Building a 6.5 spinning reel for bass fishing. Blank O.D. in reel seat area is roughly 0.350. Looking at fuji or forecast reel seats at Shoff's. My question is what size do I go with? I want it to fit into a mans hand but not be either to big or to small...

I meant 6.5 ft spinning rod..jeeez.

That would totally depend on the size of the hand and what is most comfortable. I would order one of each.As cheap as they are, I keep a 16, 17 & 18 on hand for comparison. the size of the blank would not be a concern unless it was a really large blank.

Mike

How do you arrive at size 16,17,18? Is that I.D.? Could someone just suggest a good size for most fishermans hands? Fuji only.

FUJI - 18 MM -ID Reel Seat. Since this is just an ordinary line class rod (under 20#), there really is little reason to go larger in the reel seat department. You don't want the hoods on a 22+ MM -ID reel seat, which would probably be too lose for the reels that would match that rod.

An 18MM-ID reel seat would be a perfect size, IMO, considering the hands of an angler who stands between 5'4" and 6'0" tall. Your blank's Butt OD is 0.350" = 8.9MM or less. And you will need an arbor of final OD 18MM-ID = ~ 0.70" OD or slightly less for your graphite arbor to properly shim that reel seat.

I am only 5'10" and have normal size hands, and I strongly dislike a 16MM-ID reel seat , unless it is a rod for 8# line or less, like a whispy little black crappie wand. Just too dang tight a fist to be relaxed when holding it for more than 5 minutes at a time, especially in cold weather, for me anyway. But that is NOT what you are building, ...

So that's my "2-MM's" worth of differential advice on the subject.
Feel the 18mm and see for yourself. IMO, -Cliff Hall+++

I'm 5'11" and I prefer a 16 or 17 so I don't think that you can go by that. It's what feels right. No way would I like an 18. Seats are under $5 and if you're not familiar with them, you'd be way ahead by having one of each on hand. Unless it's a very large blank, you'll probably have to use an arbor/shim regardless of which one you use.

OK I'll pile on since I'm 5'11" too. All of my spinning seats are 20. My suggestion would be to go to a big box sporting goods store and handle a bunch of rods with "Fuji DPS" on the reel seat. The size is stamped in the channel that guides the hood. It should say something like DPS18, which is the most common. You'll more than likely find a 16 seat on an ultralite. You can compair the two for size.

I build walleye rods and strive for lightness. So beware/forewarned...

That said, most guys fishing walleye hold the rod by the cork rear grip and put one or two fingers out onto the reel seat, aiding in the balance and the sensitivity (graphite reel seat, graphite<brick foam for the technicals> arbors, graphite blank). I build most of them with a size 16 and some with 17seats. Heavier trolling rods for deep diving crank baits that most guys put in a rod holder most of the time get size 18 at times, but even then they're usually 17's.

All of my personal rods have size 16 seats on them. I use one finger, lightly touching the side of the reel seat.

Putter
Williston, ND

Thankyou all for the education. I'm locked on now.....