I've just recieved my 2wt Forecast kit from Bob at Hok and Hackle. After looking at the reel seat and grip i've decided i'm going to put these on a 9' 5wt IMX which i've been meaning to rebuild for a while. It was my first build and wasn't the best of jobs!

My question is - I now need to find myself a suitable reel seat and grip for the 2wt. Any suggestions? I'm thinking maybe small metal seat hardware with a cork spacer??

I'm open to all opinions so anything you think may be cool on this rod, try me.

Also should I put different guides on while i'm at it? I was thinking SF wire instead of the snakes in the kit. What make? Sanke Brand, Forecast etc?

Cheers for all your help. It's amazing for a an inexperienced builder to be able to have contact with proffesionals for advice.

Daniel

Hi Daniel,

I think you are right - I would also go with a screwed seat because I do not loke too much the ones with a slide piece (would damage the cork or teh wooden spacer by time I assume).

If I would be in yr place I would check with Struble, REC or Batson - also depending on the money you intend to spend. All of them have some nice skeleton seats which are also suitable for a class 2 rod.

In regard of the guides I would recommend to go with single foot guides because the blank does not require too much weight - I assume it is a RX 6 blank.

OK. Now lunch is ready I have to go. Keep me posted if you like about the outcome, I am thinking to build up also something similar from the RX6 range for light river fishing.

RGDS,
Ole

Dan... Some thoughts on a reel seat for this blank... Consider Pac Bay A5 hardware with a cork insert. This hardware is super light aluminum and the cork insert is easy to turn on a drill lathe. For the guides... If you change your mind and decide on traditional snakes, consider the Pac Bay or Hopkins & Holloway light wire guides. Hook & Hackle carries Pac Bay light wire guides (very inexpensive). Be careful with the grips in the light weight blank kits. The diameter of the blank butt is smaller than the bore in most off-the-shelf grips. Unless you want to try and build up the blank with thread you may have to turn your own grips for these blanks. (Cabela's carries fair quality rings with a small bore and other vendors carry unbored rings. I bought some unbored rings from a cork company in Canada for two of theses blanks.) Shoff Tackle used to carry excellent rings with a small bore, but they discontinued this item a year ago, unfortunately. Regards, Vance

daniel, personally, i love the cap and ring style downlocking reel seats, use them on all of my four and three weight rods so far and i'm thinking of that blank as well someday, especially since i picked up a 2wt line reecfntly for a great price. i can provide more details, but aluminum hardware is great. check out the REC, struble, bellinger offerings in downlocking cap and ring seats. i don't care for cork inserts. seems overkill trying to loighten everything so much and the one cork reel seat i have doesn't seem to grab very well. the use of aluminum rings works very well with holding the reel. a coule of other companies offer some very nice, classic looking cap and ring DL seats. look on the internet for rush river rods, and jim bureau's reel seats offerings. there's also golden witch, a sponsor found to the left.

a side note, i didn;t like the look of DL cap and rings either at first, but once i tried one, it grew on my to the point that my initial stock of uplocking screw reel seats sits unused in a bag in the garage.

if i was using snakes, i'd lok into the light wire snakes as well, but my first thought would be the single foot wires. i'm very fond of the titanium finished guides and usually use pac bay, although batson is another great option.

good luck. let me know if you want model details for the reel seats. i'm going to be late for mother's day brunch.... :-)

eric
fresno, ca.

I like the cork insert and the cap & ring down locking seat for the 2wt. I also like a wood insert. Ralph

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

Jann's Netcraft sells a nice cork grip with 2 aluminum rings that is very light and would balance that rig nicely. I think it's only $10 or so.

I used the cork handle from Jann's that Jeff referred to and was quite pleased with it. I used it on a 6 ft 6 in 2 wt Pac Bay blank along with single foot guides.

Dave