Anyone used a spinning minima with the fixed part at the fore grip and the locking ring and hood at the butt? What about pipe stem fuji's mounted the same way,i.e.,as an up-locker ?Are they comfortable? I might as well throw the Aero's in too mounted the same way.All would be for spinning as I prefer down-locking for casting rods.

I like my spinners down locking only because my hand does not rest on the threads. To me this uncomfortable.

Bill - willierods.com

Some Carrot Stix are made that way, looks and felt extremely uncomfortable to me.

I dry-mounted an Aero in an up-locking configuration. Tried casting it for a few minutes, and absolutely hated it. The threads in my hand were annoyning. I decided to permanently mount it down-locking. It is the most comfortable spinning set-up I've ever used.

George Forster
Fort Collins, CO

I agree completely with George on the Aero. I think that the Aero has been designed to be used from the get go to have the threads toward the front of the rod.
The rear rod handle nestles nicely inside the reel seat and the ball of the reel seat nicely nestles in the palm of the users hand.

Take care
Roger

That's interesting. When I hold a spinning rod , the reel foot stem is between my pinky and ring finger and I am holding the fore grip with the" back "of my palm resting on the rear hood and not reaching the threads of the seat. My St.Croix and Falcon factory rods as well as most of the spinning rods I have ever owned have up-locking reel seats.With a down-locking seat I would be holding on to the threads and the hood and lock ring instead of the fore grip unless the fore-grip had a concealed hood in it. All my casting rods have down locking seats of course . Different strokes for different folks I guess.

Ed,
I never thought of that, but it makes sense. I hold the stem between my index and middle finger when reeling, and between my 2 middle fingers when casting.
George

I thought the bulge of the aero looked a little clunky to run as an up-locker .The minima is a different story. Regardless,any spinning rod I own or build will have an up-locking seat.I just thought someone would have some direct experience with the minima. I guess not.