I have a NPS reel seat I plan on putting on my new dropshot rod project, and I can't really decide if I want it mounted up-locking or down-locking. I'm leaning up-locking, but would like someone who has used this seat to push me one way or the other. I'd like to hear your reasoning on why you would mount it the way you prefer.

thanks,

Mike

I mount them downlocking so the smaller diameter of the seat naturally locates the palm of the hand. If you mate it with a butt grip of similar size and then gently swell the grip to the rear, you have what I think is the most comfortable reel seat/handle on the market.

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

Mike,

If you go to the RodMaker site and look on the covers of back issues in the last couple years you will see the handle as Tom describes. He featured it on a smallmouth spinning rod project he described in that issue. I had never used the handle but I built myself that rod with that handle after reading the article. I have to agree with Tom that the handle is very comfortable to fish all day. I did a two day canoe float last year fishing that rod for about 10 hours each day and was impressed.

Steve

Correction Mike, it's on the RodMaker home page, featured on the cover of issue 5-4. NPS downlocking with short butt grip flared to the rear and almost no foregrip.

I just did a spinning rod handle with the NPS seat and mounted it down locking with the the threads trimmed so that there is no exposed threads when the reel is locked in. Then I used a couple cork rings in front turned down so the hood will slide over them and the rear grip is a split cork grip. I like downlocking with threads trimmed so that the hand does not rest on any threads and so your finger can rest on the blank in front of the grip.

I knew you guys would set me right. Like the idea of cuttin off the extra (not needed) threads and allowing the hood to unscrew over the front. Sounds like it'll look real clean if I manage to get it right.

Thanks

I prefer them uplocking [www.rodbuilding.org] and just build an epoxy ramp from the blank to the seat andt wrap it. It's really a personal prference. For me, the way I hold a spinning rod, the hand never touche's the threads this way.

Mike

Here's a couple of mine with the locking nut down....[www.rodbuilding.org]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/25/2005 07:52AM by Doug Cox.

Doug,

I'm confused! I do mine in the same direction that you do (the threads towards the butt) and I always thought that was considered "up locking" with the nut moving "up" towards the tip when tightened. Which is the right term??

Mike

Sorry...I meant to say the the locking nut was down.