KastKing Mg12 Elite baitcasting reel review #kastkingmg12 #kastkingmg12review #kastkingreview

Introduction: KastKing has built a well-earned reputation for providing reels at competitive prices. However, in recent seasons, they have significantly elevated their offerings, venturing into the high-performance segment with new, feature-rich, and high-quality reels, rods, and lines. The Mg12 Elite stands as KastKing’s most advanced, and most expensive, compact baitcaster to date, boasting a magnesium frame, carbon fiber sideplates, and a surprising array of proprietary features.

KastKing Mg12 Elite Baitcaster Specifications
Line Capacity - Rated	8lb/110yds, 10/100yds, 12/65yds
Retrieve Ratio	7.5:1
Inches Per Turn (IPT)	26
Weight	4.8 oz.
Spool Weight	8.2 gr.
Handle Length	90 mm
Bearings	11+1
Bearings per Knob	2 bearings per knob
Levelwind Bearings	2 bearings
Rated Max Drag	15.4lb (15.2lb tested)
Origin	China
MSRP	$299.99 at Tackle Warehouse

Kastking's most high end compact baitcaster yet is the Mg12 Elite

Impressions: Over the past decade, we have observed the evolution of KastKing from a new direct-to-consumer reel maker into a comprehensive tackle manufacturer and brand. The first KastKing product I ever purchased and wrote about was a simple yet effectively designed rod holder – a product that remains in my use today. While KastKing initially focused on providing sheer bang for the buck with some of their early products, the company has since invested significantly in developing high-end offerings, entering the BFS market, and even pioneering smart reels.

The Mg12 features a magnesium alloy center frame and carbon fiber sideplates

I had the opportunity to meet with the KastKing team in July at ICAST in Florida, engaging in discussions with the company's founder and CEO, Tate Cui, and learned more about the company’s origins. Alongside a few college buddies at Syracuse University, Tate founded Eposeideon, the parent company of the KastKing brand, in 2013. Their shared passion for the outdoors, particularly fishing in the Finger Lakes of upstate New York, inspired them to create affordable fishing tackle, adopting a manufacturing-to-consumer strategy. While maintaining a focus on low cost without compromising quality, the team has always emphasized their commitment to delivering value and affordable innovation.

While the Mg12 Elite is available in both right and left hand retrieves it only comes in one retrieve ratio (7.5:1)

During our conversation at ICAST, I was not only impressed by Tate's business acumen but also by his close involvement in the design process. He delved deep into discussions about casting designs, various exotic materials, manufacturing processes, and even explored the use of Bluetooth in current and future reels. It became evident that Tate and his company were transitioning from a value-oriented reel company to a complete tackle manufacturer aiming to add value across all segments.

You can see a similar design language in the larger Kastking iReel which was also launched at this year's ICAST

To see just how far the company had come I turned my attention to fishing some of their higher-end products, including the finesse-oriented Mg12 Elite and the smart-reel entry, the iReel One AMB. While I'm still in the process of fishing the iReel, I can share our findings on the Mg12 after a season of use.

The iReel also features a similar handle and drag star combination

Sitting atop the KastKing portfolio, the Mg12 is designed to be a high-performance lightweight baitcaster, utilizing a magnesium alloy frame and carbon fiber sideplates to achieve a weight of only 4.8 ounces. Stylistically it is reminiscent of the Shimano Aldebaran MGL in some of the angles, the Mg12 boasts a sleek form factor and angular center frame. Design-wise, it closely resembles the Kestrel Elite, and there is little to dislike when it comes to the aesthetics of both reels. The carbon fiber handle and purple highlights on the Mg12 contribute to a more enthusiast-oriented vibe.

The Kastking Mg12 Elite paired well with just about every rod I tried it on, including a Megabass P5 Destroyer Daemos

Real World Tests: I have been fishing with the KastKing Mg12 since June of this year, targeting largemouth and spotted bass in the California Delta and its surrounding region. The Mg12, being a very light reel, seamlessly paired with every 6’6” M to MH rod I tried, and surprisingly, it also complemented ML and BFS application-specific rods quite well. I tested the reel spooled with both Sunline Super Natural monofilament and Seaguar Tatsu fluorocarbon lines, primarily experimenting with a range of plastics and reaction baits.

The Mg12 features the same profile as the Kestrel but with a different handle/knob and spool design