Gentlemen,

I'm contemplating getting a new u/l spinning rod built. It'll be based on an Orvis Helios Ion 6' #2 fly stick (7/8oz as a fully built fly rod). Guides are Fuji Ti micros, 6+ tip top. My questions are, what reel seat will be best to keep the weight to the minimum, excluding Tennessee, and what handle material would you recommend?

Thanks in advance.

Simon

If it's above a 4wt, it's built for Tarpon.

If weight is your concern, slip rings on a cork grip, or a size 16 or 17 graphite reel seat skeleton with a cork insert would be very light options. The lightest would probably still be a tennessee handle and taping the reel to the grip.

Terry

Any graphite spinning reel seat, even the new Aero comfort reel seat with no foregrip, split grip on rear would be very light. I prefer not to use skeleton or exposed blank seats on spinning rods due to comfort on my hand. I love the way a Tennessee handle feels. If you have some different ones you could weigh them to see which one is lighter, but the difference would be minimal between graphite spinning seats. Also, you won't feel the weight in that area when holding the rod. Keep the tip weight and guide weight to a minimum and you will have a light rod.

David Dosser
Coshocton, OH

Hollow Carbon tube handle with small plate seat wrapped on

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

I like Mike B's idea also. I recently purchased 2 plate seats, one black and one chrome. The only thing I noticed was that the plate seats that I bought (Fuji) were a little heavy. They are metal though.

David Dosser
Coshocton, OH

Carbon sleeved foam grip with the reel feet wrapped on with thread or even electrical tape and (if you like) covered in shrink wrap.
Carbon grips seem a lot lighter to me than cork.

Carbon sleeved foam grip with the reel feet wrapped on with thread or even electrical tape and (if you like) covered in shrink wrap.
Carbon grips seem a lot lighter to me than cork.

I like the SBSS reelseat, it can be made with many materials.

He said he did not want a Tennessee handle, so I would say the next lightest would be a small size 16 split-seat. Add cork insert for comfort.

Grips - Cork is soft and comfortable, and very light because it is porous (EVA and foam too). A split-grip and no fore-grip will make it even lighter if you find it comfortable enough - the less grip material you have on the rod, the lighter it will be.

I wouldn't clasify Mr. Timberlake's reelseat a Tennessee handle as it conventionally holds a reel just like any reelseat, it just does it more comfortably in my opinion. It can be made into a split grip if someone likes.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/25/2012 04:35PM by Spencer Phipps.

Ditto the SBSS-Lightest, most comfortable-nothing like it.

Love the look of the SBSS. If my builder can do it, or is willing to, that's the one that I'll go for.

Thanks for all the advice.

Simon