I had the chance to spend some time this spring putting the Piscifun Carbon X III Spinning Reel through its paces while chasing walleyes and smallmouth, and I came away pretty impressed with how it performed on the water.

Right out of the box, the first thing I noticed was how incredibly light the reel is. When you pair it with a lightweight spinning rod, the combo feels almost effortless to fish all day. During the spring walleye bite, when you’re casting jigs and plastics for hours at a time, that reduced weight really makes a difference. My wrist and forearm definitely appreciated it during some longer days on the river.

The Carbon X III also feels very smooth on the retrieve. Whether I was slowly working a jig along current seams for walleyes or making repeated casts along rocky shorelines for smallmouth, the reel stayed consistent and fluid. There was no grinding or roughness, even after a few days of fishing in windy, sandy conditions along the riverbanks.

Drag performance is another area where this reel stood out. Spring smallmouth are notorious for putting up a strong fight, especially in current, and the drag system handled them really well. I had several fish make quick runs boatside, and the drag started smoothly without any sudden jerks or hesitation. That’s something I pay close attention to, especially when fishing lighter lines for finesse presentations.

I also liked the balance of the reel. The carbon frame keeps it rigid without adding unnecessary weight, and it paired nicely with the medium-light rods I use most often for early season river fishing. When vertical jigging for walleyes or casting small swimbaits for bass, the setup felt dialed in and comfortable.

Another thing I appreciated was the line management. I spooled the reel with braided line and ran a fluorocarbon leader most of the time, and I had very few issues with wind knots or line twist. The spool design seems to lay line evenly, which makes a big difference when you’re making lots of casts throughout the day.

Durability will always be the real test over time, but after a full spring of use, the reel still feels tight and smooth. It handled cold mornings, occasional splashes, and plenty of fish without showing any signs of wear or performance loss.

Overall, the Carbon X III has proven to be a solid performer for the type of fishing I do most in the spring. It’s lightweight, smooth, and has a reliable drag system—three things that matter a lot when you’re targeting walleyes and smallmouth on spinning gear. After putting it to work this season, it’s definitely earned a spot in my regular rotation.

If you’re thinking about trying one out, you can save a little money by using code RBO16 at checkout on the Piscifun website to get 16% off the Carbon X III. It’s a nice bonus if you’re looking to upgrade your spinning setup for walleye, bass, or other finesse fishing applications.