Introduction: Low profile reels change shape and evolve with every passing year. What's considered small and comfortable one year can be obsolete in the matter of three to five. Round reels on the other hand are much more enduring. After all, there's not much you can do to change the shape of round. Most bass fisherman are familiar with Shimano's USDM flagship round reel, the Calcutta, but how many are aware of that reel's JDM counterpart, the Conquest?
HM , MSRP $549 , that can explain the 6 in price maybe.
Shimano extends this design to the Conquest and then they make the reel even more comfortable to palm by lowering and flattening out the top plate at the front of the reel
But it gets still a 6,8.
One thing is certain:
If you pick one up, you might not be able to put it down
And yes, I really like the possibility to have at least two diff. retrieve ratios.
HM , MSRP $549 , that can explain the 6 in price maybe.
Shimano extends this design to the Conquest and then they make the reel even more comfortable to palm by lowering and flattening out the top plate at the front of the reel
But it gets still a 6,8.
One thing is certain:
If you pick one up, you might not be able to put it down
And yes, I really like the possibility to have at least two diff. retrieve ratios.
Well done Shimano!
BR //T
Just know that as with most reels with Shimano, they can be had for a lot cheaper right now through Japan. I recently purchased one and have it as my dedicated cranking reel. It works great with 12ln line. I was a little concerned with line capacity but haven't had an issue.
As stated in the article, I was also concerned about the 75MM handle and was planning on buying a 90mm but never got around to it. Now that I have used it for some time, I have found that it is quite comfortable and a replacement handle is really not needed. This will not hold true to everyone but with me, I can't complain.
I noticed a math error in the Design and Ergonomics table, should be 19/25, which would raise the final total score to 8.5. Even better!
Good review. This is a very nice reel, Shimano did a great job with it, my only complaint is the shortish handle, but I got the CQ200 handle for about $60 or $70 as I recall, this upgrade was well worth it to me.
