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KastKing 60 vs Abu 6600c4

33K views 143 replies 29 participants last post by  Don Fischer 
#1 · (Edited)
Before I catch flak about how I can’t afford a nice rod/reel, because I’ve seen that type of bashing here before, my primary setup is a Basspro CatMaxx rod with an Abu 7000 iC3, not a cheap combo.
Now we have that out of the way, this video is intriguing. I’m in the market for a secondary rod/reel to replace my ugly stick catfish rod and Walmart spinning reel. I was thinking of getting a 7’6 MH Rippin’ Lips Super Cat and a reel to accompany it. The KastKing 60 looks like a pretty good reel for the money. I only carry 2 rods because in Ohio, that’s all you’re allowed to use at one time. The average fish we catch around here is 3-10lb channels and 6-15lb flatheads with the occasional 30-40lb flatty. I’m not interested in dropping another $250 on a catfish rod.



Any thoughts? Fire away boys.
 
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#3 ·
I’m not reeling in 80lb blues on the Ohio River, the KastKing looks like it’s plenty enough reel to handle the average size fish I’m accustomed to seeing in this area with the occasional big boy. I just don’t want to buy a piece of junk. Nobody likes throwing $$$ away. I’ll spend the extra for he Abu if he KastKing is a piece of garbage.
 
#12 · (Edited)
Nobody likes throwing $$$ away. I’ll spend the extra for he Abu if he KastKing is a piece of garbage.
I've been fishing with a Rover 60 for a year and it's still going strong. It casts better than my Fathom 30, has a four point reel foot for better stability, and if you need parts you can contact Eposeidon and refer to the parts list included with your reel. For a working, attractive catfish rig under $100, it's hard to beat a Rover paired with a Rippin Lips M/H.
 
#4 ·
Tony, I'm an Abu fan also and have 9 6500C3s and 3 7000s. I got all off of eBay and with a little research and after asking a few questions have not gotten a bad reel yet. Prices were just slightly above half of what a new reel was even though most look like new.

Good luck with your decision.
 
#11 ·
That's because they are rebranded Mings.

A couple quick points.
You compared the Abu 6.3 gears Kastking to 5.3 gears. If you had compared to Abu 5.3 gears, the effort required to reel in weight would have been the same. If you wanted pulling power you bought the wrong Abu, you should have bought a C3 with 5.3 gears.
Reels are like trucks the faster they are geared to go, the less weight they can pull.

There is a reason why very expensive reels from companies like Shimano, Daiwa, Penn etc. use ABS polymer for the cog gear on the level wind. Level winds are exposed to dirt and grit and if they hang up. You do not want a brass gear to damage an expensive worm gear, the ABS polymer gears are only a couple dollars. The I've got a fleet of 1984 Abu's still using the original gear.

Try to find a dealer that sells parts for the Kastking.
The Kastking is what it is, I hope you enjoy it.
 
#13 ·
We seem to do a lot of comparing of Apples to Oranges and sometimes to persimmons on here. I am sure it is only because we don't think about it enough but a 200 dollar reel should be better than a 100 dollar reel. And being able to easily get inexpensive parts should we need them is a big plus. We compare a $38, to your door, Rippin Lips rod to a $75, then add shipping, TMC to your door. But I guess all that is just natural.

Best thing to do is to get the best you can afford, and go catch fish with it.
 
#14 ·
I agree with the guys who say the rover is not in the same class as the abu. Maybe the cheap walmart abu, which the castking beats my a mile IMO.

I don't think the kastking is equal or beats the standard abu we all know and (most) love. I think the rover is in its own class, slightly below it.. right alongside the catmaxx. But i do think that for what a lot of catfishermen target, and how they use their reels, the kastking will achieve the same end result as the abu will. They wouldn't still be on the market and this forum would be flooded with don't buys if they were junk. Instead the only real negatives you hear are people saying "you get what you pay for, I will never leave my abu". I think for your basic catfisherman across the US, that targets cats for dinner and tangles with the occasional big fish, the kastking will do just fine. Is it the right choice for some of the guys targeting trophy blues and big flats? Probably not. But you have to realize that probably 99% of people who go catfishing are targeting a 14" channel cat for dinner, you don't need much for those.

I hope that makes sense.
 
#16 ·
I agree with the guys who say the rover is not in the same class as the abu. Maybe the cheap walmart abu, which the castking beats my a mile IMO.

I don't think the kastking is equal or beats the standard abu we all know and (most) love. I think the rover is in its own class, slightly below it.. right alongside the catmaxx. But i do think that for what a lot of catfishermen target, and how they use their reels, the kastking will achieve the same end result as the abu will. They wouldn't still be on the market and this forum would be flooded with don't buys if they were junk. Instead the only real negatives you hear are people saying "you get what you pay for, I will never leave my abu". I think for your basic catfisherman across the US, that targets cats for dinner and tangles with the occasional big fish, the kastking will do just fine. Is it the right choice for some of the guys targeting trophy blues and big flats? Probably not. But you have to realize that probably 99% of people who go catfishing are targeting a 14" channel cat for dinner, you don't need much for those.

I hope that makes sense.

It does make sense and well said.
 
#17 ·
Pretty interesting since I joined this site there is rods and reels I've never even heard of.
If you like something buy it and try it. You be the judge. There's not much tackle that I don't like but a thumb bar is pretty much a deal breaker for me. I don't like them.
That is a sweet diawa.
 
#18 ·
For me personally, I try to buy stuff I only have to buy once.

I know the Abu's will last, prob longer than me. I may get out and fish 35-40 days a year these days so I am not putting anything to the hardcore test. It's just more peace of mind knowing if I take care of the gear, it will take care of me.

Since I am not as hardcore as I used to be (don't have the time) most middle of the road gear will do me just fine. I have a few higher end pieces, but could have prob got by just fine without them.

I don't know much about Kast King so I am reluctant to invest anything in them. It's really that simple. I know Abu's and I know Penns and I know Shimano and I have a couple Okumas. Have not found a need to venture beyond those.
 
#19 ·
I'd buy a Kastking before I bought a Ming Yang, even though the latter is more expensive. Eposeidon, which distributes Kastkings, stocks parts and has good support from the sound of it (just got off the phone). I picked up a MY MC600 about a year ago from Custom Jigs 'n' Spins, which also distributes Rippin Lips rods, and they stock no spare parts. Having lost a cast control cap off the MC600, it's a wild goose chase looking for MY parts. I'm hoping a Kastking RXA60 cast control cap fits the MC600.
 
#26 ·
I like that 40 because it's not so wide. I get some people may be in really deep water and actually need that capacity but Im not a fan of the extra wide spool reels.
Do big catfish make long runs?
 
#30 ·
Sounds like the bigger (and wider) reels make good sense then. Thanks for the information.
Sometimes you gotta put the brakes on em when they are headed for the stick ups, or bridge pilings...
 
#34 ·
I do better at pond shops and auctions than E Bay for Abu's, Bass pro Muskie on sale, and Rippin Lips rods. Most rods at pond shops are too light. Can make a decent combo for about $75-$80. To me, bargin huntin is fun! My boats are a 2002 Tracker 175 Crappie and 1965,14 ft. Star-craft. Main thing, catfish from point A to B, a very pleasant dinner and happy times.
 
#35 ·
i am probably the only guy on this forum with both reels,,,,or atleast the only one commenting ,,,,,the c4 is smoother and cast just as far,,,,the thumbar is horrible,,,,the kastking 60r is significantly better by a wide margin, but i bought my c4 used off ebay and only way to throw it is to hold down thumbar always,,,,i have approximately the same amount of money in both reels,,,,the kastking is crunchy sounding ,not smooth, but does cast incredible long i, i use if for monster blues and flatties in alabama coosa river ,,,,,,,,,,,and wheeler,,,,as for which one i would buy again,,,,it wouldnt be either,,,,i would reccomend getting a good used 6500c3 ,, my other c3 cast slightly further with the same exact line , i use 30lb suffix high vis green,,,,the kastking for 50,,,,,,,,is not worth 50 ,,,,if it were 25,,,,then i would say its the winner,,,,,but again, im comparing a used abu garcia to a new reel,,,,,but even brand new the rover is crunchy and not smooth and gets slowly worse over time , even oiling it and lube it,,,,,,,i would pass on it , unless they lower it to 25 or under , which is its true max value.
 
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