Do folks who use exposed blank casting seats do so to enhance feel? I know they are a schoosh lighter in weight than a full seat with a foam arbor which may enhance the rods feel, but has anyone ever actually felt a fish bite with their finger on the blank beneath the seat?

Not really a question that matters much but over this winter I've spent to much time thinking about it.

In my opppinion Absolutly!!
although I'm not sure they are lighter.

Neil; I don't think it is as much feeling the bite as it is comfort . I have thought about it a lot also. I use a bunch of them. The Bass Tournament fishermen I build for love the FUJI ACS seat. They all palm the reel and they say the ACS keeps their middle finger and their ring finger from bunching up against each other because of the 2 finger grooves. They say the ACS is a lot more comfortable and they feel they have better control of the rod while palming the reel. And I agree with them, I like them also for the same reasons.
I think if the rod is built correctly, you will feel the light bites/tics even without an exposed blank seat. Of course that's just my opinion. I am sure there are a lot of fishermen that would disagree with me.

J.B.Hunt
Bowling Green, KY

I'm with Steve, absolutely any fingers on the rod blank itself is a PLUS.

Most bass style reel seats weigh about 1 ounce, give or take with brands and sizes. First time I put a seat on a scale I was shocked at how heavy they really are. Many seats weigh nearly as much as the rod you're installing it upon. If you want less weight, and way more feel, split a casting seat like the Castaway model. Comfort can be argued once split, but unless the blank has a very small diameter, I just dont see much, if any, comfort loss (just my opinion), but I do see much better feel.

DR

I like direct contact with the blank.

But I can also say that I prefer the reduced size of an exposed blank seat vs its non-exposed relative. I palm my reels...even Muskie reels...and an exposed blank seat, whether you get more sensitivity from it or not, just feels better in my hand.



................................

Better to have and not need than to need and not have.

I agree with Jay and Matt.
I think that the shape of the exposed grip reel seat and the reduced diameter in the area of the fingers make this style reel seat much more comfortable to fish.

Whether, there is a different feel with an exposed grip or not - that is up to the particular user of the reel seat.

Take care
Roger

Thanks for the thoughts. I'm still debating with myself though. I can't say I've ever felt anything with that finger contact. Perhaps I have / do and am not aware of it - I feel a fish 'throughout' the rod and set the hook. I just can't convince myself that I'm feeling it there where my finger is wrapped beneath a reel. Not implying that I don't like exposed blank seats (all I have used is Castaway seats for the last few rods). I like their looks and feel in the hand. But perhaps these river fish I chase just aren't very subtle biters.

I have been discussing this with myself all winter (been a long one). Sure appreciate everyone's thoughts.

Neil,
I couldn't agree more.
I think that the entire ides of "sensitivity" with respect to exposed compared to non exposed reel seats is way over rated. Is there a difference in feel? Maybe?
Is it subjective - you bet.
Then, you bring in things like modulus of rigidity, how stiff the reel seat is, how stiff the reel seat arbors are, do you get a reflection effect from a particular reel seat, does one type handle material convey vibrations better, does one type material reflect vibrations better - do any materials amplify vibrations better????????????

You tell me.

Build your rods light. Build your rods so that they are comfortable to fish with. Build your rods so that your hands are comfortable all day long for a good day of fishing, and I suspect that you will put many many many fish in your locker or catch and release a bunch.

I think that to a degree- all of the questions about the subjective answers of feel, sensitivity, reflection, dampening - all have a real world hard physical answer. But just because you can get a real world scientifically proven answer to these questions - does the answer make a rod that is more comfortable to the fisherman and its use result in more fish in the boat.

I think that many folks simply ask the wrong question.
I really don't care about the word sensitivity, I really don't care about the word weight - necessarily.

I do, however care about the word comfort, effort, ergonomics - with respect to hand and arm position.
And most of all I do care about the word - NUMBERS. i.e. numbers of fish caught and landed in the course of a good days fishing.

Make the customer a rod that he finds very comfortable to fish for hours on end, give the customer a rod that is ergonomically pleasing to his hand and arm joints, and finally, give a client a rod that puts lots and lots of landed fish in his hands, and you are going to have a wonderfully happy customer who will spread your rods excellent performance to all of his friends and associates. Thus, your business will continue to grow.

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Having said that - it is up to you as a rod builder to take the myriad of items, blank, arbors, reel seat, handle materials, balance, weight, guide selection, assembly and final appearance, to generate the rod to meet your clients expectations and continue to grow your business.

If you want to use the word comfort - and find that is a good selling point - go for it and capitalize on it.
If you want to use the word sensitive - and have a way to measure and separate it from other variables - go for it and use it to grow your business.

And so it goes for all of the other items that make a wonderful custom rod that will keep the client coming back for more, along with all of his friends and associates in tow.

Take care
Roger

I think the ability to have a finger on the blank was more important before braided lines became so common.
Any seat which is well attached will no doubt transmit the slightest tap when using any modern braided line.

I put more emphasis on balance and feel than I do overall weight, even a light rod that don't balance well can become a chore to hold all day long.