Conquest 844C vs. 905C

[BooyahMan]

Was hoping someone out there who either owns or has fished a Shimano/Loomis Conquest 844 and/or the 905 can help me out.

 

I am looking at these two rods for a very specific application. I will be pitching to laydowns and sight fishing from up on an embankment with very tight openings between thorn bushes and trees. Depth is between 1-5 feet and water is quite clear so fish are easy to spook. It is very tight quarters; basically the second I hook a fish I need to keep them pinned to the shoreline and then scramble through a bunch of thorn bushes to get those fish out. If they turn they will probably get wrapped up in either the laydown or wrap me up in the thornbushes. Trust me it's just as much hell as it sounds! But...I've broken my PB doing this a couple times and it is hella fun when it works. 

 

Here is my dilemma. I need a rod that has a lot of horsepower to keep these fish from turning. However because of how easy it is to spook these fish and how shallow most of it is, I sometimes will toss weightless 4-5" swimbaits or go down to a Zoom Lizard and a 1/4oz bullet jig. I am leaning towards the Conquest 844C MBR as I have had decent success with heavy powered rods in the past but was wondering if it was worth moving up into the 905C for the extra lifting power? I know the 905C is severely overkill in terms of lure weight range for most of the stuff I throw but I did read a few accounts of people fishing 3/8oz jigs on it comfortably. For what it's worth casting accuracy is critical, while distance is not. If I can present a lizard accurately 20 feet away on the 905C still that would be a huge plus, but if the 844C has ample lifting power already then I will stick to that. 

 

Thanks for any and all input!

 

 

[softwateronly]

I fish a lot of 7'6 rods, but the way you described your situation would give me pause.  Bank, trees, and thorn bushes seem like tight spots to swing your casts into narrow targets.  That said, I have a conquest 904 and once I get into the power on the blank I feel like I can move or direct most any bass.  I'm sure someone with more gloomis experience will add in, but I'd lean to an 844.

 

 

scott

[ATA]

I have both of this rods, And if I am there in that situation ill pick up my 844C.

Honestly my 905C is for open space with no trees like from the docks or pier or if I am on the boat and use it only for heavier jigs to make bomb cast. 

[BooyahMan]

9 hours ago, softwateronly said:

I fish a lot of 7'6 rods, but the way you described your situation would give me pause.  Bank, trees, and thorn bushes seem like tight spots to swing your casts into narrow targets.  That said, I have a conquest 904 and once I get into the power on the blank I feel like I can move or direct most any bass.  I'm sure someone with more gloomis experience will add in, but I'd lean to an 844.

 

 

scott

Appreciate the input. You make a good point about shorter rods being easier for getting into those tight spots. 

6 hours ago, ATA said:

I have both of this rods, And if I am there in that situation ill pick up my 844C.

Honestly my 905C is for open space with no trees like from the docks or pier or if I am on the boat and use it only for heavier jigs to make bomb cast. 

I think it was one of your posts that I came across when doing some research on these two rods so I am glad you responded here! Do you find the 844C still has enough power to move fish out and away from cover quickly?

 

 

[ATA]

4 hours ago, BooyahMan said:

Do you find the 844C still has enough power to move fish out and away from cover quickly?

yes.

[rangerjockey]

My first thought is I would buy a NRX or GLX and save the $. But, if your set on a Conquest then By all means get it.

Secondly , I can't imagine standing on the bank in cramped quarters trying to flip a 90 inch rod.

844 for me.