Does anyone have one of these yet? I was hoping to hear from someone who has actually fished these rods?

 

Let me know what you think...

It's not mine and I haven't seen it in person yet, but from the pics, the wraps and finish are absolute crap for a $600 rod.

I just got a Conquest 843c casting rod yesterday. It is definitely not crap. The fit and finish including the cork, wraps, etc are all top notch. I sold my NRX in order to get it. I have only taken it out on the water for an hour or so. I will need more time to see if it is really better than a NRX. Before I drop more big bucks on a spinning rod, I was hoping to hear some more “on the water” experiences.

If this is top notch, I'm the Easter Bunny.  I've been told by retailers that this is the rule, rather than the exception.

 

This looks like the same shoddy thread work and finish that appeared on their prior flagship, no reason to improve on it now.  I guess I expect more quality out of a supposed high-end stick.

 

Gaps in the wrap and finish not extending from the wrap on to the blank.  Also, excessive finish creating a football.

 

Gaps again, unlevel finish and even bare threads on the left side.

 

Even more gaps....

I see what you mean. Mine doesn't look anything like that, but if it did I wouldn't be too happy about it. I did read of some quality control issues on the prior NRX. I didn't ever encounter it though.

Honestly if it doesn’t I’d be shocked. There’s only a couple of mass production rods that don’t have rampant issues with this. 

22 minutes ago, BasserJim said:

Honestly if it doesn’t I’d be shocked. There’s only a couple of mass production rods that don’t have rampant issues with this. 

 

Forget the threads, how does this rod fish?  I'm dying for that first on-the-water report from you Jim.

NRX had problems too. That's why they had to switch from the black and blue rod to the green rod. But all is well now. Maybe wait a minute until they can fix any potential QC issues before you buy one

I normally won't comment on something I haven't used but I can tell you what my fishing buddy told me. He has an NRX spinning rod, an 842S that he says is the most sensitive rod he has ever used but he wanted a little more length so he got a 902S Conquest. He had it on the water the first time yesterday and called me to tell me how disappointed he was with the rod, he said the action is nice but the sensitivity isn't even on par with the GLX and nowhere close to an NRX. Now, sensitivity is subjective but what isn't is action, he said he felt the rod would be more valuable as a moving bait rod, and because of that he thinks he spent way too much. He said the rod has a nice fit and finish and feels great in hand and it would be fantastic if it had the same sensitivity as his NRX which is what he was hoping for, or even close would have been good because he wanted the length. He is packing the rod up to send back and get a GLX 892S instead. I have heard similar reports that the rods lack the same sensitivity as their predecessor but you can't always trust every report you read but I do trust my friend and he just got this rod and used it for 5 hours just yesterday, I know as I heard him complain about it for an hour straight and for that price I guess I'd complain too. So if you are looking for a high end spinning rod with good sensitivity then you'll be happy with it but if you are looking for NRX type feel, you may be slightly disappointed. 

2 hours ago, smalljaw67 said:

I normally won't comment on something I haven't used but I can tell you what my fishing buddy told me. He has an NRX spinning rod, an 842S that he says is the most sensitive rod he has ever used but he wanted a little more length so he got a 902S Conquest. He had it on the water the first time yesterday and called me to tell me how disappointed he was with the rod, he said the action is nice but the sensitivity isn't even on par with the GLX and nowhere close to an NRX. Now, sensitivity is subjective but what isn't is action, he said he felt the rod would be more valuable as a moving bait rod, and because of that he thinks he spent way too much. He said the rod has a nice fit and finish and feels great in hand and it would be fantastic if it had the same sensitivity as his NRX which is what he was hoping for, or even close would have been good because he wanted the length. He is packing the rod up to send back and get a GLX 892S instead. I have heard similar reports that the rods lack the same sensitivity as their predecessor but you can't always trust every report you read but I do trust my friend and he just got this rod and used it for 5 hours just yesterday, I know as I heard him complain about it for an hour straight and for that price I guess I'd complain too. So if you are looking for a high end spinning rod with good sensitivity then you'll be happy with it but if you are looking for NRX type feel, you may be slightly disappointed. 

Thanks for sharing.

5 hours ago, smalljaw67 said:

I normally won't comment on something I haven't used but I can tell you what my fishing buddy told me. He has an NRX spinning rod, an 842S that he says is the most sensitive rod he has ever used but he wanted a little more length so he got a 902S Conquest. He had it on the water the first time yesterday and called me to tell me how disappointed he was with the rod, he said the action is nice but the sensitivity isn't even on par with the GLX and nowhere close to an NRX. Now, sensitivity is subjective but what isn't is action, he said he felt the rod would be more valuable as a moving bait rod, and because of that he thinks he spent way too much. He said the rod has a nice fit and finish and feels great in hand and it would be fantastic if it had the same sensitivity as his NRX which is what he was hoping for, or even close would have been good because he wanted the length. He is packing the rod up to send back and get a GLX 892S instead. I have heard similar reports that the rods lack the same sensitivity as their predecessor but you can't always trust every report you read but I do trust my friend and he just got this rod and used it for 5 hours just yesterday, I know as I heard him complain about it for an hour straight and for that price I guess I'd complain too. So if you are looking for a high end spinning rod with good sensitivity then you'll be happy with it but if you are looking for NRX type feel, you may be slightly disappointed. 

 

Another well known website did an initial review on the Conquest and said it was on par with the NRX in sensitivity, I'm sure that is model dependent.  Assuming the sensitivity is the same, the only Conquest I am really interested in is the 783, because that model is not offered in the NRX and I like a rear full grip.  Other than that, I will be holding on tightly to my NRX's.

 

Thanks for Sharing!

I took my Conquest 843C out fishing for half a day today. The jury is still out at this point. The sensitivity was good. I was fishing a jig and either I had a bunch of short strikers or I may not like the MBR action with the fast tip compared to my NRX with the extra fast tip. The tip may be too soft. I will give it fair shake, but I have to say that I was not blown away. I am beginning to wonder if the Loomis's JWR rod's with the extra fast tip are still the better choice for bottom contact baits. On the positive side, it is extremely light and the reel seat is more comfortable than my old NRX. It also doesn't have the noisier recoil guides. I will do some further testing and see if the new design grows on me. For the price, it will have to.

Edited November 21, 20178 yr by Rodney Smith
Correction

I have zero desire to try these rods though I have a few NRX rods and a new GLX. For one the price is outrageous and for two I demand a sharper and sexier rod for that sort of money. For the same money I could buy a MB Destroyer or other high end JDM or even high end custom on a sweet blank that would probably be on par with it and crush it for looks.

 

Give it a few years and these companies will have rods pushing 1k. The price of these Conquest rods are crazy. Even on sale or rep sample prices are still going to be $100 more than a NRX. If the sensitivity is at or under a NRX why get one? Do the slightly different lengths and actions matter that much? Could one not find about every length and action desired between the GLX and NRX lines?

 

This was a poor move by Loomis and hope that their plan isn't to phase out the NRX rods and over time and have these as their replacements.

I dont consider this an actual "Loomis" rod its more of a Shimano rod finished by Loomis. They are using Shimano blanks not Loomis blanks so I dont see these Conquest rods as the successor to NRX but just another Shimano offering.

Honestly I'm relieved to hear they aren't the rod fallen from the heavens because I'd probably have been put under the spell of the monkey.

Sorry to here folks who have shelled out that kind of coin aren’t as happy as they’d like to be and deserve to be. Fortunately these weren’t on my radar, they are too rich even for my blood. 

16 hours ago, Rodney Smith said:

I took my Conquest 843C out fishing for half a day today. The jury is still out at this point. The sensitivity was good. I was fishing a jig and either I had a bunch of short strikers or I may not like the MBR action with the fast tip compared to my NRX with the extra fast tip. The tip may be too soft. I will give it fair shake, but I have to say that I was not blown away. I am beginning to wonder if the Loomis's JWR rod's with the extra fast tip are still the better choice for bottom contact baits. Additionally, I thought with the new technology, I would see a little increased distance and accuracy. I did not. On a the positive side, it is extremely light and the reel seat is more comfortable than my old NRX. It also doesn't have the noisier recoil guides. I will do some further testing and see if the new design grows on me. For the price, it will have to.

This is exactly what my friend told me. He said the taper is probably the reason for the decreased sensitivity, the JWR and old BCR where faster and that stiffer feel is what made them more sensitive. On the other hand the mag bass taper of the MBR rods were a little softer in the tip section and while still fast they flexed a little further down the blank than the other tapers. The MBR rods are great for versatility and have decent sensitivity but I really wouldn't pay over $600 for a mag bass rod.

I know this is old but I just happen to run into this thread

 

I have a 842 conquest spinning rod and its very sensitive, I also have a GLX 842 and IMO I feel that the Conquest is a little more sensitive but its hard to tell, its definitely lighter in weight and feels like it has more power.

 

Honestly, I would go NRX, Conquest then GLX in sensitivity, but all three are amazing.