Conquest 200HG for Big Baits

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DirtyD64
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Conquest 200HG for Big Baits

Post by DirtyD64 » Wed Oct 26, 2022 8:04 am

Finally have a 7'11"Heavy rod on the way, rated for 1-4oz. Probably use 6.8"/7.8" Keitechs, occasional glide bait, and mostly A-rigs with it. I initially was set on getting a Curado 300 or Tatula 300 in the lower gear, but had a chance to get another Conquest. The 100HG feels solid enough to do anything, just has a very low line capacity. The 200 size Calcutta is listed as holding 145m of 14lb while the Tatula 300 is listed to hold 215m of 14lb, so they aren't too far apart.

I just wondered if the 200HG Conquest would be up to the task of throwing the lighter end of big baits. The drag is significantly less, and the 84mm handle is an annoyance, but for around $100 more I can get one hell of a solid reel. I just didn't know if it would be up to the task.

PKN8
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Re: Conquest 200HG for Big Baits

Post by PKN8 » Wed Oct 26, 2022 12:54 pm

I've got the '15 Conquest 200HG. Been throwing everything from 4" keitechs to 9" glides. Does fine with all the above. I wouldn't have too many concerns IMHO.
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Re: Conquest 200HG for Big Baits

Post by DirtyD64 » Wed Oct 26, 2022 1:38 pm

PKN8 wrote:
Wed Oct 26, 2022 12:54 pm
I've got the '15 Conquest 200HG. Been throwing everything from 4" keitechs to 9" glides. Does fine with all the above. I wouldn't have too many concerns IMHO.
Nice, nothing against the Tatula 300 or Curado 300, just not sure I need something quite that big. I always figured if I didn't like chunking big stuff I could repurpose the Conquest 200. Finding somewhere else to use a 300 size reel would be difficult. It just confuses me, I don't see a major difference between the 200 and 300 size Conquest other than ergonomics/weight, and a different level wind engagement (tracks during cast). The guts and frame seem to be built similarly, so I don't see a 300 size Conquest handling a 3oz lure fine and the 200 breaks cause of the same lure. I just wasn't sure and wondered what anyone else thought. Still a hard decision to make, the Tatula 300 seems like a pretty robust reel.

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Re: Conquest 200HG for Big Baits

Post by DirtyD64 » Sat Oct 29, 2022 7:18 am

Got a rod in from warranty, Lew's has been very good to me. Had my guides go bad on an older Team Lew's Custom rod, and they replaced it with the 7'11"Heavy 1-4oz Super Duty rod. Came in very quickly. I learned very quick though that I probably do not need a 300 sized reel. I might be fine with some 100s even. I used my old Zillion TWS (fairly large reel) with 17lb fluorocarbon and threw larger baits with ease. I threw an A-rig, a Picasso w/ 4 blades and 5 3.3" Rage Swimmers, 4 of those weightless and the back wire running a 1/4oz head. I also threw a 6" Huddleston... what a mistake. I was always led to believe they were heavier, large lures, but I think a stout Medium rod could throw a 6" Hud in a pinch. I threw the 8" Easy Shiner with a 1/4oz weight easily, and thew down to a 5.8" Keitech easily.

What I learned is exactly what everyone told me on here. I FOR SURE didn't need an Extra Heavy. Gary from Tackle Trap suggested a Daiwa Kage MH A-rig rod and I see why now it would be better. I didn't ignore his advice, just had a chance at free replacement so I figured I would use it first. I am still lost for now about a reel, the Zillion TWS doesn't reel feel overwhelmed, just doesn't match so well.

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Re: Conquest 200HG for Big Baits

Post by John2204 » Wed Jan 11, 2023 11:21 pm

I picked up a Conquest DC 200HG about 6 months ago from Digitaka. Fantastic reel,I changed the handle to a 90 mm one, and I use it for my swimbaits. The ones I throw are from 1-3.5 oz and it works fine. Only problem is that I loved the reel so much, I picked up 2 Conquest DC 100HG's as well, now my Bantam and Metaniums are gathering dust in the garage...

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Re: Conquest 200HG for Big Baits

Post by DirtyD64 » Thu Jan 12, 2023 5:00 am

John2204 wrote:
Wed Jan 11, 2023 11:21 pm
I picked up a Conquest DC 200HG about 6 months ago from Digitaka. Fantastic reel,I changed the handle to a 90 mm one, and I use it for my swimbaits. The ones I throw are from 1-3.5 oz and it works fine. Only problem is that I loved the reel so much, I picked up 2 Conquest DC 100HG's as well, now my Bantam and Metaniums are gathering dust in the garage...
I should have gotten a 200HG 2021 Conquest when the JPY was down. I also missed an amazing deal on a Tatula 300 at TackleTrap during their fall sale. I am okay using my Zillion TWS, it is a big reel and seems up to the task for now. I would rather have another 100HG Conquest or another finesse reel. Big baits, heavy swimbaits, A-rigs, etc. don't see much use when I fish, so I hate to spend a lot on that setup. This being said, my collection is caught up nice for what I do, so eventually I will add a nice heavy duty reel.

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Re: Conquest 200HG for Big Baits

Post by LowRange » Thu Jan 12, 2023 2:22 pm

For that rod I would go with a higher capacity bass low pro reel. I doubt it is going to throw 4 oz with any degree of competency. No experience with that rod but once you get into multiple ounces of weight lure ratings they are often very optimistic. I would use braid with a lefty reel in a faster ratio. Something to punch with and then throw a 3 oz glide, Savage Gear swimbaits, bull shad and Gatarels/Jrs. I'm not a big glide bait fan myself. I get bit on the multi segment stuff mostly.

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Re: Conquest 200HG for Big Baits

Post by Cal » Thu Jan 12, 2023 2:41 pm

LowRange wrote:
Thu Jan 12, 2023 2:22 pm
I'm not a big glide bait fan myself. I get bit on the multi segment stuff mostly.
Curious... what's the typical visibility of the water you fish with these baits?
Cal, Managing Editor
"fish with mindfulness : beware the darkside"

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Re: Conquest 200HG for Big Baits

Post by LowRange » Thu Jan 12, 2023 2:46 pm

Cal wrote:
Thu Jan 12, 2023 2:41 pm
LowRange wrote:
Thu Jan 12, 2023 2:22 pm
I'm not a big glide bait fan myself. I get bit on the multi segment stuff mostly.
Curious... what's the typical visibility of the water you fish with these baits?
Very good early in the year then it gets darker in summer from pleasure boat traffic. It just a lot of time casting and working glides with no follows but I can throw a Gantarel Jr or 5" 3D Bluegill around shallow cover and get crushed so I do that.

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Re: Conquest 200HG for Big Baits

Post by Cal » Thu Jan 12, 2023 2:51 pm

LowRange wrote:
Thu Jan 12, 2023 2:46 pm
Cal wrote:
Thu Jan 12, 2023 2:41 pm
LowRange wrote:
Thu Jan 12, 2023 2:22 pm
I'm not a big glide bait fan myself. I get bit on the multi segment stuff mostly.
Curious... what's the typical visibility of the water you fish with these baits?
Very good early in the year then it gets darker in summer from pleasure boat traffic. It just a lot of time casting and working glides with no follows but I can throw a Gantarel Jr or 5" 3D Bluegill around shallow cover and get crushed so I do that.
Interesting... feels more like a cover deal and not water clarity. Was just curious... with the success for you with the Gill profiles, don't sleep on the Molix gill bait I wrote up over the Fall.. It's a two piece but fishes a lot like the Gantarel Jr - which to me doesn't fish like a traditional 3piece.
Cal, Managing Editor
"fish with mindfulness : beware the darkside"

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Re: Conquest 200HG for Big Baits

Post by LowRange » Thu Jan 12, 2023 4:37 pm

Cal wrote:
Thu Jan 12, 2023 2:51 pm
LowRange wrote:
Thu Jan 12, 2023 2:46 pm
Cal wrote:
Thu Jan 12, 2023 2:41 pm
LowRange wrote:
Thu Jan 12, 2023 2:22 pm
I'm not a big glide bait fan myself. I get bit on the multi segment stuff mostly.
Curious... what's the typical visibility of the water you fish with these baits?
Very good early in the year then it gets darker in summer from pleasure boat traffic. It just a lot of time casting and working glides with no follows but I can throw a Gantarel Jr or 5" 3D Bluegill around shallow cover and get crushed so I do that.
Interesting... feels more like a cover deal and not water clarity. Was just curious... with the success for you with the Gill profiles, don't sleep on the Molix gill bait I wrote up over the Fall.. It's a two piece but fishes a lot like the Gantarel Jr - which to me doesn't fish like a traditional 3piece.
Perfect. Seems like a nice glide for me to get some confidence in potentially. I always wanted to try a Molix bait.

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