MegaJaws Baitcasting Fishing Reel, New AutoMag Dual Braking System Baitcaster Fishing Reel, Only 6.7oz, 17.64 LBs Carbon Fiber Drag, 11+1 Shielded BB, High Speed 5.4:1 to 9.1:1 Gear Ratios

Im not so sure what the bad reviews are about. Maybe its a QC issue, maybe its user error, but im leaning on user error. I have bought over 15 KastKing products including the Rover 60, Sharky 3 baitfeeder, and the Royale legend and never had a problem with themI have been using low profile baitcasters for about 12 years now and i own several expensive ones including a Daiwa Tatula elite. Also some cheaper ones like my BlackMax. This reel casts further than my BlackMax, Much more smooth reeling, the handle is more comfortable and has a much more powerful drag as i have tested both side by side.Before beginning this review i would like to note i paired this with a Daiwa Laguna 6'6 MHF Rod with 50lb PowerPro braid.Some complain about backlash...and if you look at KastKing beginners video i can see why! They dont use their thumbs haha. Use your thumb to control the spool people! In my video the mag breaks are lowest setting and spool tension set to where my spool slightly wobbles. I cast this left handed (im right handed) with one arm, barely casted and it went pretty far with no backlash. It was a 5/8 oz RedEye Lipless. Even long distance casting was easy. When i set breaks and spool tension high the spool stops perfectly with no thumb but of course now your sacrificing distance.My spool lays line evenly. Not sure why people was having issues with this but that could easily be a QC issue with the worm gear. Check to make sure its not packed with grease or that it actually is slightly lubed up. Sometimes they could forget to lube it or pack it too much causing the line guide to stick.Gears was nicley greased and smooth as well as all bearings oiled and smooth. The spool is slightly small but if they made it any bigger you wouldnt fit a lot of line on the reel.I love how the drag, tension knob, and mag breaks click. Makes it super easy to dial in when switching baits or fighting a fish or maybe the wind speed changed. Very loud audible clicks get you right where you want on the fly.Fished my private pond right after i inspected the reel and got her ready. Everything on low and first cast was so satisfying for a $60 reel. Far and smooth. Caught a few 2lbers and a few big bluegills and the reel handled pretty well. No drag slips and when i lowered the drag it was smooth.Reel body is made of enhanced graphite which isnt the best per se but the drag is 17lbs so you will be fine for freshwater or inshore fishing like reds and flounder. The stainless kick levers are a nice touch because you won't have to worry about smashing your button too hard to too much. And the line guide is a cool new thing which is probably the main reason this casts much further than my BlackMaxWill update after the spring season to see how well it really holds up against some big bass at my lakes here in Texas. My BlackMax's can last forever it seems (i clean, inspect, and lube all my reels myself) so im hoping this reel can hold up.

Great baitcaster. The color is nice. Casts great. The abs works well very little backlashing. Feels good. I'd say medium ease of use difficulty.

First, I am reviewing the updated version of Kastking's MegaJaws baitcasting reel with the AutoMag Dual Braking system. It is also the "Red" model with the 9.1:1 retrieve ration and right side handle. Admittedly, I had some concerns when unboxing this reel. It wasn't seated in the box as designed. However, upon inspection, there didn't appear to be anything amiss. The fit and finish are excellent. The documentation enclosed leaves much to be desired. While a very good schematic of the reel is included, the instruction manual appears to be a KastKing generic document applicable to most of their baitcasting reels. However, there is nothing about the AutoMag Dual Braking System in it. Fortunately, it is a relatively simple system to set. A 100 yds of an eight strand, 30 lb. braid (.011"/0,28 mm) filled the spool. The drag is smooth and substantial, but I suspect that the carbon fiber drag discs will benefit from greasing. I will be doing that shortly. I mounted the reel on a 6'6" medium rod and did some test casting in the yard. Once the reel's braking system was properly set, birds' nests were not an issue. That said, with a lighter practice plug (1/4 oz), casting distances were limited. I imagine fiddling with the tension knob and braking system might improve its performance here, but such were my initial efforts. When I moved up to a 1/2 oz. plug, casting distances improved dramatically, and there were no backlashes. My "educated thumb" was not required to prevent overruns. As I noted, these are initial impressions. At its current pricing, I think it is an excellent value. After I have taken it on the water a few times, I will amend this review if necessary. I cannot yet comment on its durability, but, for now, I like this reel a great deal.Edit #1. On the water, one huge plus for this reel is the ease with which you can set the brakes. There's no guess work about the relationship between the centrifugal brakes and the magnetic ones. The AutoMag system takes care of that for you. Set the spool tension and then adjust the brakes as needed. This should be especially appealing to those new to baitcasting reels or those who have struggled with them in the past. That said, the ease of operation comes at a cost. Casting distances, at least for me, were a tad more limited than with conventional reels and the KastKing MegaJaws baitcasting reel handled heavier (1/2+ oz) lures better than lighter ones. Regardless of this, casting distances were still more than adequate, and I was able to place my lures where I wanted them.

So far as good as my Shimano and abu garcia reels. See about durability after a year of use. Easy to set up. Smooth casting and reeling. Fits hand well. I like the 9-1 ratio for quick retrieval worm and topwater fishing. Pairs great with a Level NGX rod. Great price point on these rods.