KastKing Rover Round Baitcasting Reel, Right Handed Fishing Reel,Rover70

Solid, aluminum frame, sides and spool. I put 10 colour lead core on it for trolling for walleye. Holds 10 colours perfectly with about 50 feet of backing to start. If you want more lead core you will need the #80 or #90 models.

This is an OK reel. Yes it is significantly cheaper than an abu. BUT, my abu also doesn't have play in the gears. I have had problems with the rover not wanting to keep the spool lock down unless the handle is in perfect position because of loose gears. It will also, occasionally on a hard cast, release the spool lock on its own. Potentially causing backlash and a "birds nest". And even more rarely it would disable itself just off a light bump while waiting for a catfish to hit. I have missed only a few cats to this as circle hooks will often set themselves under the tension. While it hasn't been a serious problem. it is frustrating. I also purchased an abu garcia catfish special around the same time and the differences between the two are *VERY* noticeable. However it is reliable under pressure. The rate that it brings in line is impressive, and it easily keeps the 6-8oz weights I use in the river for large live bait up off the bottom and out of the rocks on retrieve. The play in the gears is only noticeable when you aren't bringing something in. I caught many large catfish this year. From 8lb to 20lb channel cats and flatheads over 30lbs. The bait clicker is very loud, which is nice when you need to walk away for a moment. I mostly bought it for its drag discs. The zebco 888 it replaced just couldn't handle the big ones properly. If you want a decent reel to see if you enjoy catching very large catfish but are on a bit of a budget, I do recommend the kastking rover. If I get 2 decent years out of it before it falls apart, then it did ok. That being said, the abu replaced another abu that I got 15 great years of heavy use out of. But it was 2x the price of the rover.... Also these large reels are overkill if all you do is fish for 2-5lb channels. The rover40 with 15lb braid and a 10lb lead would be absolutely fine for that.

Great quality for the price. Im liking it as much as my higher dollar reels

So I will start off this review by discussing the presentation when opening it. The Rover 70 (the version I purchased) came in a box (pictured above) with only a few scratches and dings (guaranteed to be from shipping) but was otherwise unmarked. I will say it is a nice looking box, not too flashy, doesn't feel like super cheap cardboard (you know the type of cardboard). Onto the contents of the box, inside you'll find the reel, the convenient tote bag (both pictured above) and the parts list for the reel. The tote bag is a nice addition (though more than likely, my reel will be spending a majority of its time on my rod) and the reel came in perfect condition. Overall on the presentation- 8/10 Onto the pros and cons of the reel itself: Pros- The reel has an all aluminum frame with a decent sized rubber power handle. Non of that smooth plastic garbage on this handle. The star drag is VERY easy to use. It's positioning on the rod, coupled with its very curved feel makes it very easy to switch drag around, even with a fish pulling on the other end. The alarm button switches the reel to a very satisfying but not too loud clicking to alert you of a take. Not nearly as loud as other reels do and its very easy to use the button. Lining up was also very easy on this reel (I use 60lb braided line on it for catfishing). Another thing I have noticed is that its NOT an easy task to birds nest this reel. Other baitcaster I have used feel like they birds nest on every other cast. I have already casted this thing a few hundred times and no issues on either the cast or the retrieve. Cons (Few and far between)- There really isnt much to talk about here. However, there are a few things that do need pointed out. First being that the levelwind CAN get in the way if you hook into a large fish. However the reel is very customizable and this can be removed in a few minutes with only a few screwdrivers and a youtube tutorial. (When I said a few I meant one) Overall this rod is very good for the price I paid and I will likely find myself purchasing one again for another rod. Overall rating - 9.5/10

I removed the level wind then Paired the rover 70 with a 12 okuma surf rod, spooled it with 65lb lastking braid, and a 65 lb mono shock leader. I was able to get some decent casting distance with a 6oz sinker. I noticed only after 3 days of fishing the gears would make a weird noise when i would cast and sometimes the free spool would disengage mid cast causing me to lose some tackle. The drag on my reel would also feel off, i would have to turn it down almost all the way before i would really get any resistance, eventually it got to the point where the anti reverse failed and the handle would turn as drag would be pulled. I may have just received a faulty reel, they seem worth it for the money as long as they work.