I have a glass fly rod with a butt diameter too large for a wood or even a cork insert and I want to avoid using an all metal reel seat. I have decided to use rattan and have experimented sucessfully with a thin arbor of masking tape under the rattan.

I am concerned however that eventually water will migrate pass the rattan finish to the tape and cause the rattan/ tape bond to fail. I have considered coating the tape with something like permagloss before I install the rattan with wood glue, or possibly using fiberglass drywall tape.

Before I go ahead with the final construction I was hoiping to get some thoughts from the board. Thank you.

Unless you need an arbor I would try contact cement or perhaps rodbond to glue the rattan directly to the blank. If you put the rattan in boiling water, turn off the heat, and let it soak for an hour it will get very soft. Use rubber bands to hold it in place after it is spiraled on. Wind on your contrast thread and coat with poly. I have done one reel seat with rattan, but it was over cork. It is a very slick surface for a reel foot to sit on.

Try using a skeleton seat without the insert and leave the blank exposed!
I did this on a much heavier casting rod and it works and looks great so far.

Raymond Adams
Eventually, all things merge, and a river runs through it..