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KastKing Kestrel Elite Bait Finesse Casting Reels
4.9
Overview
Expanding on their bait finesse lineup, the KastKing Kestrel Elite Bait Finesse Casting Reel is the perfect solution to the challenge of flinging light lures with a casting setup. Coming in at an unbelievably light 4.4-ounces, it’s the lightest reel in their arsenal thanks to the full magnesium frame with carbon side covers. In addition to shedding weight, those materials also maximize strength and durability enabling anglers to count on the Elite Bait Finesse Casting Reel for season after season. The internals are also strengthened with a hard-anodized, 7075 aluminum main gear and shaft that are linked with a 100% brass pinion gear.
The KastKing Kestrel Elite Bait Finesse Casting Reel complements its impressively low weight and high power with smooth operation. The Elite Bait Finesse Casting Reel comes out of the box with twelve double-shielded ball bearings for a buttery-smooth feel every cast. It also comes equipped with a shallow aluminum spool and magnetic braking system that are optimized for pairing with ultra-light line and lures. A carbon disc drag provides smooth stopping power to turn a surging bass and its 80mm aluminum handle helps anglers crank them back to the boat. A featherweight reel that packs a big punch, the KastKing Kestrel Elite Bait Finesse Casting Reel puts finesse power in the palm of your hand.
-Full Magnesium Frame
-Carbon Side Covers
-Hard-Anodized 7075 Aluminum Main Gear and Shaft
-Carbon Disc Drag System
-CNC Aluminum Handle
-Shallow Aluminum Spool
Specifications
| Model | Retrieve | Gear Ratio | Weight | Line Cap. | Bearings | |
| KRLCSTKSE-BFS84LS | Left | 8.4:1 | 4.4 | 4/80, 6/65 | 11BB + 1RB | Buy Now |
| KRLCSTKSE-BFS84RC | Right | 8.4:1 | 4.4 | 4/80, 6/65 | 11BB + 1RB | Buy Now |
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Customer Reviews
Excellent fast & light reelI was quite surprised when I received this reel cause the box felt so light I thought it was empty. But no, it's really that light. And construction is still excellent. Has been working great w/8lbs thread w/fluoro leader, very smooth and fast. Now I just need to get a shorter & lighter casting rod to pair it with as the 8' medium heavies I've been using are just a bit longer than I'd like for this reel.
BFS delight with versatile braking systemI have a few "early" BFS reels, including inexpensive reels like the KastKing Zephyr and a couple of Tsurinoya models , and expensive reels like an older Daiwa PX-R and Daiwa Alphas Air TW20. I had always considered the Kestrel to be the best bang for the buck in BFS and I was eager to try KastKing's new top-line BFS offering.
BFS has become increasingly more popular and the manufacturers are zeroing in on what anglers are looking for. KastKing hit the bullseye with the Kestrel Elite. It looks great and feels perfect when palmed. The magnesium frame is a premium feature providing light weight and rigidity. The whole range of the magnetic casting system is useable and useful. The drag needs no upgrading as it already has a very strong and smooth carbon drag.
This reel is an absolute pleasure to fish with and has quickly become a favorite of mine. I believe the price is very reasonable for what you get and the performance will not leave a serious BFS fisherman wanting in any department. Great job KastKing!
Great ReelAt first glance this reel is very well made. Fits perfect in the palm. This KK Baitcasting is a great reel, It is very light, weighing in at 4.5 ounces. I have been testing it with different wt. lures it casts very smooth, retrieve is quite and smooth. Would buy again.
Super Nice Reel...This is a pretty nice bait caster. Super light weight, but feels like I'll be able to use for quite a few years out of it.
It has top notch parts.
I bought a left handed one. Called and the said no problem exchanging it to a right. The pictures are kind of misleading. Because it doesn't show the right side the handle goes on.
If you are right handed - order a right hand reel.
If you are left handed - order a left hand reel.
Man, talk about fast shipping. Ordered and sent out the same day.
Way to go Tackle Warehouse!
Another quality product from KastKing...!
Great ReelVery excited to get this reel to use for bait finesse fishing for Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass. It is extremely lightweight as KastKing describes, I have not held a lighter reel in my hands.
My new favorite reel!In the last few years I have been very successful with finesse fishing, using a ML and L spinning rod. like the precision of a casting reel and I wanted to try a BFS casting one, so I got this. I have several KK reels and they all perform well. I paired this with a ML 7' rod, 8lb braid and 6lb Fluro. I fished it last weekend and LOVE the reel. Easily casts all of my finesse rigs. I fished all weekend with it landing tons of bass. Biggest was a LGMB... at 3.5 and a 3lb SMB handled them great. If you are thinking of getting it, get it. I am going to get a second setup. I would have gone with the matching rod, if it came in 7' and one piece.
Incredibly lightweight and super smooth drag!This reel is incredibly lightweight compared to others I have, super easy to handle and comfortable to use for long periods.
One of the standout features of the reel is definitely its smooth drag systems. Adjustments are precise for both the reel tensioner and the magnetic drag itself. I have paired it with 12lb braid, medium light rod and it performs flawlessly with lures down to 1/4 oz.
My New Favorite reelI have fished finesse style lures a lot in the last two years, exclusively on a ML and a L spin rods. I recently discovered they make casting rods/reels called BFS, so I looked into it and decided to get this reel. I paired it with a 7' ML rod, 8lb braid and 6lb fluorocarbon leader. I have been using it for the last 10 days and I LOVE it. I have caught both large and smallies with the biggest being a 3.5 LM. It is a great feel. It casts like a spinning rod with the control of a bait caster. I have several kastking reels so I don't expect durability to be an issue.
Great Light ReelThe Kestrel Elite Magnesium Frame BFS Finesse Baitcasting Reel is like a fine piece of jewelry. Every part of this reel shouts quality. It is so light with a super smooth retrieve & exceptional drag. One of my favorite things about it is the ability to cast very small lures with distance that is hard to get from ordinary reels. I hung it on an older light casting rod that I have but plan on mounting it on the KastKing Kestrel Fishing Rod 6'9" Light 3 pcs rod. It should make for one heck of a combo. KastKing, keep pumping out great affordable fishing equipment!!
Kastking Kestrel Elite baitcaster reelThis is an impressive reel, and it's only 4.4oz. This casted great, and I did not get any backlashes. There is a lot of quality engineering that went into this small package! Comfortable in the hand, smooth operation, shallow spool, 8.4:1 gear ratio, finesse fishing reel. KastKing also has a Kestrel rod that I paired up with this that is also extremely lightweight. You can fish all day, and not even know you have a rod and reel in your hands. I highly recommend both, and worth the price! If you can afford both, it's worth getting the rod to go with the reel. Tight lines!!
Previous rating was 5I still like this reel after using it for a couple of years, but it’s no longer my favorite. I typically change the spool bearings out in my reels to ceramic. I couldn’t get the side plate bearing out after much effort. I’ve never had issues before with close to 40 reels. I think that bearing was glued in the side plate. Now I have a reel with one ss bearing and one ceramic bearing. The other issue I have is that the reel is over cast controlled and doesn’t cast very light lures as far as some of my other bfs reels. I typically use for 1/8 to 1/4 lures. By the way my favorite bfs reels are: 22 Shimano bfs and flight feather kingfisher
Smooth, great for light takleSpooled it with some 4lb fluorocarbon. Feels super light combined with my old ultra light rod maybe 8oz combined.drag Is really smooth. Casting a 1/16 oz jig head pretty good. Might witch up the rod for a newer probably get more distance. Look forward to do some panfishing and trout as well.
Previous Feedback
Comments: I obtained a Kestrel reel directly from Kastking about two weeks ago. I placed it on a BFS Legit rod from TW The Rod and reel together weigh barely over 8 oz. I spooled it up with 5# Sun line FC. It casts a 1/8 jig extremely well. The reel is smooth and solid with a very good drag. It is very much smaller than my Curado BFS as well as my Gh100 and my Lurecraft 9c air reels. I am pretty impressed with both the rod and the reel. It feels like a two pound spot is 3 pounds. I look forward to taking it to Oregon and Idaho this summer to fish for trout and small mouth.
From: Rod: Clovis, CA 8/13/22