The reel seat on my GLoomis factory rod looks dead straight inline with the butt guide. I just got a new Daiwa 4500 reel that runs 15 ozs and is set up left hand retrieve. When I mounted it on my rod, the reel "lists" a bit to the right underneath because the handle must throw the balance off slightly I assume.

I don't know about lighter spinning reels but on reels of this weight, if I build a new rod specific for this reel, should I offset the reelseat so that the "balanced center of the reel" aligns with the guides and spine or just put it in the center and not worry if the rod leans to one side? Thanks.

It won't make a difference in performance at all either way so I wouldn't mess in it at construction time.. I'm not sure if your saying that your suspending the rod in your hands with the reel on and it lists to the side or are you saying that the reel is now not straight with the guides? If it's not straight with the guides, loosen the reelseat and move the reel foot over some than tighten. The Loomis rods have a 17 mm or larger reelseat on them and this leaves a little play in the reelseat sizing where the hoods are wider than the reel foot. Just move it over some.

Right, the reel can certainly be centered and once you snug it down it should remain in perfect alignment with the guides.

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