KastKing Brutus Baitcasting Fishing Reel, Graphite Frame, 7.2:1 Gear Ratio, 5+1 Shielded Stainless-Steel Ball Bearings,10 Button Magnetic Braking System, 17.6LB Carbon Fiber Drag, Aluminum HandleCarbonfree CertifiedClimeCo Certified

I’ve used several baitcasting reels over the years, and this one absolutely holds its own—even compared to some that cost twice as much. From unboxing to casting on the water, everything about this reel impressed me.🎣 What I Loved:• Smooth Casting & Retrieval: Right out of the box, the reel felt incredibly smooth. The bearings are tight and well-lubricated, which made for long, consistent casts without much effort. Reeling in is quiet and fluid with zero grind or catch.• Adjustable Brakes & Tension: I really appreciate how easy it is to dial in the brake system. After a few practice casts, I had minimal backlash and a ton of control, even with lighter lures in windy conditions.• Solid Construction: The frame feels tough and well-built, but it’s also lightweight, which is great for long days on the water. The handle has a nice grip, and the drag system has a smooth, consistent pull that’s handled everything from bass to small catfish so far.• Good Line Capacity: I spooled it with 12 lb mono and had more than enough line for casting long distances or fighting a fish that wants to run. No issues with line memory or slippage.⸻🛠️ A Few Usage Tips:• Backlash is always a possibility with baitcasters—take a few minutes to get the settings right for your lure weight and casting style.• Don’t overlook the drag—this reel has a surprisingly strong and smooth drag system that handles pressure really well.⸻✅ Final Verdict:If you’re looking for a dependable, well-made baitcaster that won’t break the bank, this is a great option. It’s smooth, casts far, and has the adjustability you need whether you’re a beginner learning the ropes or a seasoned angler upgrading your gear. I’ll be adding another one to my tackle box soon.

Inexpensive but solid and reliable. When dialed in, no backlash at all. Loved the first 2 better than my old reels, so ordered 2 more. Would recommend.

Looks good. On third outing, developed a tick when reeling and tensioner is very tight. Maybe just a dud unit.Update: seller reached out shortly after this post and quickly sent a new unit. I rigged it up and it feels a lot better than the original one I purchased. Tensioner works and is not tight and gritty and no noise. You can’t beat the service and them standing behind their product.

For a budget beginner bait casting reel, this is legit. Once you have it zeroed in properly, you don't get any birds nests. Casting is outright smooth and it looks sleek and way more expensive than what it is. Drag is nice and easy to operate. Overall, I'd say it's a quality budget friendly reel good for beginners or veteran anglers.

Looks and functions great love it ill be buying a second one

Good reel. Like my slx at a good price

I bought this reel as a replacement for an old model Garcia Black Max that just wore out. I read the 1 & 2 star reviews so I knew about the potential problems with a KastKing Brutus model baitcaster. First, it is a smallish reel and held around 100 yards of Berkley 15 lb. Big Game monofilament. I paired the reel with a BP Bionic Blade 6'6" medium/fast action rod. It made for a nice looking rig with the red reel accent and the red inlay of the BP rod really popping. Iintend to use this combo for topwater fishing since the 7:2:1 speed makes walking the dog or popping a lure easy. With a 1/4 to 3/8 ounce lure the reel casts pretty sketchy right out of the box and is a witch to adjust. The spool brake knob won't screw down tight enough to be effective. Backlashes are unavoidable. When it does work overcasts into hangups is easy...good thing the drag is strong enough to snap 15lb. mono! Now here's the tinkering part...I took the fiber friction washer from an old wrecked reel and cut it down to size and replaced the "too thin" washer the Brutus reel ships with, then added a drop of reel oil to the washer. Problem solved...the spool brake works flawlessly and when adjusted with the magnetic brake system the reel casts GREAT....60-70 feet every cast using a 1/4 ounce weight with very little thumb pressure and NO BACKLASHING. KastKing!!!!! put a thicker friction washer in the brake knob for crying out loud! The Brutus bait caster works very well for a $40.00 reel ..... it just needs a little tinkering ;).

Great price for a great reel