KastKing's iReel One

[Smallie_Stalker]

Found this on the web today. Thought I would share.

"Maaaaaan I was skeptical. Real skeptical. A reel with a chip in it? An app that talks to you? I was like, No thanks!

BUT I should be past the point of doubting the KastKing guys because they're always pushing the envelope and don't really miss. When they explained this reel to me – with a tour pro listening too – it got interesting.

Few things off the bat.
- You don't need to charge the reel to use it.
- You don't need to use the Bluetooth functions at all.
- You don't need to use them while you're fishing BUT they can still record so you can look at the data later.

There's way too much to say about it here but the biggest deal appears to be: retrieve speed. As in, it measures your actual retrieve speed. So if you don't get a bite at 1.1 mph but you do at 0.9 or 1.5, that's useful info...if you're the type that wants to know that...and I'd say most tour pros would be because – once again – they're all bassin' nerds looking for an advantage.

And yes it does account for change in retrieve speed as you lose and gain line on your spool.

I met company founder Tate Cui (who is a fisherman and went to Syracuse U) there for the first time and he in fact said that retrieve speed was the focus...meaning they focused on a practical application, not just tech for tech's sake:

For all you forward-facing sonar folks, the reel will also let you know how long your cast is.

There's a lot more new stuff too, like this line guide... (1st Pic Below)





...but the bottom line is the reel got a lot of buzz. Word is retailers dug it and I saw some guys from other reel companies in the KastKing booth checkin' it out!"

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Personally it looks to me (when you see the online video) like the Line Guide is an improved version of Daiwa's TW concept. It is a wide rectangle When making a cast, but then turns to make for a narrower (but not TOO narrow) take up when retrieving. The Daiwa TW presents 2 problems with the T-Wing - Leader knots can catch in the narrow part of the mechanism on retrieve, and if you run the line over your finger when reeling the T-Wing can cause the line to lift out of that narrow part of the mechanism and not spool correctly. In theory this reel could eliminate both problems.

All the digital information could be both a help or a hinderance depending on how you use it. It's good to know that making a 100 ft. cast and retrieving at 0.25 MPH is catching the fish, but if you are spending all of your time looking at a phone screen instead of concentrating on the fishing then.....

Anyway, I found the concept interesting.

What do you all think?

[Dink Dawg]

I read the intro piece for this reel.  It made a huge impression on me.,,,,,,,then I gathered myself and realized I have enough reels to cover me for the rest of my life and having analytics incorporated in to my fishing won't be happening at any time, ever, in the future, regardless of industry pressure, or any other influence that might creep it's way into that trend.  No sir! It ain't gonna happen.

[Princeton_Man]

I read the intro piece for this reel.  It made a huge impression on me.,,,,,,,then I gathered myself and realized I have enough reels to cover me for the rest of my life and having analytics incorporated in to my fishing won't be happening at any time, ever, in the future, regardless of industry pressure, or any other influence that might creep it's way into that trend.  No sir! It ain't gonna happen.

My thoughts exactly!

It's a nifty toy and if someone were to GIVE me one, I'd surely play with it a little, but if I'm fishing a tournament I've got more important things to do. Heck, I don't even waste my time with cameras and I've got three of them. WTH difference does knowing the speed in mph of your retrieve or the distance in feet or inches of your cast? Most seasoned outdoorsmen can estimate distance fairly accurately.

I can picture KastKing's Bass anglers of the future now. They'll look something like Steve Urkel from the sitcom, Family Matters. he'll have an iPad, linked up with AI's ChatGPT, inputting his lure's weight, color, hook size, and line data along with his cast distance and retrieve speed, looking for advice on how to catch the fish. 

[Smallie_Stalker]

I read the intro piece for this reel.  It made a huge impression on me.,,,,,,,then I gathered myself and realized I have enough reels to cover me for the rest of my life and having analytics incorporated in to my fishing won't be happening at any time, ever, in the future, regardless of industry pressure, or any other influence that might creep it's way into that trend.  No sir! It ain't gonna happen.

My thoughts exactly!

It's a nifty toy and if someone were to GIVE me one, I'd surely play with it a little, but if I'm fishing a tournament I've got more important things to do. Heck, I don't even waste my time with cameras and I've got three of them. WTH difference does knowing the speed in mph of your retrieve or the distance in feet or inches of your cast? Most seasoned outdoorsmen can estimate distance fairly accurately.

I can picture KastKing's Bass anglers of the future now. They'll look something like Steve Urkel from the sitcom, Family Matters. he'll have an iPad, linked up with AI's ChatGPT, inputting his lure's weight, color, hook size, and line data along with his cast distance and retrieve speed, looking for advice on how to catch the fish. 

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