Just wondering...I see most manufacturer's saltwater fly rods are equiped we rather uninspiring black reel seats. I realize salt is corrosive, but there have got to be some good looking light saltwater reel seat options for fly rods.

Can you get away with Fuji spinning seats using their wood inserts--or impregnated wood inserts in general? Will the salt ruin wood every time?

I noticed Abel rod company just began offering "coral" designs--wild, mult-colored saltwater seats and reels that certainly breaks the trend of blah. Anything out there amongst our buying options to spice things up a bit?

P.S. I don't have a lathe to allow me to turn marble (looks great Tom) and other materials for my own inserts, but I'll be happy to buy from those who do.

Struble I believe makes a Titanium Seat

Pac Bay makes some nice aluminum saltwater seats in anodized gold and in titianium and black. Relatively cheap too.

I swear I read this on the old Guiuld board. A certain somebody who loves using Cocobolo buffs the heck out of the insert with different grades of polish & different wheels. I wish I could fins this in the archives, but this section has been lost. I believe he said he had no problems with his wood inserts finished in this fashion.

I also believe stabilizing the wood will allow you to use it in any conditions.

Rob,

The Able "Camo Coral" seats are beautiful. You can buy the reel to match as well. The only draw back is, they cost more than a house. But, if your looking for something truly unique...

Bill Doherty

Rob,
The pac bay seats mentioned are pretty decent.
Also, Batson's Forecast reel seats anodized in model A9L2-T
is a nice inspiring titanium finish pretty nice and relatively inexpensive.

Rich
Richard's Rod & Reel

Rob,

Before I got my lathe I had Robert Venneri turn some inserts for me to fit the 16mm fuji seats. I have two of them on rods I use in saltwater. One is a cocobolo insert and the other is a stabalized dark maple burl. Both have held up fine. He has these seats listed on his website under spinning seats(i think). If you don't see them on his site, I have a couple of pix on my eboard of those inserts. [eyoung.eboard.com] ....look in the "fuji inserts" tab

Hope this helps.
Eric