I've built 3 fly rods and have run into a problem. The locking rings and collar on the reel seats I'm getting are too small for the feet on my reels. I use Okuma reels, but I'm wondering if anyone could recomend any reel seats to solve the problem. Or is it the cheap Okuma, and should I get a better reel?

Thank you for your assistance.

The Fuji or similar nylon/graphite seats will fit any fly reel foot on the market. If you'd rather stick with a different seat, you're going to have to shop around or, as you say, get a different reel. The fly fishing industry still doesn't haven't a good standard for reel feet going.

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i had the same problem with some of redingtons reels also tom is right...........

bryan. which okuma reel do you have? i have an integrity 5/6 fly reel and i encountered the same problem. or rather, i noticed they were bigger than other reel feet. i asked okuma about it and they said their feet are built to a "standard," dropping "AFTMA" in the email's wording. on the other hand, i have redington CT reels (a 3/4 and a 5/6) which appear to be much smaller than my usual lamson radius reel's feet. they all work, but there is quite a difference and to use the term "standard" size is a joke. unless there are several "standard" sizes.

i have noticed from catalogs and the company's respective web sites that both Struble and REC offer a few fly reel seats in two configurations, one for smaller weight rods and another for larger weight rods. i would imagine this accomodates larger and smaller reels too. perhaps other big name reel seat manufacturer's do this as well (bellinger for instance) but i do not know off hand.

eric
fresno, ca.

I'll add one additional alternative. I am not familiar with the Okuma reels, but If the Okuma has a removeable foot, you can replace it with the foot of another reel that fits the seat. Sometimes you need to re-drill the hole pattern. The cosmetics may not be what you wanted but the result will work especially if the rod is complete. I have done this with early Redington reels using a Martin foot that was a perfect fit and with a Corland foot with some machining. Finding parts can be an adventure but some companies will sell you just the foot as a replacement part for their reels if you find one that fits. It's best to have reel and components in advance as you now have concluded.
Regards,
Kenneth Prager

I've had a similar problem with my Pfleuger Medalist fly reels. Ralph

If at first you don't succeed, go fishing, then try, try again.

Ever think of just grinding the reel seat foot to fit the seat. Jesse

many people grind the feet. i've seen a lot of used reels with such notes as having some grinding done in the past. if it's the integrity, contact okuma and request a new foot, grnd that one down for your needs, save the unground one in case you wish to sell it someday.

pfleuger's are well known to have large feet.

writing to the company may help. i was originally contacting okuma for a reel seat replacement and they sent one for free. you could always ask if their smaller reel, the sierra, has same hole placement if the footing is replaceable, i think the feet are smaller. i don't know which okuma you're dealing with but the integrity has a separate foot, with two small screws. cheaper reels are usually one piece die cast i think.

eric
fresno, ca.

Thanks for the input gentlemen. I have decided to grind the feet on my Okuma. I'll use it while I save for a new reel.

Thanks again!!!!

After grinding, why not color it then put a coat of say permagloss on

Actually, there is a reel seat standard that was developed by the American Fly Tackle Manufacturers Association (AFTMA). If you go to the REC website, they have a copy of the standard, with measurements, and all. I would not expect some of the Japanese brands to use the AFTMA standard. However, I have found that most US manufacturere and some US companies that have products fabricated off shore use the AFTMA standard for their fly reel seats.

My $0.02

Doug Weber
Weber Rod Works