40/125, 50/110, 65/80 | 40/125, 50/110, 65/80 | 50/130 |
product description
KastKing Spartacus II baitcasting reels are high quality, high performance baitcaster fishing reels at affordable innovation prices. Spartacus II’s sleek compact size and extremely low profile of only 39 mm and a light weight of only 6 ounces make it a top contender and is unheard of for a sub-50-dollar casting reel. By comparison, the height of the Spartacus I bait caster is 44mm tall. It has all the features you want in a baitcaster: 17.6 lbs. carbon fiber drag, 7.2:1 gear ratio, 7 + 1 stainless steel shielded ball bearings, plus instant stop anti-reverse, durable precision machined hardened aluminum main gears, CNC anodized aluminum spool with power-launch offer the best baitcasting reel value for you. For ultimate line control and birds nest reduction KastKing included a newly designed, more efficient 5 button magnetic brake system and the KastKing technologically advanced “Double Tapered Control Chute” Line Guide that reduces line friction. The corrosion resistant components of a KastKing Spartacus II casting reel will give you hours on end of fish fighting performance and could be used freshwater or saltwater fishing. When shopping for a baitcaster reel compare the quality features and great value of a KastKing Spartacus II to baitcasting reels from other fishing reel brands. Spartacus II is available in right- or left-hand models. Make a KastKing Spartacus II bait caster your favorite fishing reel and bring it to your bass fishing arena and hear the crowd roar!
product details
- Date First Available : June 18, 2021
- ASIN : B097HD7895
important information
Important information
Legal Disclaimer
WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including lead which is known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
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Questions about KastKing Spartacus II Baitcasting Fishing Reel, 6oz Ultralight, Super Smooth with 17.6 LB Carbon Fiber Drag, 7.2:1 Gear Ratio, 39mm Palm Perfect Lower Profile Design
Q:
Does this reel have dual breaks?
Answer: Hi Robert,
Answer: I purchased the Spartacus II on May-20-2021, No it does not have dual brakes, It only has magnetic brakes!
Answer: I returned my reel only a couple days after purchase. It says dual breaks but mine only had 1.. I believe my reel was a factory defect however it did feel cheap, and squeaked write outta the box. I would not recommend purchasing this reel..
Q:
What is the drag wieght for this reel?
Answer: 17.5 lbs
Q:
Can the reel be used for deep sea fishing, Stripers, Blues and Flounders?
Answer: you can use it with saltwater fishing, but as with any reel you use at the beach, make sure you rinse off with fresh water afterwards x) check out the details on the product page for drag poundage am all the specs too x) tight lines my friend!
Answer: This is a fresh water reel.
Answer: I would think not. Considering how often it spools and results in a birds nest, I wouldn’t use it for anything.
Answer: The description says salt or fresh.
Q:
Could I use a 20lb line or 15lb? Or what the best lb line for this baitcaster?
Answer: You could use whatever line you want, but my advice would be to go with the bigger line! So if you can’t decide whether to go 15 or 20, just go 20!
Answer: The reel is more than capable of using any type and size line. I have used Braid Mono and Florocarbon with success. My suggestion use what you are comfortable fishing with for the type of fish you're trying to catch and go get them.
Answer: I use a 20lb braid with a 12lb flouro leader. Works just fine
Answer: I am using the Spartacus KadtKing rerl with 20 lbs a d works great!
Answer: For best results I would recommend buying a Lews reel. You’re welcome.
Answer: I run 30lb braid. I works fantastic
Answer: Yes if you use braid
Q:
What is the difference between spartacus and spartacus plus reels? only the cork handle??
Answer: Hi James,
Q:
Is this the most corrosion resistant baitcaster by KastKing?
Q:
i have one that broke can i send it back main gear broke??
Answer: I sent mine back, no questions asked.
Answer: I'm sure you can
Q:
I have a problem with my reel. Who do I contact and how?
Q:
Can you use 50lb braid effectively on this? All other KastKing reels are rated for 50lb braid but this one only lits up to 40.
Answer: I have 40lb braid on mine and it works beautifully. Honestly, when I first spooled it I had too much line and it wouldn't cast or retrieve smoothly; had to take some off! It's a small reel so I guess the problem you might have is could you spool enough line for your needs. I've used mine exclusively for bass and found that I have more than enough line for my purposes.
Answer: IThere is no point to put 50lb line on it.
Q:
Can the handle knobs be removed to clean the bearings?
Answer: Yes
Q:
Is this good for musky with 80lb braided? If not what is a good low profile musky reel under 100?
Answer: No, this would not be good for muskie. There is no low profile bait caster for muskie under $100 that i know of. The best muskie reel for under $100 in my opinion is the Shimano Corvalus 400.
Answer: I fish Muskie in Northern Wisconsin every summer. I use normal “bass tackle”. It’s more about technique than tackle. Are you throwing big jerk baits or buzz and spinner baits? What type of cover? For most all I do, I can fish my bass tackle, 12lb braid and medium rod, with success.
Answer: I fish Muskie in Northern Wisconsin every summer. I use normal “bass tackle”. It’s more about technique than tackle. Are you throwing big jerk baits or buzz and spinner baits? What type of cover? For most all I do, I can fish my bass tackle, 12lb braid and medium rod, with success.
Q:
Are the bait caster reels ambidextrous
Answer: No. You need to order either a right or left handed retrieve reel.
Answer: No, you have to purchase either a right handed or left handed reel.
Answer: No. You need to buy them per your preference.
Q:
Why does it show shipping to be 7 days when your ad shows amazon prime??
Answer: Hello,
Q:
This reel doesn't have a left hand option here can it still be ordered in left hand?
Answer: I have a left-hand reel so they are available.
Answer: In the description it states it is capable of eaither left or right.
Q:
How much does it weigh?
Answer: Mine weighs 7.9oz with about 150 yards of 30 pound braided line on it.
Answer: I think it is at 4.8oz.
Q:
I use a downrigger for small lake fishing for trout. Is this too big a reel
Answer: Should work
Q:
Are the ball bearings stainless?
Answer: Yes, smooth reel
Q:
The Spartacus plus is available for right hand correct, but i cant find that option
Answer: In the description it states it is left or right handed. Standard in right hand
Q:
Who do I call for warranty questions?
Answer: Call the kastking company they have a 1 year warranty on all of their reels. They service reels and cover shipping cost for free in most cases under the warranty.
Answer: Hi There,
Answer: You call kastking directly
Q:
I have a couble bait casters but for some reason at the end of the cast i often get bird nest with brake set on high. Can u check the brake
Answer: Yes. The cover on the side comes off and you can adjust the brake inside too. So basically the dial is a fine tuning adjustment and if that's not enough than pop the cover and do a more aggressive adjustment. Possibly will have to turn the dial back down after the aggressive adjustment. I like mine set where the dial ends up in the middle
Answer: The Spartacus Plus is a fast reel in my opinion, meaning the brakes will only do so much. Keep your thumb lightly on the spool when you cast, and when the cast is done let your thumb be the "brake". You will never get another birds nest.
Answer: It also depends on the weight of the lure, if the lure it’s too light, please adjust it so it will drop slowly.
Q:
what country was this reel made in?
Answer: Just received my Spartacus Plus Reel. There is no country of manufacture anywhere on the reel, but on the box next to the Model #, I found in very small, faded print " Made in China". Made in USA is a big deal, and KastKing who is very good at marketing their products, would refer to "Made in USA" in every way possible if it were true. So made in China.
Answer: My other KastKing reels were made in the U.S.A.!!! Not China!!! However, I tried to order this reel in the right-handed version and was told KastKing doesn’t make it anymore.
Answer: Designed in new York, made in China
Q:
What would you recommend if its my first time buying a baitcaster reel the speed demon or the spartacus
Answer: Hi Luis,
Answer: I don't have the speed demon. I have the Spartacus, and legend elites, and you can't go wrong with either. I've caught 40" inch snook and 30+ inch reds on the Spartacus. Smooth drag easy to tune and once tuned in will cast anything I want and with great distance.
Answer: If your on a budget, the Spartacus is terrific! I cant speak on the speed demon as I do not own one....YET. But it has been spoken of highly. Honestly, I prefer the Crixus Dark Star of all the KastKings I have. Its stupid smooth and has great feature for the price.
Answer: I would go with the megajaws in the 7:2.1 gear ratio or its the black reel as the megajaws line is color coded for gear ratios
Answer: Depends on what kind of fishing you do. The difference is the retrieval speeds
Q:
How can I Upgrade the magnets?
Answer: I found some on AliExpress but they dont make much of a difference to the stock magnets
Q:
do you have the reel for 4-8 lb test line?
Answer: Hi Bill,
Q:
Would this be a good baitcaster for a beginner?
Answer: I wouldn’t recommend it for a beginner. I’m pretty experienced with baitcasters and it took me quite a while to get the settings dialed in on this thing. Whereas something like a Lew’s American hero took me like 3 casts and I was good to go. However, if you fish the same bait a lot without needing to change for different conditions, this reel and a speed demon rod for the specific bait type is a good deal.
Answer: Hi Arturo,
Answer: I have 6 of these along with $300 reels, never had a issue. These would work good for a beginner because of the dual brakes, 8-10 lb. line with the brakes turned up with a 1/4-1/2 oz. plug. Practice in the yard or a park and start backing the brakes off, half a day and you should be set.
Answer: No, its awful for beginners. You'd have better luck removing the reel from the rod and throwing it at the fish to catch them. This is my first KastKing baitcaster and it took ages to get it adjusted properly compared to other brands I have.
Answer: Yes. It cast smoothly and when u tune it to the bait it’s very forgiving. It’s a great baitcaster.
Answer: I go Abu black max, I’ve ordered 2 of these and both were defective. I’d shoot for something more reliable as a beginner.
Answer: I think so. I used it to learn to cast and you can’t beat the price. I have it teamed up with a 6 foo 6 inch medium Ugly Stik and like it just fine
Answer: i would probably move down on the amount of bearings so it was slower but if the person catches on fast then you could try it. for the price u cant go wrong either way. but heck let me know ill buy it from ya if it don't work out lol. i absolutely love mine
Q:
Can i pair this with my phenix m1 inshore 7’3” mh 15-35#
Answer: Don’t know why you wouldn’t be able to. As long as the rod fits a standard size reel. This reel will handle 15-35# line just fine.
Answer: You can pair it with any casting rod
Answer: Hi,
Answer: To be honest I've been using it as a fluke jigging real.
Q:
How many lb test line can handle with this reel?
Q:
Would this reel be good for 2oz to 4oz swimbaits?
Answer: Unfortunately I can't recommend this product. It was terrible. By the 5th cast it was unusable.
Answer: Yes
Q:
How do I order a right handed model?
Answer: Just order it, it comes right handed
Q:
What rod would this reel be good with
Answer: I have them on med and med/heavy.
Q:
When will this reel be back in stock????
Answer: In stock now
Q:
cork handles are drying out what can i use as a lube?
Answer: i would call KastKing direct, they are in New York and i think their customer service is fairly good.
Answer: Wd40?
Q:
My reel squeaks when I reel in. Any suggestions?
Answer: Tear it apart and oil all the bearings. While its apart put a couple drops of reel grease on the main big gear. After that it should be okay for a while.
Q:
Is there a difference in gear ratio between the colors as with other models?
Answer: should not be a difference in the gear ratio the only thing that changes is the color and the handle knobs but that's it
Answer: Yes, the colors indicate what the speed is.
Q:
I don't see an option for right hand retrieve at the moment. Is this because they are out of stock?
Answer: Comes in right hand
Q:
What kind of warrenty does the reel come with
Answer: As I understand it all rods and reels made by KastKing carry a warrantee of one year. However, I think you only have about 30 days to exchange it if it is defective. That's just my understanding, I may be wrong. You may want to ask KastKing to be sure. (By the way, this reel performs like a $100 reel, it is amazing. Buy it!)
Answer: All reels come with a 1 year warranty for Parts or Replacement.
Q:
is the chartreuse a regular spartacus or the plus?
Q:
i have one that broke can i send it back main gear broke??
Answer: I sent mine back, no questions asked.
Answer: I'm sure you can
Q:
What is the frame made of ?
Answer: Depends on the model. Some are aluminium some carbon
Q:
How long is the piece that you attach into your rod
Answer: Hi Chris,
Q:
When will right hand be back in stock
Q:
Is this a good beginner reel? I am considering getting this one for My bass tournaments and i need a quality reel that will withstand heavy use
Answer: Hi Chase,
Answer: Yes. This is an outstanding reel. I think you will be pleasantly surprised with the quality.
Answer: I feel like this reel will hold up just fine
Answer: I fished it hard all summer, fall, winter and it held up great! Definitely recommend at the price point, a lot of bang for your buck.
Q:
Is this spartacus plus a big step up from the royal legend 2 which only has mag brake and 5+1 bearings?
Answer: I would say so it performs very nicely.
Q:
Can this take braid?
Answer: Yes. I currently have 65lb spider wire braid on mine. I use it for flipping. Great reel. Love it so far.
Answer: It definitely can. I’m running 25 lb braid on it right now and it works like a champ
Answer: I don't know. I ordered it right handed, it came left handed, so I mailed it back for an exchange, and was told they would issue a full refund, which they did, but they were not making this reel anymore. So I bought a Lew's Tournament Speed Spool LFS which cost twice as much, but it is incredible!
Q:
How do you take off the knobs? I can’t them to screw off and no screw driver really fits the cap
Answer: Very carefully
Q:
My kastking spartacus right hand sea foam green reel handle fell off. How can I order a replacement handle?
Answer: Generally all bait casting handles can go on every reel. So you can see if kastking sells handles and if not another third party company will probably sell a compatible handle.
Answer: Just visit KastKings website and send an email to there customer service center, they are very easy to friendly to work with
Q:
Hi I have returned the reels I bought and have yet to receive my money back who do I contact about this
Q:
Can i use this for salmon
Answer: The Spartacus Plus is only rated for freshwater. If you are fishing freshwater, then yes.
Answer: Can it be used in salt water?
Q:
what is the reel made of
Answer: I’m not 100% sure, I’m sure it is made out of some kind of metal. Not sure but it feels really good in the hand and it is a really sleek looking reel
Answer: It states in the description i beleive
Q:
Are the kastking reels on aliexpress the same reel as these? the chinese copy everything which is why i ask. seems the same and cheaper.
Answer: I wouldn’t trust the other sight
Product reviews of KastKing Spartacus II Baitcasting Fishing Reel, 6oz Ultralight, Super Smooth with 17.6 LB Carbon Fiber Drag, 7.2:1 Gear Ratio, 39mm Palm Perfect Lower Profile Design
Kindle Customer : Great reel for the price
I was quite impressed by this reel especially since I wasn’t expecting much for the price. No, I don’t think it competes with reels in the $150 and up range, but anything below that it compares quite nicely. I own a large number of reels from ABU-Garcia, Shimano and others and this is as smooth as any and better than most. I mean this reel is really smooth. Once properly adjusted its nearly backlash free. I’m impressed that it has a centrifugal braking system in addition to the magnetic system. In my opinion the centrifugal method is far superior at preventing backlash. For the money I don’t think this reel can be beat. Time will tell about it’s durability and longevity. Love the rubberized cork handles also.
Mr. Sir : Nice, but the Royal Legend edges it out, IMO.
I got the Spartacus II in the “spindrift” color. I was kind of skeptical on the exact color because I personally find it hard to capture a “true color” on camera, but they NAILED IT! I love this color, it’s absolutely beautiful. Beautiful light, pastel blue.
Pros:
•It’s a bait caster for about $40, so that’s cool.
•It’s perfect for learning the baitcasting type of reel without spending a ton of your hard-earned money.
•The drag star *clicks* when you adjust it, so that pretty nice for a reel this inexpensive.
•I’d be remiss not to mention the color again, it’s unique (imo)
•Bird’s nests (Or “professional overrun”, I’ve also heard “Backlash”) are easy to avoid if the magnetic brakes are up all the way and you have the spool tension set correctly for what you’re throwing.
•You can straight-up launch some bait with this thing. When I do my part I can throw some baits close to 70 feet with a 7 Foot MH rod. And I’m not even good at it, yet. That might not be the point for some of y’all, but it’s fun.
•it’s nice if you like to palm your reel, I find it to be very comfortable, though, I don’t ordinarily palm reels, I rest my thumb on the side, which I also find comfortable on this reel.
Cons:
• My particular reel felt very rough out of the box, exactly how I imagine a dry, or scratched bearing would feel while reeling.
• The magnetic breaking system seems to have a less-than-linear influence depending on power level. For instance, when the magnetic breaking is set to the max, I don’t have to put my thumb on the spool at all to keep a bad bird’s nest with 12Lb. fluorocarbon, so that’s actually good, I guess. If I take the brake to 8 I seem to be able to achieve ~6 feet more distance or so, but you have to pay attention or the ‘nest is coming for you. BUT if I turn it to anything below 6, its like all the birds on earth built a giant nest in my reel while I wasn’t looking...so that’s neat. I’m sure there is a trick to it I don’t know yet but it seems off to me.
•Only after two days, the gears are making noise louder than my Royal Legend did after months of use (before my friend borrowed it forever,lol) so that’s alarming. I’ll buy some grease and oil as it calls for in the instructions, but I didn’t expect to be needing this soon considering my past experience with KastKing. However it could just be my particular reel.
I might update this review it after I oil and grease it. But for now it’s getting a 3.75/5 I’d still recommend it, but I’d probably buy the Royal Legend before I’d buy another Spartacus II.
Update: The rough bearing sound has worked itself out, so that’s good news. I also changed my line from 12# Florocarbon to 30# braid and all my bird nest issues are gone. Florocarbon is not a friend of mine. The memory in the Florocarbon line I used is just like mono...garbage.
Pros:
•It’s a bait caster for about $40, so that’s cool.
•It’s perfect for learning the baitcasting type of reel without spending a ton of your hard-earned money.
•The drag star *clicks* when you adjust it, so that pretty nice for a reel this inexpensive.
•I’d be remiss not to mention the color again, it’s unique (imo)
•Bird’s nests (Or “professional overrun”, I’ve also heard “Backlash”) are easy to avoid if the magnetic brakes are up all the way and you have the spool tension set correctly for what you’re throwing.
•You can straight-up launch some bait with this thing. When I do my part I can throw some baits close to 70 feet with a 7 Foot MH rod. And I’m not even good at it, yet. That might not be the point for some of y’all, but it’s fun.
•it’s nice if you like to palm your reel, I find it to be very comfortable, though, I don’t ordinarily palm reels, I rest my thumb on the side, which I also find comfortable on this reel.
Cons:
• My particular reel felt very rough out of the box, exactly how I imagine a dry, or scratched bearing would feel while reeling.
• The magnetic breaking system seems to have a less-than-linear influence depending on power level. For instance, when the magnetic breaking is set to the max, I don’t have to put my thumb on the spool at all to keep a bad bird’s nest with 12Lb. fluorocarbon, so that’s actually good, I guess. If I take the brake to 8 I seem to be able to achieve ~6 feet more distance or so, but you have to pay attention or the ‘nest is coming for you. BUT if I turn it to anything below 6, its like all the birds on earth built a giant nest in my reel while I wasn’t looking...so that’s neat. I’m sure there is a trick to it I don’t know yet but it seems off to me.
•Only after two days, the gears are making noise louder than my Royal Legend did after months of use (before my friend borrowed it forever,lol) so that’s alarming. I’ll buy some grease and oil as it calls for in the instructions, but I didn’t expect to be needing this soon considering my past experience with KastKing. However it could just be my particular reel.
I might update this review it after I oil and grease it. But for now it’s getting a 3.75/5 I’d still recommend it, but I’d probably buy the Royal Legend before I’d buy another Spartacus II.
Update: The rough bearing sound has worked itself out, so that’s good news. I also changed my line from 12# Florocarbon to 30# braid and all my bird nest issues are gone. Florocarbon is not a friend of mine. The memory in the Florocarbon line I used is just like mono...garbage.
Heath : Do not buy
Horrible reel. I did some test casts with it after receiving it and then got it ready for a fishing trip. Luckily I had another reel on hand otherwise I would have missed out on the whole day of fishing.
After a couple of hours of use this reel is busted. The line constantly wraps around the pin for the spool under the brake side cover. The brakes stopped working correctly and will rotate all the way around each direction when initially it would not do that. It also developed some grinding.
Scrapped this reel and continued my fishing with a much better reel. Save your money and get a quality reel.
After a couple of hours of use this reel is busted. The line constantly wraps around the pin for the spool under the brake side cover. The brakes stopped working correctly and will rotate all the way around each direction when initially it would not do that. It also developed some grinding.
Scrapped this reel and continued my fishing with a much better reel. Save your money and get a quality reel.
R MELLEN : ITS AMAZING. Tip 2 - This gear ratio retrieve is ...
**waited to test before review** First tip - order this item right away before it out of stock AGAIN. I now know why it sells out immediately. ITS AMAZING. Tip 2 - This gear ratio retrieve is going to be best suited for slower returns but with massive drag 17.5! Use for worms, jig (non swim) and anything you need to muscle back to the bank. Use REELBUTTER just a little drop and it lights this reel up and you wont believe the smooth casts and cranking. UNREAL. I am very particular but this reel is staying in my arsenal and is NOT going anywhere.
Jorge Bozeman : 8.7/10, everything is great except the squeaking
Let me start off by saying that this is a fantastic reel for the money. It looks great, it’s sleek, it reels smooth, it’s saltwater suitable, and it casts incredibly. However, I do have some complaints. First of all, my reel squeaks. Straight out of the crumpled up box that they gave me, it seemed to me like this reel was refurbished. Although the squeaking doesn’t prohibit any aspect of the reel, it drives me NUTS. Something just doesn’t sit right with me when I hear the squeaking. It is definitely annoying, I tried to oil the bearings but I had zero luck. I think the sound is coming from the gears, but I’m too scared to try and disassemble my reel. So that sucks. Also, despite the price, this is not a good reel for beginners. It is extremely prone to backlashing, especially if it isn’t tuned right. You have to feather the spool the whole way or else the line will start puffing up. But those two things aside, this is a quality reel that is totally worth the money... if yours doesn’t squeak.
adam meek : I wanted to love it.
I wanted to love this reel. Especially at this price. I just don't. Its an ok reel. It will do what you need it to do. But I find myself having to tinker with the brakes way too much. The spool tension wont stay in place. The gears were dry out of the box. After lubing the gears and changing one of the broken drag washers, this reel finally felt like an ok reel. I paid 10 dollars more for the Kastking Assasin a few years ago and I still love that reel. It was the best value reel I have ever had. Its still just as smooth as when I bought it. I know a lot of people love this reel. Maybe I just got a bad one? I would save my money and get a lower end Lew's or Abu.
Kindle Customer : Would have been a good reel
The Spartacus 1:
Spools the line unevenly, leaving a build up on one side, which rubs against the frame and kills the free spool. And this is new out of the box. That's a product failure.
Other notes: The internals are bone dry. Might want to open it up and grease the gears, screws, springs, frame, and especially the drag washers. There is no secondary anti-reverse prawl assembly, it's just the one way roller bearing. The frame is white plastic painted black... Makes me think this isn't actual graphite, and will lead to structural problems if you use anymore than 3lbs of drag, of the advertised 17lbs... The mags don't seem to work too well, either max or at zero seems to have any noticeable difference.
Opinion: Well, if it did spool the line evenly this would have been a good reel for 10lb mono. Love the handle, brass gears (get a sand grain into aluminum gears, say bye to the teeth), really smooth carbon fiber drags (after greasing them), centrifugal brakes.
Performance: If you're familiar with 100 sized shimanos, this doesn't cast as far as a 100 sized shimano, on the same rod, line and lure. Drags are super smooth.
Spools the line unevenly, leaving a build up on one side, which rubs against the frame and kills the free spool. And this is new out of the box. That's a product failure.
Other notes: The internals are bone dry. Might want to open it up and grease the gears, screws, springs, frame, and especially the drag washers. There is no secondary anti-reverse prawl assembly, it's just the one way roller bearing. The frame is white plastic painted black... Makes me think this isn't actual graphite, and will lead to structural problems if you use anymore than 3lbs of drag, of the advertised 17lbs... The mags don't seem to work too well, either max or at zero seems to have any noticeable difference.
Opinion: Well, if it did spool the line evenly this would have been a good reel for 10lb mono. Love the handle, brass gears (get a sand grain into aluminum gears, say bye to the teeth), really smooth carbon fiber drags (after greasing them), centrifugal brakes.
Performance: If you're familiar with 100 sized shimanos, this doesn't cast as far as a 100 sized shimano, on the same rod, line and lure. Drags are super smooth.
Corey H : Do it.
These reels work great, don't hesitate.
They ship with the drag backed all the way off by the way. Cast better than $100 Abu's.
Bought one of each generation and a blue mega jaws color coded ratio and they are damn good reels.
Freshwater is all I fish so can't attest to that aspect.
Gen 1 has a dual brake system watch the video it's super easy , set mine to medium (middle of dial) then used the magnetic brake from there Al ng with the spool tension knob.
They ship with the drag backed all the way off by the way. Cast better than $100 Abu's.
Bought one of each generation and a blue mega jaws color coded ratio and they are damn good reels.
Freshwater is all I fish so can't attest to that aspect.
Gen 1 has a dual brake system watch the video it's super easy , set mine to medium (middle of dial) then used the magnetic brake from there Al ng with the spool tension knob.
Tony : Good for the money
I got the Spartacus original model on sale for 36$. For the money, it's not bad. It takes a little more effort to dial it in and reduce the bird's nesting than my other baitcasters. It's not as smooth as my President XT and it also squeeks a little sometimes. For 36$, I'll use it until it falls apart. I feel pretty confident it will function for a long time because KastKing makes good stuff in my experience.
Update: I seem to have it dialed in pretty well now. It requires a little more fine tuning than my other baitcasters but I've got the bird's nest eliminated and can cast it a long ways.
Update: I seem to have it dialed in pretty well now. It requires a little more fine tuning than my other baitcasters but I've got the bird's nest eliminated and can cast it a long ways.
Tom : Getting what I paid for
I wanted to go with a frog specific setup and decided to take a shot at this reel. I wish I had spent the extra money for a Revo X instead.
I have owned a lot of bait casters over the years and including this one I currently own 12 so I’m not new to them.
I accept that there is a dialing in stage for every baitcaster but for this one I feel that’s a lot harder than for the others I own. The one thing that I really dislike is that there is too much space between the spool and the body/frame. If you do backlash, then you will end up with line pinched between the spool and frame. This occurred with both 65lbs power pro and 25lbs fluorocarbon.
The tension knob keeps tightening itself and after a few casts it is fully engaged.
I ended up putting it on my flipping rod where I’m tossing between 1-2oz weights a short distance and will wait until I land a fish on it to decide if I’m returning or not.
I have owned a lot of bait casters over the years and including this one I currently own 12 so I’m not new to them.
I accept that there is a dialing in stage for every baitcaster but for this one I feel that’s a lot harder than for the others I own. The one thing that I really dislike is that there is too much space between the spool and the body/frame. If you do backlash, then you will end up with line pinched between the spool and frame. This occurred with both 65lbs power pro and 25lbs fluorocarbon.
The tension knob keeps tightening itself and after a few casts it is fully engaged.
I ended up putting it on my flipping rod where I’m tossing between 1-2oz weights a short distance and will wait until I land a fish on it to decide if I’m returning or not.
ChazinPA : Excellent reel once you dial it in.
First baitcasting reel. Tough at first but once you get familiar with the impact of the 3 breaks on it you should be able to find your settings pretty quick to have fun with this thing. Watch a youtube video first, I definitely had an "Oh, that's how you do it." moment or two.
One note, is the directions were reversed on mine, so to get to the internal break, directions said clockwise to remove cover, mine was counter clock wise to get the cover off to adjust the break.
One note, is the directions were reversed on mine, so to get to the internal break, directions said clockwise to remove cover, mine was counter clock wise to get the cover off to adjust the break.
Jwhit : This things hates Fluorocarbon and has a major flaw in its design
PROs:
- Lightweight
- Very Inexpensive ($36 on sale)
CONs:
- No Tension Knob Clicking control
- Bad design flaw: Gap between spool and housing
- spool control is hard to pinpoint and will constantly bird nest deep in the spool
I am a long time customer of KastKing products and have enjoyed everything I have purchased so far... until I got the Spartacus II reel. When I first received the reel I was disappointed to find that the spool tension know does NOT click like other models. This was one of the biggest let downs of this reel.
The first cast out on the water I bird nested it to the point where I ended up having to cut off half of my new 12 lbs Fluorocarbon line. Even after constant adjustments to the reel I still ended up getting small loops in the line deep in the spool where I would have to pull off quite a bit of line to get to the loops. Plus some of the loops found it's way in between the spool and the housing wrapping around the spool shaft inside. Here is where the design of the reel made the biggest impact to its downfall for me. There is a big enough gap between the spool and the housing to allow for 12 lbs Fluorocarbon to slide in between... how can this happen. This is the first time this has happened to me on a KastKing reel, but then again I run braid on all my other reels except the Crixus bait casting reel which has 12 lbs Mono on it; it doesn't have this issue.
Sad to say that this might be the last KastKing reel I buy. If I could return the reel I would trade it for another Crixus or a Royal Legend II (both of which I already own and have tension knob clicking controls).
"Double Tapered Control Chute” Line Guide that reduces line friction for ultimate line control and birds nest reduction" - This is false. I continuously bird nested even after adjusting the reel multiple times. I have been using bait casting reel for well over 20 years so I would hope that I know how to properly adjust one.
Suggestions: For the same amount of money you can purchase the Royal Legend II in either 5.4:1 or 7.2:1. It has a lot better specs then the Spartacus II reel for the same price. I would stay away from this reel.
Also, not related to the product but to the company. KastKing used to place cards in their boxes for doing feedback on their products. I purchased four different items and none of them had the feedback cards in them only the Loyalty card which be warned is an unsecured website. Any information typed into that webpage is susceptible to interception due to no encryption being used. So I hope you don't going putting your personal information on it. I'm a Cyber Security professional with over 6 years experience in that field and these are things I look out for. Their site that they use to sell products on the other hand does have encryption so purchasing for that site is safe.
- Lightweight
- Very Inexpensive ($36 on sale)
CONs:
- No Tension Knob Clicking control
- Bad design flaw: Gap between spool and housing
- spool control is hard to pinpoint and will constantly bird nest deep in the spool
I am a long time customer of KastKing products and have enjoyed everything I have purchased so far... until I got the Spartacus II reel. When I first received the reel I was disappointed to find that the spool tension know does NOT click like other models. This was one of the biggest let downs of this reel.
The first cast out on the water I bird nested it to the point where I ended up having to cut off half of my new 12 lbs Fluorocarbon line. Even after constant adjustments to the reel I still ended up getting small loops in the line deep in the spool where I would have to pull off quite a bit of line to get to the loops. Plus some of the loops found it's way in between the spool and the housing wrapping around the spool shaft inside. Here is where the design of the reel made the biggest impact to its downfall for me. There is a big enough gap between the spool and the housing to allow for 12 lbs Fluorocarbon to slide in between... how can this happen. This is the first time this has happened to me on a KastKing reel, but then again I run braid on all my other reels except the Crixus bait casting reel which has 12 lbs Mono on it; it doesn't have this issue.
Sad to say that this might be the last KastKing reel I buy. If I could return the reel I would trade it for another Crixus or a Royal Legend II (both of which I already own and have tension knob clicking controls).
"Double Tapered Control Chute” Line Guide that reduces line friction for ultimate line control and birds nest reduction" - This is false. I continuously bird nested even after adjusting the reel multiple times. I have been using bait casting reel for well over 20 years so I would hope that I know how to properly adjust one.
Suggestions: For the same amount of money you can purchase the Royal Legend II in either 5.4:1 or 7.2:1. It has a lot better specs then the Spartacus II reel for the same price. I would stay away from this reel.
Also, not related to the product but to the company. KastKing used to place cards in their boxes for doing feedback on their products. I purchased four different items and none of them had the feedback cards in them only the Loyalty card which be warned is an unsecured website. Any information typed into that webpage is susceptible to interception due to no encryption being used. So I hope you don't going putting your personal information on it. I'm a Cyber Security professional with over 6 years experience in that field and these are things I look out for. Their site that they use to sell products on the other hand does have encryption so purchasing for that site is safe.
Salado : Wow, pretty LEGIT
I have a few expensive reels from various brands and straight out of the box this Kastking is pretty nice for the Price.
For under $50 for this reel its a no brain-er. This is a great reel for beginners or budget setups . Really impressed.
after a few times on the water I will say I still believe for 50$ its a great reel, however not as smooth as my $200 reel but I could have bought 4 of these. Still impressed.
P.S. I Love the Handles and grips.
For under $50 for this reel its a no brain-er. This is a great reel for beginners or budget setups . Really impressed.
after a few times on the water I will say I still believe for 50$ its a great reel, however not as smooth as my $200 reel but I could have bought 4 of these. Still impressed.
P.S. I Love the Handles and grips.
GP : A little disappointed...
I was a little disappointed. After watching multiple YT videos and reading many glowing reviews I expected more. The reel just wasn’t very tight for a new reel. It also arrived with a squeak. I had to disassemble grease and oil. I’ve never had to do that with a new reel. I was considering returning it, but after I “worked on it “ it is much better.
Maybe I got one that missed a step or two in the factory but it does make me question quality control. It seems to cast OK but will require some dialing in.
Maybe I got one that missed a step or two in the factory but it does make me question quality control. It seems to cast OK but will require some dialing in.
ROBERT C. COX : Spend the $40 elsewhere for a quality product
This is my second review for the same item. I originally said that it was a great, quality product for the price and it was perfect for beginners. After about 3 weeks the reel literally fell apart while my son was casting it and parts went everywhere in the tall grass. It took Kastking nearly 3 weeks to get replacement parts and when they finally arrived the hex nut was made so cheaply it stripped immediately after being put on, so once again that reel is out of commission. I ordered a replacement from amazon but anymore issues and I will request a full refund.
T. Vaughn : Ok for the $$$, maybe
This was the 2nd Kastking I have purchased. I have the Royale Legend as well. I have found that tuning of the Royal Legend is much more pleasing for me then the Spartacus. I don't actually enjoy using the Spartacus because I can't seem to get it tuned to allow for any real casting distance. Additionally, I have a Abu Garcia PMAX3 Pro Max and the Pflueger Supreme. The Pro Max and Supreme both have been easy to tune to my needs but I find I am constantly fighting the Spartacus. I realize that the Spartacus is a lower price than the last two but that doesn't address why it is significantly less pleasing to deal with than the Royale Legend.
Kenny : Nice reel!
Will say this I bought a 40$ bait caster off of here no name brand and it’s doing a grinding sound so I said you know what ima try this one out by far I’m impressed only bad thing is this thing is made of plastic! The other I own is all metal but this baby right here cast smooth and reels in nice and smooth like a guy said on here this is not for a beginning bait caster if you don’t pay attention to setting it up you’ll always get backlash and spending most of your fishing fixing it lol but this is a bad little thing very very light make sure to oil and grees it up before using I did and it made this thing come alive so far I’m impressed and happy
Thomas R. : Good real for someone that’s experienced
If your looking at buying this as your first baitcaster, then don’t... it’s a really nice reel for the money but you really have to play with it and know how to work one in order to cast it. It took me about 3 hours to finally adjust it so I didn’t backlash every time I casted, I still have to feather the spool with my thumb the entire time I’m casting.
heather : Developed issues after 30 minutes of use, recommend purchasing a better quality product.
It looks and feels like a quality product, but after 30 minutes of casting you realize why it’s priced as it is. Initially the cast were smooth and after 30 minutes the cast became very rough as if there was dirt or debris causing the friction but there wasn’t. Also, the drag began smooth and after 30 minutes was rough and jerking. I like Cast King products and I have other reels from them. However, I wouldn’t recommend their entry level reels and suggest you purchase the upgraded options as I’ve had no problems with them.
Jay Texan : Might be JUNK or I got a bad reel
First time using the reel, within a few cast I start feeling this subtle grinding in the reel as I retrieve my bait. Not bad enough to make me throw the reel away, but bad enough that it irritates me. I have 2 other KastKing reels that I love, but this one is a dud.
Justin T Worley : I must of got one of the defects I guess
I have a royal legend rod and reel and they are pretty good. I also have a perigee II rod and it is good. My Spartacus was a lemon from the start. Casting and breaking issues from the start. Snapped off many lures midcast and then I retired it when the handle locked up. Emailed KastKing and they told me to send it back. I don’t want to spend time or my money To send it back. Just moving on to other companies for higher end with more quality components.
Jorge Bozeman : 8.7/10, everything is great except the squeaking
Let me start off by saying that this is a fantastic reel for the money. It looks great, it’s sleek, it reels smooth, it’s saltwater suitable, and it casts incredibly. However, I do have some complaints. First of all, my reel squeaks. Straight out of the crumpled up box that they gave me, it seemed to me like this reel was refurbished. Although the squeaking doesn’t prohibit any aspect of the reel, it drives me NUTS. Something just doesn’t sit right with me when I hear the squeaking. It is definitely annoying, I tried to oil the bearings but I had zero luck. I think the sound is coming from the gears, but I’m too scared to try and disassemble my reel. So that sucks. Also, despite the price, this is not a good reel for beginners. It is extremely prone to backlashing, especially if it isn’t tuned right. You have to feather the spool the whole way or else the line will start puffing up. But those two things aside, this is a quality reel that is totally worth the money... if yours doesn’t squeak.
C. Garrard : The Classy Assassin
The Spartacus Plus just takes the top spot for my favorite of all my Kastking reels. It has similar specs and features as the assassin, but is of even of nicer quality and looks. The dark blue and black with red anodized alum accents makes it look like a premium reel, the cork handles inlaid with dense eva foam sporting Kastkings logo are the icing on the cake. The biggest difference I notice vs. the assassin are it's tighter tolerances and better feeling cast thumbar. I also own the Speed Demon, Assassin, and the Spartacus Maximus.
The only thing that could make it a bit better would be a slightly wider spool with more line capacity, other wise I have two and I'm ordering a third. They are that good. I do like all my Kastkings, but this one pulls my heart strings the most. It's a great reel for working plastics, spinnerbaits, jigs, and in that order, but it makes a great all round reel for everything really (so long as you don't need a lot of line). A more comprehensive review will be available on my new website soon..... @ addictedanglers.blogspot dot com
The only thing that could make it a bit better would be a slightly wider spool with more line capacity, other wise I have two and I'm ordering a third. They are that good. I do like all my Kastkings, but this one pulls my heart strings the most. It's a great reel for working plastics, spinnerbaits, jigs, and in that order, but it makes a great all round reel for everything really (so long as you don't need a lot of line). A more comprehensive review will be available on my new website soon..... @ addictedanglers.blogspot dot com
Chris Newcomer : Sloppy
The KastKing Spartacus is a different animal. There are no knob cap screws, and the screw 'looking" cap is not a "screw." It is pressed and glued on. The bearings and plastic sleeve are also non-serviceable, so good luck is they need maintenance. Wobbly knobs will mean the pressed in shaft (that you can see from the back side) will be wobbling as you wiggle those wobbly knobs. There's no simple fix. I used a staking tool to lock the shaft in place from the back side, and that worked. The crank arm is another example of what you get is what you get. There's no cap with a nut underneath, The 'cap' is the nut, and it can only be screwed down so far before it bottoms out. If the tolerances don't allow it to be snug enough, then the crank arm will wobble as well. The fix is to add another tension washer under the crank handle to take up the extra space. QC is the issue here, as the Spartacus could be pretty nice. I'm just unlucky like that...
heather : Developed issues after 30 minutes of use, recommend purchasing a better quality product.
It looks and feels like a quality product, but after 30 minutes of casting you realize why it’s priced as it is. Initially the cast were smooth and after 30 minutes the cast became very rough as if there was dirt or debris causing the friction but there wasn’t. Also, the drag began smooth and after 30 minutes was rough and jerking. I like Cast King products and I have other reels from them. However, I wouldn’t recommend their entry level reels and suggest you purchase the upgraded options as I’ve had no problems with them.
Kenny : Nice reel!
Will say this I bought a 40$ bait caster off of here no name brand and it’s doing a grinding sound so I said you know what ima try this one out by far I’m impressed only bad thing is this thing is made of plastic! The other I own is all metal but this baby right here cast smooth and reels in nice and smooth like a guy said on here this is not for a beginning bait caster if you don’t pay attention to setting it up you’ll always get backlash and spending most of your fishing fixing it lol but this is a bad little thing very very light make sure to oil and grees it up before using I did and it made this thing come alive so far I’m impressed and happy
Joseph W. : Great Price for a good reel
I bought this reel to expand my collection for going out on bass fishing trips with the local BASS club. The reel is made very well and you get a lot of extras at a really great price. There is a bit of a learning curve as there are for a good charge of reels. You definitely have to make sure that you adjust all three of the breaks during your initial setup. If you do not and just adjust one or two you will almost certainly get a back lash. Once you get it dialed in though this will become a go to reel. I have this one setup as you can see in the picture with a small jig and this is part of my pond hopping setup. I would highly recommend this reel to add to your arsenal.
Jay Texan : Might be JUNK or I got a bad reel
First time using the reel, within a few cast I start feeling this subtle grinding in the reel as I retrieve my bait. Not bad enough to make me throw the reel away, but bad enough that it irritates me. I have 2 other KastKing reels that I love, but this one is a dud.
Ramon Santos : It was great reel at first but...
When I first purchased this reel I was excited to get out on the water however the reel was damaged internally upon arrival. Amazon quickly sent out a replacement and now I have been fishing this reel for over 3 weeks now on a perigee II rod. It was great it became my new favorite baitcasting reel I loved it even more then my Shimano reels and quickly became my new favorite setup. I fish about 4 to 5 times a week and this last outing every 3rd or 4th cast there would be this terrible sound of gears grinding and would bring my lure to a dead stop mid cast. I made sure the clutch lever was fully pressed and made sure I was not accidentally hitting it when being cast but the problem would still happen. Now when reeling in it is louder and not smooth it feels very gritty and not fun to use. I had high hopes with this reel and wanted to get additional kastking reels but I am nervous to make the purchases now. This was an awesome reel before the problem I had and I hope this is just an isolated issue and not something I need to worry about if purchasing additional products. It would be nice to know what kastking has to say about this. I did leave them a voicemail about a week ago but have yet to hear back from them.
DM : Dual breaks is the key!
As I am an angler new to baitcasters (I have fished with spinning my entire life), I really wanted to find a great reel to learn on. This one did the trick! I first bought a “popular“ brand baitcaster, but that didn’t help one bit. I then bought the Spartacus and a wow, It truly taught me the way. Having dual breaks was extremely helpful and it limited the birds-nesting quickly. I recommend this real to anyone new to baitcasters or anyone wanting a tough reel with a strong drag!
stanjones : Decent Reel, But Squeaks.
This reel has been ok.‘I’ve had it for a number of months now. Fished it fairly heavily. Has worked fairly well. Spool doesn’t spin as freely as it should. The most annoying thing about this reel is a squeaking handle. Tried to find the part and lube it, but have been unsuccessful. It’s not bad, but after about an hour of squeaky retrieving it can be aggravating.
Dave : Get something else
After reading all the great reviews I thought I would give it a try...don’t waste your time. The reel looked very nice but it functioned horribly. The spool would grind on the body of the reel making a rubbing noise and slowing the spool from spinning. There’s re a bunch of other reels at this price point, I would go with something else.
Thomas Farlow : Easy Setup Casts Great
This is a great reel and it is easy to cast. It was also easy to set up right out of the box. I spooled it up with 20lb KastKing FlouroKote. I will be using this reel as a 2nd setup for diving plugs such as squarebill, lipless crankbaits, and medium diver crankbaits. The magnetic braking system makes the reel easy to set up and cast. I didn't this I would like the cork handles that much but to my surprise, I do like the size and feel of them. I would defiantly give this reel a try because I do not think you will be disappointed.
T : Not durable to say the least, wouldn’t recommend.
I’ve only had this reel since March, and last weekend was my first trip out using it. I would say my first 40-50 casts all went well. After that, it sounds like it already needs to be broke down and greased. Terrible grinding sound every time I cast and with the tension backed off it still feels like it’s dragging each cast. Would not recommend
GP : A little disappointed...
I was a little disappointed. After watching multiple YT videos and reading many glowing reviews I expected more. The reel just wasn’t very tight for a new reel. It also arrived with a squeak. I had to disassemble grease and oil. I’ve never had to do that with a new reel. I was considering returning it, but after I “worked on it “ it is much better.
Maybe I got one that missed a step or two in the factory but it does make me question quality control. It seems to cast OK but will require some dialing in.
Maybe I got one that missed a step or two in the factory but it does make me question quality control. It seems to cast OK but will require some dialing in.
James Muskelly : Great baitcaster
Just recieved this reel today and with the quality I have had from pre ious reels I know it will be great. Spooled it with 12lb test and did a few casts in the back yard and it is smooth as butter. I could not have found a better company to buy equipment from and to me they are the best by far. Have not had any issues at all with any thing and now I just have to put it to work next weekend and I can't wait. It is smaller than the previous Kastking reels I own but it is very comfortable and fits my hand perfect.
Jwhit : This things hates Fluorocarbon and has a major flaw in its design
PROs:
- Lightweight
- Very Inexpensive ($36 on sale)
CONs:
- No Tension Knob Clicking control
- Bad design flaw: Gap between spool and housing
- spool control is hard to pinpoint and will constantly bird nest deep in the spool
I am a long time customer of KastKing products and have enjoyed everything I have purchased so far... until I got the Spartacus II reel. When I first received the reel I was disappointed to find that the spool tension know does NOT click like other models. This was one of the biggest let downs of this reel.
The first cast out on the water I bird nested it to the point where I ended up having to cut off half of my new 12 lbs Fluorocarbon line. Even after constant adjustments to the reel I still ended up getting small loops in the line deep in the spool where I would have to pull off quite a bit of line to get to the loops. Plus some of the loops found it's way in between the spool and the housing wrapping around the spool shaft inside. Here is where the design of the reel made the biggest impact to its downfall for me. There is a big enough gap between the spool and the housing to allow for 12 lbs Fluorocarbon to slide in between... how can this happen. This is the first time this has happened to me on a KastKing reel, but then again I run braid on all my other reels except the Crixus bait casting reel which has 12 lbs Mono on it; it doesn't have this issue.
Sad to say that this might be the last KastKing reel I buy. If I could return the reel I would trade it for another Crixus or a Royal Legend II (both of which I already own and have tension knob clicking controls).
"Double Tapered Control Chute” Line Guide that reduces line friction for ultimate line control and birds nest reduction" - This is false. I continuously bird nested even after adjusting the reel multiple times. I have been using bait casting reel for well over 20 years so I would hope that I know how to properly adjust one.
Suggestions: For the same amount of money you can purchase the Royal Legend II in either 5.4:1 or 7.2:1. It has a lot better specs then the Spartacus II reel for the same price. I would stay away from this reel.
Also, not related to the product but to the company. KastKing used to place cards in their boxes for doing feedback on their products. I purchased four different items and none of them had the feedback cards in them only the Loyalty card which be warned is an unsecured website. Any information typed into that webpage is susceptible to interception due to no encryption being used. So I hope you don't going putting your personal information on it. I'm a Cyber Security professional with over 6 years experience in that field and these are things I look out for. Their site that they use to sell products on the other hand does have encryption so purchasing for that site is safe.
- Lightweight
- Very Inexpensive ($36 on sale)
CONs:
- No Tension Knob Clicking control
- Bad design flaw: Gap between spool and housing
- spool control is hard to pinpoint and will constantly bird nest deep in the spool
I am a long time customer of KastKing products and have enjoyed everything I have purchased so far... until I got the Spartacus II reel. When I first received the reel I was disappointed to find that the spool tension know does NOT click like other models. This was one of the biggest let downs of this reel.
The first cast out on the water I bird nested it to the point where I ended up having to cut off half of my new 12 lbs Fluorocarbon line. Even after constant adjustments to the reel I still ended up getting small loops in the line deep in the spool where I would have to pull off quite a bit of line to get to the loops. Plus some of the loops found it's way in between the spool and the housing wrapping around the spool shaft inside. Here is where the design of the reel made the biggest impact to its downfall for me. There is a big enough gap between the spool and the housing to allow for 12 lbs Fluorocarbon to slide in between... how can this happen. This is the first time this has happened to me on a KastKing reel, but then again I run braid on all my other reels except the Crixus bait casting reel which has 12 lbs Mono on it; it doesn't have this issue.
Sad to say that this might be the last KastKing reel I buy. If I could return the reel I would trade it for another Crixus or a Royal Legend II (both of which I already own and have tension knob clicking controls).
"Double Tapered Control Chute” Line Guide that reduces line friction for ultimate line control and birds nest reduction" - This is false. I continuously bird nested even after adjusting the reel multiple times. I have been using bait casting reel for well over 20 years so I would hope that I know how to properly adjust one.
Suggestions: For the same amount of money you can purchase the Royal Legend II in either 5.4:1 or 7.2:1. It has a lot better specs then the Spartacus II reel for the same price. I would stay away from this reel.
Also, not related to the product but to the company. KastKing used to place cards in their boxes for doing feedback on their products. I purchased four different items and none of them had the feedback cards in them only the Loyalty card which be warned is an unsecured website. Any information typed into that webpage is susceptible to interception due to no encryption being used. So I hope you don't going putting your personal information on it. I'm a Cyber Security professional with over 6 years experience in that field and these are things I look out for. Their site that they use to sell products on the other hand does have encryption so purchasing for that site is safe.
Joseph W. : Great Price for a good reel
I bought this reel to expand my collection for going out on bass fishing trips with the local BASS club. The reel is made very well and you get a lot of extras at a really great price. There is a bit of a learning curve as there are for a good charge of reels. You definitely have to make sure that you adjust all three of the breaks during your initial setup. If you do not and just adjust one or two you will almost certainly get a back lash. Once you get it dialed in though this will become a go to reel. I have this one setup as you can see in the picture with a small jig and this is part of my pond hopping setup. I would highly recommend this reel to add to your arsenal.
OddFrog : Shimano snob is shockingly pleased.
I was so sceptical about all the new Chinese reels on the market but i decided why not it's $35 let's give it a try. What a pleasant surprise other than a squeak on the retrieve that was fixed with some grease on the crank bushing(easy fix) this reel is holding its own against all my reels. This comes from a shimano snob who exclusively uses shimano reels for everything now don't get me wrong it's not as smooth or as solid as my higher-end reels but it's still pleasing to use. No major backlashes one I ditched the garbage line I put on it(verry rotten mono). Excellent purchase will be recommending to frends for first or backup baitcasters!
Kindle Customer : Would have been a good reel
The Spartacus 1:
Spools the line unevenly, leaving a build up on one side, which rubs against the frame and kills the free spool. And this is new out of the box. That's a product failure.
Other notes: The internals are bone dry. Might want to open it up and grease the gears, screws, springs, frame, and especially the drag washers. There is no secondary anti-reverse prawl assembly, it's just the one way roller bearing. The frame is white plastic painted black... Makes me think this isn't actual graphite, and will lead to structural problems if you use anymore than 3lbs of drag, of the advertised 17lbs... The mags don't seem to work too well, either max or at zero seems to have any noticeable difference.
Opinion: Well, if it did spool the line evenly this would have been a good reel for 10lb mono. Love the handle, brass gears (get a sand grain into aluminum gears, say bye to the teeth), really smooth carbon fiber drags (after greasing them), centrifugal brakes.
Performance: If you're familiar with 100 sized shimanos, this doesn't cast as far as a 100 sized shimano, on the same rod, line and lure. Drags are super smooth.
Spools the line unevenly, leaving a build up on one side, which rubs against the frame and kills the free spool. And this is new out of the box. That's a product failure.
Other notes: The internals are bone dry. Might want to open it up and grease the gears, screws, springs, frame, and especially the drag washers. There is no secondary anti-reverse prawl assembly, it's just the one way roller bearing. The frame is white plastic painted black... Makes me think this isn't actual graphite, and will lead to structural problems if you use anymore than 3lbs of drag, of the advertised 17lbs... The mags don't seem to work too well, either max or at zero seems to have any noticeable difference.
Opinion: Well, if it did spool the line evenly this would have been a good reel for 10lb mono. Love the handle, brass gears (get a sand grain into aluminum gears, say bye to the teeth), really smooth carbon fiber drags (after greasing them), centrifugal brakes.
Performance: If you're familiar with 100 sized shimanos, this doesn't cast as far as a 100 sized shimano, on the same rod, line and lure. Drags are super smooth.
Matthew Rentfrow : Finicky braking system
I’ve had the KastKing Spartacus for about 6 months now and while it looks great and can perform well, its finicky brakes cannot be overlooked. When I go fishing, I don’t like to take a lot of gear with me, so I wind up switching baits from time to time instead of having multiple rods/reels set up ahead of time. The tuning process required on this reel takes me quite a while to get right and makes it difficult for me to get dialed in after changing baits. Also, when setting the brakes a little on the heavy side, my reel screams like a wounded animal when I cast. I will be taking it apart to re-clean and re-oil everything to see if it goes away.
While I realize that some people enjoy being able to fine tune their reels to a certain bait and “set it and forget it”, I now prefer my Lew’s American Hero for easy bait swapping. That being said, I purchased this reel and a KastKing Speed Demon square bill rod so that I could start a collection of situation-specific combos. For that purpose, I think it will do the job nicely and the combination looks great together.
If you are a bank fisher or need to only carry one or two rods/reels with you, the Spartacus is not my top choice due to its braking system. However, if you plan on having your gear set up ahead of time with combos for various situations, it should do nicely.
While I realize that some people enjoy being able to fine tune their reels to a certain bait and “set it and forget it”, I now prefer my Lew’s American Hero for easy bait swapping. That being said, I purchased this reel and a KastKing Speed Demon square bill rod so that I could start a collection of situation-specific combos. For that purpose, I think it will do the job nicely and the combination looks great together.
If you are a bank fisher or need to only carry one or two rods/reels with you, the Spartacus is not my top choice due to its braking system. However, if you plan on having your gear set up ahead of time with combos for various situations, it should do nicely.
Errol K : I expected better kastking.
I honestly expected more from this real. The finish good. But not great. This replaced a Daiwa AIRD reel that had been a real workhorse of mine for almost three years. The casting distance is comparably to my old reel, but the braking system is waaaay more complex. I feel it's a little unnecessary to have two different braking systems on the same reel. When it's dialed in, it performs pretty great. I feel like it could really benefit from a disassembly and honing, as the spool seems to be limited on its speed. There is a point when no matter how much you loosen the tension and brakes on this reel, the spool tension will not get any looser.
I am a longtime kastking customer and usually their products are a good bargain. This reel is a bargain, just maybe not the greatest one out there.
I am a longtime kastking customer and usually their products are a good bargain. This reel is a bargain, just maybe not the greatest one out there.
LC : Not up to the hype
Reel feels like a budget reel which it is. I bought this to learn how to use a baitcaster. It's a good reel once it's dialed in on the braking system. The reason I give it 2 stars is because on anything other than a light cast the button pops up mid-cast causing the lure to come to a dead stop. Not very much fun listening to the lure slam into the rod. I wish I would have listened to the reviews I read from other people having the same problem. It will be retired to the garage shelf when I can afford to buy a better reel. I just hope I don't damage my rod in the meantime.
tomtec77 : Very good value for money
I bought two reels middle of October. Seemed like a good deal at $38 for a reel with centrifugal and magnetic braking. Plus eleven bearings. I've been throwing a 3/8 tungsten weight, 5/0 hook, 7 inch zoom worm attached to 12 lb KastKing flouro leader and a KastKing 20 lb braided line. I set the mag brake to zero and the centrifugal brake to two and the reel throws long casts perfectly every time. No back lashes. I primarily fish Lake Hartwell where the spotted bass are common place and large mouth practically nonexistent, so I can't speak to the drag efficiency. So far so good. Would definitely buy additional reels if needed.
tomtec77 : Very good value for money
I bought two reels middle of October. Seemed like a good deal at $38 for a reel with centrifugal and magnetic braking. Plus eleven bearings. I've been throwing a 3/8 tungsten weight, 5/0 hook, 7 inch zoom worm attached to 12 lb KastKing flouro leader and a KastKing 20 lb braided line. I set the mag brake to zero and the centrifugal brake to two and the reel throws long casts perfectly every time. No back lashes. I primarily fish Lake Hartwell where the spotted bass are common place and large mouth practically nonexistent, so I can't speak to the drag efficiency. So far so good. Would definitely buy additional reels if needed.
KM P. : Design flaw?
We would like to return the reel. My son is an avid fisherman. He was looking for an ultralight, and we thought this one sounded great! We ordered it for him as a bday gift. He has tried it several times, and says that the line ends up getting pinched/jammed up in some space towards the outside of the reel.
He checked everything he could think of, but it seems that it’s just a design flaw.
Can someone tell me how to return it,please?
He checked everything he could think of, but it seems that it’s just a design flaw.
Can someone tell me how to return it,please?
Amazon Customer : Pretty nice, smooth reel
The reel feels nice and smooth but I clean, oil, and grease all my new reels. and I'm sure it'll preform, I already have a royal legend, but I wanted another reel. What I'm very surprised about is how small it is as well as its lightness in weight. However I don't like the paint on it, seems like something is slight out of process because the paint feels thick like it bubbled in some places. I definitely won't be using anything other than about 20lb braid (this spools is small guys, seriously). All in all I'm sure I'll be happy with it, I gave it a 4 because of the home paint job look.
anthony12136 : Great reel, compares to my other reels that I paid double for
Great value for the price. I would compare this to any name brand reels in the 100 dollar range. I am no pro by any means, but I do like having multiple set ups on deck to tackle certain scenarios. With the price point of these reels, you dont have to invest an insane amount of money to make sure you are ready for any situation.
Pete : First impression
Ordered the Spartacus in seafoam green and also ordered Spartacus plus took the Spartacus plus out yesterday felt great till about 20 casts in the thumb bar would engage during cast which actually almost made me hit the other person in the face with my lure after the first time it locked up on me the reel began screaming loudly on almost all cats after that and felt extremely rough on the retrieve thereafter pretty bummed out about this reel I wasn't expecting top of the line performance but wasn't expecting it to be complete garbage either this was my first impression of this company's products I still haven't fished the green Spartacus yet but I'm expecting similar results being basically the same reel with different aesthetics overall unimpressive my abu silver max is still going strong 3 years now and was basically same price may just return both without even fishing the green Spartacus
Kindle Customer : Surprisingly good
Took it apart when i got it and its a well made reel even if it was costing twice what i paid. Drag is nice and smooth as you would expect carbon to be. Minor lack of sprayed on top coat on inner part of reel but then who cares. Outside is fine. I built an acid wrapped 7ft rod for this to dog big sheepshead out from between pilings and rocks. Locked the drag down and got the job done. I own way too many rods and reels, from Finnor daiwa penn and Shimano. This a good and the price makes it a no brainer.
you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you
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