I have to admit that when I purchased the Sougayilang Colorful Fishing Reel, it was because of its colorful purple/green and blue presentation. It kind of reminded me of an Evangelion Unit-01 (for those of you familiar with the anime series “Neon Genesis Evangelion”.
I went with the Sougayilang Colorful Fishing Reel LY4000 for the bigger reel because I was not familiar with Sougayilang spinning reels and size of reels are not always as consistent especially among brands. So, just in case the line was too small, I went with the LY4000 which was pretty low at under $30.
Before I begin my review, let it be known that I am a Shimano and Daiwa user primarily. But for my YouTube and blog audience, I always am willing to try various rods and reels at different pricepoints because at the end of the day, my feeling is that you can catch fish with anything. Fish don’t care. Expensive gear and cheaper gear, same as a car. An expensive and a cheaper can get you to the same destination, the question is how long will it last you in the long run, the durability and the experience.
I truly believe that if you keep up with maintenance and care, your fishing gear can go a long way.
Sougayilang is based in China with corporate and manufacturing operations tied to locations in Nanjing and Jinhua. Next to KastKing, they are one of the most popular Chinese fishing brands that have garnered a lot of purchasing attention thanks to Amazon and its inexpensive pricing compared to big brand models and people who have caught many fish with their fishing gear and not hurting the wallet. And before anyone throws shade, just remember that a large percentage of major fishing brands today, the rods and reels are made in China.
the Sougayilang Colorful Fishing Reel LY400 features a 13+1 BB light weight spinning reel with a CNC Line Management Graphite Frame and is built for freshwater. It also has a lightweight aluminum handle connected to a large EVA knob which is nice.
Measurements are 4.2 inches in height and 4.8 inches in width, bail size comes to 3.6 inches. The spool itself is 49mm (1.92 inches) in height and 52mm in width (2.04 inches) coming in at 55 grams. The reel is quite catchy in appearance with its perforated holes at the bottom of the reel which is creative and interesting.
The weight is light and the spool itself is aicraft grade aluminum to reduce weight and has 5:2:1 Gear Ratio with precision brass gears, hardened metal shaft, triple disc carbon drag washers, mesh drive gear and machined pinion gear. The 13 ball bearings are corrosion resistant and the drag delivers up to 22 pounds of run-stopping drag power.
Part of the popularity with Sougayilang are they are able to create cool looking fishing gear and it’s inexpensive. This particular reel is under $30, most reels I purchase are 5-6 times more than this.
Prior to using this, I made sure everything was moveable and nothing had to be oiled for first time use. The spool has a lining but I always use electrical tape as I want that spool locked in tight to the reel when adding my line. Made sure the handle was tightened by the side.
As for the line itself, I wanted to put this reel to the test and test to see if it can catch big chunky catfish or carp.
Because the reel can use up to 0.40mm of line, I used a 50lb. braided fishing line, mossy green with a 1/4 weight and bead to a Kumho carp rig with three hooks loaded with kernels of corn and spring with my homemade bait (panko bread crumbs, oatmeal, red jello and corn). I paired this reel with a medium heavy 8 foot rod.
I took it out for a few hours in the early morning and by the end I was able to catch five big carp (four with the this Sougayilang). I did hook onto a really big catfish but it was a big fight and it knew on instinct to go into deep vegetation but still had it hooked but my trusted long metal net bent when I was trying to land it and metal on the base of the net shattered and the last fight with the catfish was able to slice the line with its fin. Reel worked as intended to catch that chunker but I was not in the best location (quite dangerous location to be honest) to land it.
But nevertheless, when I’m able to catch several carp on it, I was pleased with the results. I had no problems with the drag, no problem with the reel at all. In fact, it worked as well as my more expensive reels.
Sometimes I read reviews on Sougayilang products and notice that some of the negative reviews are typically based on situations that typically beginners or someone new to fishing have had. If you are planning to purchase this as your first reel, my three advice is make sure the line is heavier. If you are new, use braid to ease some frustration or heavier fluoro or mono (over 20 lb.), make sure its tightened and tied on the spool and add electrical tape around the initial line and make sure the line is tight. Then make sure you don’t overspool. Make sure drag is not too tight or too loose. Watch videos online on how to cast. And also make sure the handle is tightened. Some people when they purchase a reel and think it’s ready to go as is, but the handle lock screw on the other side of the handle must be tightened. And a big advice I give to beginners, when look for a rod, go for a medium heavy (a jack of all trades rod) and try to keep it over 7’0″.
The Sougayilang Colorful Fishing Reel LY4000 looks pretty cool but as an inexpensive fishing reel at under $30, it worked perfectly. I would purchase the 4000 as it’s just right if you want to catch bigger fish, otherwise if your goal is crappie or bluegill, then the 1000 and 2000 will suffice, but I feel by purchasing the LY4000 you literally can catch small and bigger fish with it.
The Sougayilang Colorful Fishing Reel LY4000 is recommended for functionality, its cool look and its attractive price at under $30!
