I'm getting ready to build a 7 weight flyrod with a fighting butt and have a question regarding how to attach the fighting butt. The assembly consists of the fighting butt and a stem and a flange piece that mounts into the back of the reel seat. The stem screws into the flange. The part of the flange that the stem screws into will actually fit up into the butt end of this particular blank. The fit is not real snug but I question if this is how it should be assembled. My concern is that it would but stress on the interior wall of the blank and perhaps cause it to crack when playing a fish. Is this how they are supposed to be assembled or should you extend the reel seat further back on the blank so that the stem is not up into the blank? Would appreciate any help.

Dave

Yes the stem goes into the blank. The little flange that the reelseat fits on is not enough to hold when putting pressure or leverage on when fighting a fish. Depending on how much space there is glue will fill it. The glue has to get between the stem and the blank to hold anyway. And the outside is reinforced by the reelseat. I don't know how much space you've got there. Wrap some thread on it? Leaving plenty of space for the glue to hold the stem. That's what I would do. Maybe someone else has a better way.

Normally, you would slide the seat back far enough so that the seat flange has room to fit, or trim the rear of the blank by enough to make up for the length of the flange. It is not designed to fit inside the blank, but if it will fit, go right ahead. The pressure will on the junction of the flange to the seat barrel walls, not the blank.

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