I have been building ultra-light spinning rods for over 25 years, and have used about every handle configuration you can imagine. I have always liked Tennessee handles, but hated the slip rings. I don't like taping the reel on because it's a pain to change reels. On my last rod I used a Tennesse handle and taped on a small Fuji plate seat and I am sold. It's easy to get the reel on and off and I love the way the handle feels. The seat raises the reel foot off the handle a bit, which actually gives me alittle better control of my rod. I wish I would have figured this out 20 years ago. The plate seat is worth a try, they cost very little and if you don't like it you cout the tape and it' gone.

In fact I was doing this 20 or more years ago. But I found the plate added a little more weight than I wanted on my lighter rods. Not that these seats are heavy, but they do tend to add a bit on such lightweight rods.

I will say this about them - they hold a reel very securely and are not at all uncomfortable in the hand. I very much agree wtih you that they're worth a try.


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Here is anothe option: A philipson reel seat, if you can find or make them
[www.ricksrods.com]
near the bottom

They are used on all sorts of light rods here in Japan. They actually make the bottom half of the blank larger diameter to accomodate them, without having to make a tenessee type setup.

Of course all those rods are already built Daiwa's and Shimanos's, etc, not blanks available on the market. They do work well though.

Phil

I used one on a ice rod I made for someone. I put it on a light cedar handle and wrapped it on with the same thread I used for the guides. Came out looking nice!!! I have not got any feed back other than it looked real nice and that it was a cool concept.

For the really light stuff I use I tape em on. Takes a few minutes, but I don't change reels that often, as a matter of fact I have ice rods that the reel was taped on 5 years ago and has not been off since :-)