Retrieve: Once your lure splashes down and you engage the spool, that signature Shimano smooth reveals itself. The 2021 Conquest line of reels feature the company's hyper-tensile, micro module gears and a shaft that extends through the spool and pinion gear (Infinity Drive Gear System). All of this contributes to a very smooth feel when turning the handle. Additionally, the full metal construction of this reel leaves little room for flex or other signs of inconsistency.

The knobs themselves are oversized, but still very comfortable to grasp

There are those that argue against the benefits of micro-module gearing and the longevity of the design. I can only speak to my personal experience. Having owned just about every iteration of micro-module enabled reel - Chronarch/Metanium tier and above - I can say I haven't experienced any issues. I can also say I'm not certain this enhancement alone is the reason behind how smooth these reels perform during the retrieve, but it certainly doesn't hurt.

The obligatory look inside

Power: An area many anglers, not just big bait enthusiasts, might not enjoy on this reel is its relatively short, 84 millimeter handle. Were this reel made for the US market, it would no doubt come with at least a 90mm, if not longer handle. For whatever reason, reels made for the JDM market alone typically have shorter handle lengths. However, I'd argue this is more of an ergonomic issue than actual performance since, after a few casts and retrieves, the issue of handle length never entered my mind until I began writing this paragraph. Frankly, I'm a little surprised. I recall having an issue with the short, 70 mm handles of some of my Scorpion reels years ago, but maybe 84 mm is just a comfortable, general length for me.

Hyper-tensile, micro module gears

Which also means the Conquest 201HG lacked nothing for me in the power department. While swimming wake baits on the surface doesn't require much power, cranking them back in at a brisk pace is equivalent, if not more demanding, than pulling a deep running crankbait. This reel handles those duties relatively easily, and I fished the HG model with a 6.5:1 gear ratio. There's an even slower retrieve ratio available at 4.8:1 in the standard model if you want maximum torque.

The pinion is supported on both sides with a bearing

Drag: As with all Shimano reels, if maximum stopping power is your calling card, the 2021 Conquest will disappoint you. Rated with a max drag of only thirteen pounds (13lbs), this is not a reel for those who need bigger ratings in this department. I'm not in this camp. Instead, my concern is how smooth and consistent the drag performs while fighting a fish so I can be sure it's not still hot while coming into the boat. This new line of Conquest reels performs up to the Shimano standard in this regard too.

Single, carbon matrix drag washer

Inside we can see the Conquest 201HG comes with a single disc drag washer, typical of Shimano baitcasting reels. The material is some kind of cross carbon fiber and spans a good portion of the main gear's inner surface interrupted with the clicking mechanism that results in the audible drag.

With all its curves and edges, this latest Conquest is still a machined work of art

Design & Ergonomics: I mentioned earlier, that in 2014, Shimano Japan reduced the palming side of these reels so that each model palms one size down as compared to the previous version. For 2021, turns out the manufacturer increased ergonomics even further by lowering the spool just a hair - four millimeters to be exact, as specified for the 100 model.

This is the measurement I took (front plate to reel foot) when comparing ergonomics of previous generations

Unfortunately, I don't have a previous model 200 sized Conquest to compare, but what I did do was to measure the distance from the bottom of the reel foot to the top of the front plate/bar on both my 2014 model Conquest 101 to this 2021 Conquest 201HG. What I discovered was a difference of only about one millimeter (43mm for the 101 and 44mm for the 201). Taking this same measurement between my 2020 Conquest 101 and 201 DC reels, I came up with 42mm and 45mm respectively - a difference of 3mm. So there is a definite improvement here with the latest Conquest.

This photo illustrates how much that front bar steps down from the top of the reel and is flattened to provide a comfortable resting spot for your thumb

Of course, because the Conquest is a round reel, the top of the sideplate extends beyond that top bar. Obviously, depending on how you hold the reel, there is still that overall height to overcome. For me, the heel of my hand actually sits behind the reel so that height to the top bar is the actual critical distance. Maybe this is why, in general, I don't find round reels uncomfortable to fish. However, for comparison's sake, that reel foot to top plate distance on my 2018 Bantam MGL is just 36 millimeters, so a low profile reel is still far more ergonomic by comparison. Finally, for those left to wonder, this measurement in the OG Conquest 50/51 is 43mm.

There is a Conquest for just about every bass fishing application you may want to fish

Price & Applications: Retail cost for the '21 Conquest 201HG is 56,700 JPY - or in today's dollars, about $502.50. Exchange rates and fees vary and will affect the final price. Conquest is not quite at the status of Antares (or the cost), but it is a flagship product for Shimano so hence the high cost to acquire. While the versatility of this reel depends on the size and variant you select, there is a Conquest for just about every bass fishing application you may want to fish - from a BFS tuned variant through a large capacity 400 size. This 201HG is a very good choice for general applications where your line of choice is somewhere in the range of 0.300mm to 0.400 (generally 10lb - 25lb test depending on the brand of fishing line). I'd scale up or down in size from there depending on how much line you need on your reel to be comfortable.

Conclusion: If you go through our archives, you'll know Shimano's line of Calcutta/Conquest reels holds a special place in my reel cabinet - like literally a drawer dedicated to the platform. My takes haven't always been positive (note the Calcutta 12), but, to paraphrase John Legend, because of its solid feel and refined edges, curves, and perfect imperfections, I have a special appreciation. However, if there were one thing I could change in this 2021 refresh, it would be the reel's finish. I admit I'm being hypocritical here. I lamented the fact that with the latest Scorpion DC, Shimano changed color schemes, and were it not for the fact the latest Conquest DC has such an inspiring appearance, I'd probably be ok with the classic brass/gold of the non-DC Conquest. But because of the successful makeover of the Conquest DC line, I'd be all for a similar treatment to this reel. An all black or maybe warm gray, brownish toned Conquest would probably be enough to sap my enthusiast tackle budget.

While I really enjoy this 2021 Conquest, my search for the latest reel worthy of our Ultimate Enthusiast Award continues

So while this Conquest's increased ergonomics are intriguing and I certainly appreciate the fact this refresh continues the legacy of brand's refined look, feel, and performance, for now, I can resist the urge to splurge on an entire arsenal. That's a good thing because even I'm not sure how many more reels at this price point I can endure. Instead, this '21 Conquest 201HG will slide right into my arsenal for the next few years and the search for that next reel to inspire Ultimate Enthusiast vibes continues.