Reel Seat Question

[k-e-v-i-n]

Hope someone can help me out on this as I am a NEWB at rob building... We all start somewhere... I was at M&D's over the summer and he was showing me a reel seat on a 10ft surf rod that wasn't your typical screw-tight instead it was a snap in that sat on the underside of the spinning rod. He was explaining to me that it allowed the rod to bend more naturally?

Any insight, direction or info is appreciated... Thanks in advance.

[Goose]

imo.. When glass or composite blank is under load you will feel the blank flex through the butt section more so then a stout graphite blank. It's really a matter of preference, imo, that type of reel seat suits convc. better. If there's a particular rod that suits two different areas then moving the seat 3 to 6 inches is no big deal. expl. The rod casts well on the beach for spring fishing but you also like the rod at the ditch, there, a shorter butt is better because of less room to load it for cast.

[Back Beach]

Probably one of the "strap on" types. It doesn't go around the blank like the tubular style seats, which get glued on. You wrap it on with thread and if you don't like the position of it, you can move it without disassembling the rod.

[stripadan]

I don't like the plate-style reel seats. Convenient yes, but never seem to hold the reel securely, there is always a little play. At night (when else would you be fishing?) the play in the reel seat just throws off my sense of feel. Two of my rods had no reel seats and I installed plate seats. Both rods will have Fuji seats installed over the winter.

[Saltheart]

There are some plate seats better than others for holding the rel but in general , I am not a fan of them. Some guys with small hands like them . I prefer a full seat. I also do sand tapers , etc on some full seats , etc for a more comfortable grip. I think the better plate seats have the plastic liners under the metal hoods. How tight the hold the reels is a matter of luck as far as the feet of the reel fitting one of the descreet steps in the seat lockdown mechanism. Its descreet steps , not infinite like the threads to tighten a regular reel seat. If you reel happens to be at the right size for one of the steps , you are good but if you need to go up a step , the reel can be loose. I also think thet even if they fit well at first , they tend to work loose a little.

Anyway , lomgwinded but I think if I didn't want a full seat , I would prefer taping the reel on rather than a plate seat.