Hardy Conquest

[Timothy Claypole]

PM received so I’ll get one up to you to have a try.

That’s wonderful, thank you so very much!

[Timothy Claypole]

Evening folks,

Just popping up to say a big thanks to Tengisgol for lending me a superlative Hardy Conquest. The reel arrived in the post this morning and I fear it may be love at first sight!

As a 4.25” diameter reel, I was pleasantly surprised that the spool width is 5/8” (a smidge more than a Match Aerial). Putting it on the scales is where it gets impressive. It’s 191g (give or take a few grams for kitchen scales, but still considerably under 200g and thus very light). The spool on its own is a featherlight 90g, and that is loaded with 4lb line.

Of course none of that means anything unless it’s free running, and this is the most impressive bit for me. When attached to a rod, 1BB is enough to get the spool turning.

I can’t wait to get it on a rod and catch some fish now!

[RBTraditional]

Once you’ve fished with it Timothy it’ll be a lifelong love affair….they are uncomplicated and beautiful just like all the best “girls” are ….

[Timothy Claypole]

Once you’ve fished with it Timothy it’ll be a lifelong love affair….they are uncomplicated and beautiful just like all the best “girls” are ….

Well I must say you were right in your prediction RB! What a fabulous reel to fish with- so light you barely know you're holding it, extremely responsive and casts very well indeed. I think Nobby said somewhere that Hardy got right what a lot of others got wrong with the Conquest (or words to that effect). The only (very) minor criticism I have is that the depth of the spool makes the retrieve a little slower than something like a Match Aerial. Having said that, after fishing for a whole morning on a breezy day and only experiencing one tangle (and that on the last cast because I decided to give it some serious oomph to see how far it would go), I'd pick it over a MA all day long.

TC

[Pallenpool]

Once you’ve fished with it Timothy it’ll be a lifelong love affair….they are uncomplicated and beautiful just like all the best “girls” are ….

Well I must say you were right in your prediction RB! What a fabulous reel to fish with- so light you barely know you're holding it, extremely responsive and casts very well indeed. I think Nobby said somewhere that Hardy got right what a lot of others got wrong with the Conquest (or words to that effect). The only (very) minor criticism I have is that the depth of the spool makes the retrieve a little slower than something like a Match Aerial. Having said that, after fishing for a whole morning on a breezy day and only experiencing one tangle (and that on the last cast because I decided to give it some serious oomph to see how far it would go), I'd pick it over a MA all day long.

TC

If you’ve fallen in love with a conquest - wait till you try a Hardy Wallis No.1 pin………

[Paul F]

Once you’ve fished with it Timothy it’ll be a lifelong love affair….they are uncomplicated and beautiful just like all the best “girls” are ….

Well I must say you were right in your prediction RB! What a fabulous reel to fish with- so light you barely know you're holding it, extremely responsive and casts very well indeed. I think Nobby said somewhere that Hardy got right what a lot of others got wrong with the Conquest (or words to that effect). The only (very) minor criticism I have is that the depth of the spool makes the retrieve a little slower than something like a Match Aerial. Having said that, after fishing for a whole morning on a breezy day and only experiencing one tangle (and that on the last cast because I decided to give it some serious oomph to see how far it would go), I'd pick it over a MA all day long.

TC

If you’ve fallen in love with a conquest - wait till you try a Hardy Wallis No.1 pin………

Exactly Pete, conquest are good, the Wallis No1 is a different level, and they never have wobble, my all-time favourite trotting reel

[Crucian]

Once you’ve fished with it Timothy it’ll be a lifelong love affair….they are uncomplicated and beautiful just like all the best “girls” are ….

Well I must say you were right in your prediction RB! What a fabulous reel to fish with- so light you barely know you're holding it, extremely responsive and casts very well indeed. I think Nobby said somewhere that Hardy got right what a lot of others got wrong with the Conquest (or words to that effect). The only (very) minor criticism I have is that the depth of the spool makes the retrieve a little slower than something like a Match Aerial. Having said that, after fishing for a whole morning on a breezy day and only experiencing one tangle (and that on the last cast because I decided to give it some serious oomph to see how far it would go), I'd pick it over a MA all day long.

TC

If you’ve fallen in love with a conquest - wait till you try a Hardy Wallis No.1 pin………

Exactly Pete, conquest are good, the Wallis No1 is a different level, and they never have wobble, my all-time favourite trotting reel

Hard to disagree with that Paul, I love mine. The only problem being finding one for sale.

[AllRounder]

Once you’ve fished with it Timothy it’ll be a lifelong love affair….they are uncomplicated and beautiful just like all the best “girls” are ….

Well I must say you were right in your prediction RB! What a fabulous reel to fish with- so light you barely know you're holding it, extremely responsive and casts very well indeed. I think Nobby said somewhere that Hardy got right what a lot of others got wrong with the Conquest (or words to that effect). The only (very) minor criticism I have is that the depth of the spool makes the retrieve a little slower than something like a Match Aerial. Having said that, after fishing for a whole morning on a breezy day and only experiencing one tangle (and that on the last cast because I decided to give it some serious oomph to see how far it would go), I'd pick it over a MA all day long.

TC

If you’ve fallen in love with a conquest - wait till you try a Hardy Wallis No.1 pin………

Exactly Pete, conquest are good, the Wallis No1 is a different level, and they never have wobble, my all-time favourite trotting reel

Hard to disagree with that Paul, I love mine. The only problem being finding one for sale.

You’ll have to ask me nicely

[Timothy Claypole]

Once you’ve fished with it Timothy it’ll be a lifelong love affair….they are uncomplicated and beautiful just like all the best “girls” are ….

Well I must say you were right in your prediction RB! What a fabulous reel to fish with- so light you barely know you're holding it, extremely responsive and casts very well indeed. I think Nobby said somewhere that Hardy got right what a lot of others got wrong with the Conquest (or words to that effect). The only (very) minor criticism I have is that the depth of the spool makes the retrieve a little slower than something like a Match Aerial. Having said that, after fishing for a whole morning on a breezy day and only experiencing one tangle (and that on the last cast because I decided to give it some serious oomph to see how far it would go), I'd pick it over a MA all day long.

TC

If you’ve fallen in love with a conquest - wait till you try a Hardy Wallis No.1 pin………

Exactly Pete, conquest are good, the Wallis No1 is a different level, and they never have wobble, my all-time favourite trotting reel

Hard to disagree with that Paul, I love mine. The only problem being finding one for sale.

You’ll have to ask me nicely

Now that is just showing off

[John Milford]

I've just taken delivery of a 4" Conquest.

The reel is in lovely condition - clean, spins well and without wobble.

There was a little bit of play on the spool, but there is no adjusting screw in the boss (like there is on Grice & Young reels e.g.).

So, I thought I'd unscrew the boss to see if there was one underneath (no).

The problem I've therefore given myself is now getting the boss back on with the little lever and spring staying in place!

I've done this with other reels and found it fiddly but do-able.

The location of parts seems obvious, however reassembly while keeping everything correctly positioned and under spring tension is proving fiddly beyond belief!

Does anyone know if there is a knack to it with the Conquest please?