PISCIFUN REVIEW – Carbon X3 Spinning Reel

A fishing rod is only as effective and efficient as is the reel attached to it. And a fisherman is only as good as is the equipment he uses. Thus it makes sense should an angler wish to be the best, he would try his hardest to use the highest quality gear available.

A year or so ago, I was introduced to Piscifun’s Carbon X II spinning reel. Now I’ve had the opportunity to test drive many a spinning reel from any number of well-known companies over the past 50 years; some of them excellent, some mediocre, and some downright terrible. And just for the record, I’m not one to be nitpicky. I’m not looking for the least little imperfection. The “Well, I would have done it differently” type of conclusion; that is, on a major scale.

So, when I was asked to write a review of Piscifun’s latest spinning reel, the next generation Carbon X III, I had to first do some soul-searching and ask myself this one supposedly simple question.

One by one, let’s discuss what I’m looking for in a spinning reel. Now a lot of that decision revolves around what I’m fishing for, e.g. 11” rainbow trout or #12 silver salmon, and where, such as a small alpine lake or the the saltwater at the mouth the Columbia River. For purposes here, let’s say I’m fishing the Lower Columbia River from shore for silver salmon in mid-September casting 7/8-ounce spinners and one-ounce spoons. What do I want?

Appearance. I realize that ‘pretty’ doesn’t catch fish; still, I will admit I like a reel to look nice. I want it sleek and streamlined and good-looking because chances are I’m going to be looking at it for the better part of any fishing day. Makes sense.

Simplicity of design. I don’t want nor do I need bells and whistles and gingerbread. If I have to point out a feature and ask myself – “I wonder what this does?” – then it’s probably a little more complicated for my taste.

Comfort level. Six, eight, 10 hours. Salmon fishing for me is usually an all-day event. That said, I want a reel that’s comfortable in my hand. No fatigue. No carpal tunnel. No getting lazy due to tiredness just when a coho decides to smash my Mepps Flying C. And, at the risk of being nitpicky, I want that portion of the reel body directly below the reel foot to be strong, but not so thick as to irritate the space between my middle fingers.

Excellent drag system. Salmon and steelhead, the species I concentrate on primarily, wreck havoc on inferior drag systems, binding drag washers and freezing vital, once-moving parts tighter than a Canadian winter does still water.

Low / no maintenance. I’m pretty handy when it comes to fixing things; however, I don’t want to be working on my spinning reel every time I turn around, e.g. tightening fasteners, replacing bail springs, or swapping out drag washers, especially while I’m in the field. Routine maintenance is fine; constant repairs aren’t.

Sealed interior. We spend more than half our time in a saltwater / brackish water environment fishing for salmon, steelhead, and bottomfish, so it’s nice to have a reel that’s sealed to the elements. I understand 100 percent impervious isn’t possible, but every little bit helps.

Consistent reliability. Consistency and reliability. That’s what I’m looking for in most things, including the reels I take onto the water. It’s not asking too much for a reel to work, is it? 

I’d been quite pleased with Piscifun’s second generation Carbon X II spinning reel, coupling it with the company’s Carbon R1 rod for alpine trout, largemouth and smallmouth, panfish, and come mid-June, Columbia River American shad. Satisfied with the X II as I was, I expected good things from its sibling, the Carbon X III. All in all, I wasn’t disappointed.

Appearance. Again, ‘pretty’ doesn’t catch fish, but it definitely doesn’t hurt. With its red-on-black body and ultra thin accent ring where the handle attaches to the side plate, the Carbon X III is an attractive piece. Throw in the skeletonized spooled and slim profile, and you have a reel that looks as good as it functions.

Simplicity. Nothing at all complicated about the Carbon X III. There is no anti-reverse, so that ‘lever’ or switch is absent. Loosing or tightening the drag is done in the traditional manner at the front of the spool. Loosening the screw cap opposite the handle initiates the simple process of changing the unit from left- to right-hand retrieve or vice versa. Spooling line. Spool removal. Maintenance. It’s all very simple.

Comfort. The Carbon X III is a full two ounces lighter than the original, and 1.6 ounces lighter than the second generation model. And I do feel just a slight variation in balance between Generations II and III, but not so much as to make a tremendous difference. Comfort, it seems, is a common denominator between the Carbon X models, and the X III is no exception. The secret to the X III’s slim figure is the AirBlade Carbon material from which the spool, rotor, and portions of the reel body are made, along with the aforementioned skeletonized spool.

The Drag System. Six drag washers alternating, it would appear, between steel and carbon fiber provide 22 pounds of fish fighting force (2000 Model in the Carbon X III, more than plenty, it’s my thought, for the species for which the model is intended, e.g. trout, bass, panfish, and walleye. I’ve been pleased with the drag systems in both the Carbon X II I’ve used, as well as the Chaos XS baitcaster I’ve thrown for steelhead.

Low / No maintenance. In keeping with the ‘simple’ theme, the Carbon X III requires very little upkeep. Fasteners stay tight and don’t mysteriously jiggle lose after a ride in the truck. The handle, too, stays tight. Periodic light – Key Word: Light – lubrication of half a dozen high-friction or movement points, e.g. handle shaft, main rotor shaft, and bail arm, with a quality lubricant such as Kroil Penetrant from Kano Industries is all that’s needed.

Sealed interior. The Carbon X III carries an IPX6 rating. This translates into ‘Ingress Protection’ (IP), X for dust protection, which doesn’t apply here, and a liquid / water protection rating of six (6) on a scale of 0 – 9. All of this means the Carbon X III can fight off most typical bouts of rain or spray without suffering any type of damage; however, this doesn’t mean the reel can be submerged and emerge unscatched. In addition, six major parts, including much of the interior gearing systems, are protected by seals. These protective measures are of huge benefit here in the Pacific Northwest, where 90 percent of our angling time is spent under wet conditions.

Reliability. No, I haven’t used my Carbon X III day in and day out for a year with no major issues; however, I have fished its predecessor, the X II, for a year now in both freshwater and brackish, and I’ve not had a problem. I do keep it clean, and I do judiciously lubricate the key working features periodically. I don’t anticipate any problems with the Carbon X III.

You can buy spinning reels for less than the $100 that the Piscifun Carbon X III costs; however, and with few exceptions, that’s exactly what you’re going to get – a cheap reel. I’ve bought them. I’ve had to repair them directly out of the box. I’ve used some once, put them back on the shelf, and never looked at them again. I’m not in the business of reel repair, though I will fix them if warranted. I’m a fisherman, and that’s what I except a reel to do. Fish. Not necessarily catch fish, as that’s on my shoulders, but provide the means by which I relocate that rainbow trout or smallmouth bass from the lake to the landing net. And thus far, the Carbon X III does that without issue AND in style.