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Your cart is empty.Product Description
The Kestrel Baitcasting Reel redefines angling with a host of premium features. Its TPE handle, meticulously designed for comfort, ensures a superior grip, turning every cast into a pleasure.
Perfectly suited for smaller diameter lines, this ultra-lightweight shallow feather spool enables anglers to cast down to an impressive 1/32 oz with minimal effort, setting a new standard for finesse fishing.
Equipped with the Finesse optimized FAF (Flyout Arc Finesse) Braking system, the Kestrel ensures precise control during casts. Two half-ring magnetic brakes automatically adjust to prevent backlashes.
High Speed Main Shaft
The high speed split main shaft supports and the spool at high speeds and allows the spool to spin perfectly true and fast.
Aluminum Main Gears
The T-6 7075 Aluminum main gear are digitally cut for perfection and the smoothest possible performance.
11+1 Double Shielded Bearings
Incredible 11 + 1 MaxiDur Double Shielded Stainless Steel Ball bearings are strategically placed to ensure the smoothest possible performance
Drag Clicker
The audible line clicker drag system gives additional feeling while fishing.
LFTV Line Guide
The LFTV line guide provides higher spool speeds and longer casts while still laying line perfectly on the spool during retrieves.
Spool Tension Knob
The aluminum, tension knob has an audible drag clicker to fine tune spool tension for high performance.
Braking Dial
Easy to use braking adjustment dial helps you fine tune the Fly Out Arc Braking system to control.
TPE Handle
The smooth, TPE handles are comfortable while fishing all day and provide slip free performance.
GENE W
Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2025
VERY NICE IN APPEARENCE, EXTREMELY LIGHT (LESS THAN 5 OZS) WITH GOOD HEARING YOU MAY HEAR SLIGHT SOUND WHEN CASTING, CAST SMALL BAITS EASILY, GREAT CAST CONTROLS, GOOD SMOOTH DRAG, BEST LOW PRICED US REEL ON THE MARKET. NOT GETTING PAID TO SAY THIS, ALTHOUGH I WOULD ACCEPT GIFTS. PS I HAVE MANY QUALITY REELS (25 TO 30) GOING BACK TO THE 60'S.
Jr72
Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2024
I have numerous other bait finesse casting reels and some that cost much more $ than this Kastking Kestrel BFS 2024 reel. I must say, this reel is impressive for the price point and has been a pleasure to fish with...mostly. I have one minor issue, but others may not have the same issue with these reels that I have had. The reel is very light and ergonomically it feels just amazing in my hand and it is a very smooth casting reel and has plenty of drag to fight larger fish and a real good looking reel too. However, due to the position of the external break dial on the reel and due to the way that I prefer to palm the reel I have noticed that in my particular case after I reel in and land a fish that my palm is turning the break dial and it tends to turn the dial which lowers the break setting to where the spool will speed up on the next cast and it has caused backlashing and line fluffing. I didn't figure the issue out right away so now after I reel in a fish I have to check at the external break dial and make sure it is on the same setting I had it on before and if it happened to turn the break dial and lower the break setting then I must readjust it to where I had it previously. Kind of a pain to have to check it as often as I have to now but otherwise it is a fantastic BFS reel and it can easily cast 1/16 oz jigs with 2 inch curly tail grub trailers and 1/8 finesse crankbaits 25 plus yards. I have landed several 1.5 to 2 + lbs bass with no problems at all. I have it paired up on a Handing Magic L ultralight 6 ft casting rod and it is a magical pairing in my opinion for BFS! I love fishing with this setup. You can get this rod on Amazon for under $40 and it is high quality and a beautiful looking rod too. I highly recommend both products. If you're still riding the fence on getting into to BFS game or you're just now getting into bait finesse fishing with a casting reel and you don't want to spend a lot then this reel is perfect. You can't go wrong. Good luck and land a big one!!! :-)
Joel
Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2024
I purchased the Kestrel BFS Finesse Baitcasting Reel late in the season so was only able to use it a few times before the weather changed but my initial impressions are that this is an excellent reel and a great value.I spooled it with 4 pound monofilament and had no difficulties casting small jigs. I had initially spooled a little too much line and got some backlash until I peeled a bit off. The build quality seems good and the reel is smooth. Its small size fits perfectly in my palm. Since I only got out a few times I can’t speak to the durability of this reel but my experience with other KastKing reels (both baitcasting and spinning) is that they hold up well.I started buying KastKing products a few years ago because didn’t want to spend a ridiculous amount getting outfitted. I’ve purchased a number of rods and reels: lightweight for panfish, slightly heavier for walleye & northern, much heavier for Muskie, and pair of collapsible rods with spincasting reels for canoeing. I’ve been satisfied with everything that I’ve gotten.I think that the value is excellent, and the quality is better than I expected when I bought my first reel a few years ago. That reel had a small plastic “clutch plate” wear out this year. I was able to order a replacement part from KastKing for $13 after shipping which is much better than throwing out a perfectly good reel because I couldn’t find parts.When I contacted KastKing about replacing that part my emails got answered within a day or two and my calls got answered immediately. A year ago I had the locking mechanism on the handle of a collapsible net fail. It was under warranty and when I contacted customer service I got through to someone right away and they shipped a replacement to me without any hassle.
C. Pilot
Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2024
Updated Review:After submitting my original review, KastKing contacted me and suggested that I try the reel again. I am so glad they made this suggestion, and so glad that I did try it again. I must have just gotten a defective one the first time, because this reel is actually amazing. The casting is actually excellent and I am able to easily throw 1/32oz (or even lighter) without issue now. The retrieve is smooth, the fit/finish is tight with little to no movement on the spool, knobs, or anywhere else it shouldn't. Most importantly, the braking is excellent and easy to set up for a variety of lure weights. It's an absolute pleasure to fish.I was wondering why my opinion of this reel was so off from most others, but I think it's safe to assume that my first reel was just somehow the rare defect, because few others share my first opinion of this reel. It's a really nice confirmation of sanity to have this corrected because I own and really like about 1/2 dozen other KastKing reels and really enjoy them.Sorry for the misleading first review! I'm happy to be wrong.---------------------------------Original Review:Directly comparing this reel (which is the highest priced of the bunch) to KastKing Zephyr BFS, Soloking Acura HICC-50, and Soloking GKA 200 King Archer, I'm sorry to report that this reel would come in a distant last place. The reel is tremendously over-braked (even though this version was supposed to solve that) and I'm barely able to cast 1/16oz on it (and definitely not 1/32oz as advertised). All three of the reels mentioned above (at 1/2 to 1/3 the price) perform much better! I don't recommend wasting your time or money on this one.
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