has shimano finally caught the dragon?
The match you’ve all been waiting for, Conquest SE versus 2500C
This is a question I ask myself as I fish with my Shimano Calcutta Conquest SE. While I love my Ambassaduer 2500Cs, this Conquest SE has found a special place in my heart. It’s quite capable across the spectrum, even in factory form. While the spool weighs a whole 15g, it seemingly defies physics in its ability to cast as low as 3/16 of an ounce quite easily, or about 5 grams. It can even go a little lower providing you have a suitable rod. Some reels with lighter spools can even have trouble getting to that mark. The Conquest SE? Not so much. Has Shimano finally caught up to the venerable 2500C? I feel the answer is a resounding yes. ABU set the benchmark for small baitcast reels over 50 years ago. While the 2500C isn’t as fast or refined as competing models released since, it is quite the capable caster. It too is good down to 3g in stock form with a purposeful tuning procedure. It was the reel Don Iovino chose to tune and fish small weightless soft plastics on 5lb Maxima Ultragreen in lieu of spinning reels. This is where it all began, and today it’s well respected at the very least, and loved by many.
Digging deeper into the Conquest SE, it has Shimano’s signature refinement. Art as some, including myself, call it. Those that follow me know I can’t leave good enough alone, so in this one went an Avail 36R spool, which is about half the line capacity of the original. I went this route as I ran about half a spool of Berkley Big Game 8lb prior, then topped off with my YGK x8 working line. In order to keep the weight down, I decided to swap spools. I also transplanted the SVS brake as I am a big fan. Being that my purpose with this reel is ponds, lakes, and slack areas of larger rivers, I kept the SVS intact for its distance capabilities. It can really put it out there. Other than that, I felt this reel needed nothing else. Sure, I could make it prettier, but I’m more a functionality over form kinda guy. The Avail 36R is exceptionally good, quite competent from about 3g up. This is perfect for the 1.0-1.5 号 (Goh) I use with this spool. While I haven’t tried for less weight, I’m fully confident it will be capable from about 2g.
As for the spool itself, here is a comparison between it and the Avail 2520R for the 2500C. The 2500C spool is wider, but smaller in diameter. While this is comparing apples to oranges; with the 2520R being more of a creek spool for lighter offerings, the 36R is meant for a broader spectrum from light to more standard sized lures. It really shines up to one ounce. Maybe even more, but I seldom fish baits that heavy. A more appropriate spool to compare with this would be the deeper 2540R, but alas, I sold mine as I wasn’t using it. The 2520R and 2540R are the same in every aspect but the line capacity. A 2540R should be close in weight to the 36R once filled with line. All things considered equal, the 36R should outdistance the 2540R simply because of its larger diameter. A larger diameter spool doesn’t need to spin as much to let out the same amount of line. Yes, the 36R is a bomber, much more so than the OEM spool.
You may ask why I am comparing this to the 2500C, and that’s a valid concern. My point here is spool control. If you look at the photo above, you will see there is just a single extra small brake shoe on the 2520R. This is because it’s quite controlled, even with a small amount of lateral play. It literally does whatever you ask of it with minimal fuss. If it does fluff, it’s just a minimal amount that usually works itself out by mid cast. This is a spool that requires little thumb, that is until you want your bait to drop or before it hits the water. Whichever comes first. The 36R behaves very much the same in the Conquest SE with two brake shoes engaged. The dial only needs to be adjusted to compensate for wind, while in the 2500C you may need to add a pinch of spool tension in those conditions. I’m not one to constantly mess with my brake on the water, barring any breezy conditions. Once the spool is dialed in for the minimum weight intended, everything heavier comes naturally.
Having fished the 36R in the Conquest SE quite extensively, I feel Shimano has a bigger hit on their hands than they, or most in general would understand. While it’s exceptional in factory form, it really shines with the Avail 36R. It’s quite an outstanding spool for such a great platform, and adding it really ups the ante on what you think could be possible with the reel. Shimano really should’ve done this in the first place. While the factory spool is plenty good within its limits, the 36R opens up a realm of possibility from finesse offerings all the way to what the reel was originally intended for. This is the spool you want if you’re gunning for large trout with small lures on a somewhat heavy leader. It would be equally as proficient bass fishing with Ned rigs and smaller weightless soft plastic.
I am normally not one to gush over something unless I absolutely love it. The Conquest SE with the 36R really is a special combo, and to me, puts it right on par with a modified 2500C. The 2500C has earned its reputation over the last 50 years not just because it looks classy, but it also performs in that manner, too. It’s the small reel the competition tried to match over many decades, with many imitations and no equals, until now. For as rudimentary as the 2500C is by today’s standards, it was always the beacon on the hill for competitors looking to make their own small reel, the one they all chased. The dragon has been caught. The Conquest SE is no slouch, and armed with a new spool, brings a lot to the table. So much so that it has forever found a home in my arsenal, and will most likely never leave. Many reels have come and gone from my possession over the years, but the Conquest SE is here to stay.
Almost great from the factory, but the Avail 36R makes it much better