Why are there sooooooo many variations of fly rod reel seats out there, mother of pearl, titanium, etc, and so few for spinning and casting rods? It don't make sense to me. It seems heavy saltwater stuff has more options than the inshore stuff with the colored AFTCO, Lakeland, etc aluminum seats and gimbals, and the Amtak stuff is opening up a lot more doors for freshwater. It still doesn't seem like they are even remotely close to each other as far as the amount of options out there. I'd love to find a mother of pearl spinning or casting seat for my wife.

Phil

You're exactly right - there are few cosmetic options with regard to spin and casting reel seats. The Fuji type seat has virtually taken over this market mainly due to the fact that it holds a reel so securely and refuses to rust or jam. The fly fishing market in general, is slow to adapt to new ideas or better technology.

I suspect if spinning and casting reel seats were available in various cosmetic styles, they'd sell pretty well. But I doubt that most fishermen or builders who have experienced the practicality of the nylon/graphite type seat would ever move back to aluminum or similar. Doesn't mean that unique inserts can't be made for the nylon/graphite models, of course.

..............

Try using fuji skeletons and wood inserts on your spinning rods. Acrylic inserts can be turned and you can be just as creative with spinning seats as flyrodders have been. Maybe flyrodders are just more evolved than baitcasters & spinners. (LOL).
Kenneth Prager -at work instead of home building another fly rod!

I always paint my seats. Then you can cut and put in some nice wood

I hate graphite reel seats. I will never build a rod with one. They are one of the reasons I want to make my own rods. Sure, they are light, and dont stick to your fingers in the cold, and apparently last forever. But they are still cheesy plastic under another name, imo. I am just ordering an AL8L2B reel seat, to see if it will take a regular 'ol spinning reel. I have used a stuart aluminum seat with no problems. The cutouts are alittle wide, but no big deal, its nice and tight.