KastKing KK-Centron 500-1 Spinning Reel Review
Our verdict
At just $20.65, the KastKing KK-Centron 500-1 has racked up 9,600 reviews averaging 4.5 stars, more reviews than any other reel in this comparison by a wide margin, plus 600-plus units bought last month, the highest demand figure here. At 9.87 ounces, it's also the lightest reel discussed, built for size 500 finesse and ultralight fishing.
Check price on AmazonBest for
Anglers who want a size 500, 9.87-ounce ultralight spinning reel for panfish, trout, or finesse presentations, backed by the largest review count and highest recent purchase volume of any reel in this entire comparison.
Skip if
Skip it if you're chasing catfish, carp, or trolling for bigger saltwater species, since the size 500 spool and 9.87-ounce build are meant for light line and small fish, not the heavier-duty size 6000 or trolling-specific reels in this niche.
- Material Aluminum
- Weight 9.87 Ounces
- Technique Spinning
- Size Size 500
- Color Centron
- Pieces 1
- Priced 55% below the category median ($45.98 across 92 tracked models)
Our scorecard
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Owner rating4.5/5
4.5 average across 9,600 owner ratings
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Popularity5.0/5
9,600 owner reviews, more than most models here
The overall score is owner satisfaction weighted by how many reviews back it, so a high rating from few reviews counts for less. The bars below show where this model stands against the other fishing gear and tackle we track in this category on price, popularity and size. Context, not marks against it, and our read of the data, not a lab test.
Overview
Picture chasing panfish or trout off a dock with a light spinning setup, and the KastKing KK-Centron 500-1 is sized for exactly that job. At $20.65, it's one of the cheapest reels in this comparison, priced close to the IX's $19.99 and well under the Shimano SC2500FG's $44.99 or the size 6000 baitfeeder reels that run over $60.
At 9.87 ounces, an aluminum size 500 reel is built to be felt as little as possible in the hand, ideal for detecting light bites on finesse presentations rather than muscling in bigger fish. That places it well under the 15-ounce KastKing KK-Sharky III SP 3000 and far under the 1.32-pound Burning trolling reel, confirming its role as the true ultralight option in this lineup.
The buyer numbers here are the strongest in this whole comparison. With 9,600 reviews averaging 4.5 stars and 600-plus units bought last month, it beats every other reel discussed on both review volume and recent purchase count, including the 5,289-review KastKing KK-Sharky III SP 3000. For anglers who fish light, that scale of proven demand is hard to beat at this price.
Pros
- 9,600 reviews averaging 4.5 stars, the largest review sample of any reel in this entire comparison.
- 600-plus units bought last month, the highest demand figure among all reels discussed.
- At $20.65, it's one of the most affordable options in this lineup.
- 9.87-ounce aluminum build makes it the lightest reel compared here.
- Size 500 spool suits finesse and light freshwater presentations well.
Cons
- Size 500 and 9.87 ounces make it unsuited for catfish, carp, or trolling applications that need more capacity.
- Its 4.5-star average, while strong, trails the 4.6 stars posted by the Shimano SC2500FG and the IX.
- No listed feature callouts like anti-reverse or gear ratio, unlike some other KastKing reels in this comparison.
- Not built to handle the heavier lines or bigger fish the size 6000 or trolling-focused reels target.
Specifications
| Material | Aluminum |
|---|---|
| Weight | 9.87 Ounces |
| Technique | Spinning |
| Size | Size 500 |
| Color | Centron |
| Pieces | 1 |
Performance notes
At 9.87 ounces, the KK-Centron 500-1 is the lightest reel in this comparison by a clear margin, sitting well under the 15-ounce KastKing KK-Sharky III SP 3000 and far under the 1.32-pound Burning trolling reel. That weight class, paired with an aluminum build and a size 500 spool, points to a reel meant to disappear in the hand during long sessions casting light lures for panfish or trout. Size 500 also caps line capacity well below the size 2500, 3000, and 6000 reels elsewhere in this niche, so it's not the reel to reach for when targeting bigger, harder-fighting species. What the spec sheet doesn't list, gear ratio or specific feature callouts, is worth noting, since some competitors in this comparison spell those out directly. Buyers should treat this as a dedicated light-tackle tool rather than a do-it-all reel.
What buyers say
With 9,600 reviews averaging 4.5 stars, this reel has the largest review base of anything in this comparison, nearly double the 5,289 reviews behind the KastKing KK-Sharky III SP 3000 and well ahead of the IX's 1,700. The 600-plus units bought last month is also the highest demand figure among every reel discussed here. That scale of sustained purchasing and feedback suggests a reel that has become a default pick for a huge number of light-tackle anglers. Its 4.5-star average sits just under the 4.6 stars posted by the Shimano SC2500FG and the IX, but given how much larger its review pool is, holding that close to the top is a meaningfully strong result.
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Frequently asked questions
Why does the KastKing KK-Centron 500-1 have so many more reviews than other reels?
Its 9,600 reviews are the most in this entire comparison, nearly double the KastKing KK-Sharky III SP 3000's 5,289 and well beyond the IX's 1,700. Combined with 600-plus units bought last month, the highest figure here, it points to a reel that sells in far higher volume than its competitors.
Is the size 500 spool big enough for anything besides panfish?
Size 500 is built for light line and smaller species, so it suits trout, panfish, and finesse presentations well, but it isn't sized for catfish, carp, or the trolling applications that heavier reels like the size 6000 or trolling-tagged options in this niche handle.
Is $20.65 a good price for this reel?
Yes, relative to this comparison. It's priced close to the IX's $19.99 and well under the Shimano SC2500FG's $44.99, yet it carries a larger review base and higher recent purchase volume than any of them, making it a strong value pick for light-tackle anglers.