With a slimmed down design, the latest edition of the Royale Legend from KastKing has a whole lot going for it. Will this product measure up to previous iterations from KastKing? I got a chance to examine the KastKing Royale Legend Elite in real-world conditions and I’ve got a whole lot to tell you about.
Let’s take a look at some of the best parts, and the worst parts, of this baitcast reel.
Quick Specs: KastKing Royal Legend Elite
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Product specifications
- Weight: 7.2 oz
- Gear Ratio: 8.1 to 1 max (More on this later)
- Inches per turn: 34.06 (again, more on this later)
- Spool capacity (mono): 130 yds/12 lbs
- Drag: 17.65 lbs
- Water type: good for salt or fresh
- Left and right hand available? Yes
- Bearings: 12 (KastKing 11+1 system)
What We Like About The KastKing Royale Legend Elite
I’ll tell you right now: there’s a whole lot to like about this reel. I had no trouble at all getting this hooked up to a rod I like and I was quickly ready to head out on the water. The low profile design meant it felt comfortable in my hand even after several hours of fishing.
Smooth Action
I’ve got to say, as casting reels go this is one of the better ones I’ve come across in the past few months. KastKing really did a great job of putting together the action on this reel – every piece worked smoothly and let me get the most out of fishing with the KastKing Royale Legend Elite.
A big part of my strong casting with this reel was the brake performance. I’ll talk a bit more about the brakes in a second but for now, let me just point out that these are a big upgrade from previous KastKing products and they work super well.
Ratio Options
KastKing has done something really cool with this line of reels and produced four different options each with its own gear ratio. I like this, as it puts a bunch more power in the hands of the consumer.
I know I like to use a reel with a higher ratio, but that might not be right for all situations. It’s great that I have the option of picking out a different setup without having to lose everything I like about this package, to begin with.
The different ratios are color coded, so be sure you know which one you’re looking at before you make any purchase. For this review, I had the red model which has their max gear ratio of 8.1 to 1. They’ve also got options set to 7.3:1, 6.6:1 and 5.3:1.
One aspect of this system I hadn’t even considered until a friend of mine pointed out is that it can be awesome if you’re fishing with multiple reels you’d like to use for specific situations. Since the reels are color-coded, it’ll be easy and quick to look down and know exactly which reel has the ratio you’re looking for at a quick glance.
That might not come up for all you anglers out there, but for anyone who finds themselves fishing with multiple reels, this could be a great system to use.
Brake Knob
This reel has a redesigned brake knob and I’ll be honest: it doesn’t look like anything I’ve seen before. I was a bit skeptical at first that I’d be able to comfortably make adjustments on the fly with it, but after some testing, I found everything worked beautifully.
The knob has a nice low profile that doesn’t get in the way at all and makes for really easy adjustments – I’m a big fan.
I should also say beyond just the knob itself, the brake system works like a dream. These magnets really do some work and the range of setting options makes it easy to dial in exactly what you’re looking for.
Comfort
The first thing you’ll notice if you’ve seen previous reels from this line is that they’ve really shrunk down the package this time around. I’m a big fan of low-profile reels – I’ve got hands on the smaller size so it’s great when a reel just sits comfortably and I feel good to control over it.
Your handles on here are a good tacky rubber that felt comfortable in my fingers right out of the box. I only got to test this for a couple of trips out to the lake but I suspect that comfort will continue over the life of the reel.
What I Didn’t Like
There really wasn’t much I didn’t like about the Royale Legend Elite. The main thing you’ll want to consider is that while this package is really attractive, there are more expensive reels out there that will give you a bit more power and strength. If that’s something you really need, then that’s a consideration, but for most fishermen, this reel is going to hold up just fine.
Drag
Coming in at 17.65 lbs, the drag here is good but this is not the strongest reel you can find in this price range. If you like the feel of this from a casting perspective, then this might be something you choose to just not worry about, but it’s definitely worth careful consideration. Think about how much strain you plant to put on this reel and if this is the one you want to use.
Side Panel Access
KastKing has gone with attached side panels, which I love, but their system for getting in and out of the spool housing can be a bit tricky. The main issue is that the panel itself is spring loaded, so it exerts pressure on the locking mechanism at all times. I encountered a couple of situations where I thought the lock was seizing up on me, but it was actually just that I had to hold it in such a way as to relieve that pressure.
Conclusion
The KastKing Royale Legend Elite is an awesome reel, and it definitely has a place in my boat any day of the week. I like the different options they give me when it comes to the gear ratio, and at this price point, it’s not crazy to think I might pick up one or two more just to have around. Big thumbs up from me.
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