I'm just getting ready to build my first flyrod and I was just hoping for some advice. I was wondering what are the advantages/downfalls of uplocking vs. downlocking reelseats. I bought a downlocking reelseat while not realizing it and I just don't think I will like it. It seems that if I use it then there will be a fairly unattractive section of threads in the area between the reel seat and the handle. I can deal with it not looking so hot but if there isn't much to gain with it over and uplocking version, then I might as well go with the uplocking. I'm a complete novice here. I have never used a downlocking reelseat so I have nothing to compare with. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Mike

I prefer downlocking. The reel is farther back and generally balances the rod better. I also like the look of the end cap.

You can also figure out how many of the threads you need exposed to remove/install the reel and hide the rest of the threads under the grip.

Just make sure you prep the surface well before gluing the endcap.


Christian

I use downlocking on all my freshwater trout fly rods. Just personal preference.

What Christian has told you usually makes the most sense and yet if you look at factory rods most use the exact opposite. I doubt they could tell you why, other than "that's just the way we do it."

My only dislike for downlocking seats is that when you set the rod on end, you wind up putting your reel in the dirt, mud, on rocks, etc. Uplocking seats give you a little more length behind the seat and allows you to rest your rod/reel butt down on the end of the seat instead of the reel.

Of course, enterprising custom rod builders can overcome that with any number of butt extensions or the like. There are some seats that can be mounted in either direction and you might want to use one of those and do a test run with the seat tightly shimmed in both positions to see which one you prefer.

..........

Uplocking. Keeps the reel out of the gunk when you set it down (or, at least, tends to do a better job of it(....And I think it looks better, too.

Keith

Even though I don't build fly rods, uplocking looks better to me. Having fluff chucked before, the keeping crud off the reel thing is very true!!!

I am with Christian on this one, including burying the unneeded threads under the handle. You can get a big vinyl winding check to finish the spot where the threads go under the grip. Tom has a point about the reel getting in the mud, but the balance is generally better the further back you can get the reel and pocket caps look neat.

Uplocking seats have been the fad for the last ten years or so. Personally I have always preferred downlocking for freshwater sized rods. It just looks "right" to me and also the reel balances the rod better in many cases. On a rod with a downlocking seat, the locking ring on the seat has a tendency to loosen up a bit while your fishing. Turning the seat around the other way solves this problem. This is theoretically why uplocking seats are in favor today. Personally, the loosening problem doesn't bother me. I just check it every now and then and retighten if necessary.

As for protecting the reel if you lay the butt on the ground - how dare you lay it on the ground!!!!

TN handles and RodWrap for me. LoL