Hi Guys,

So i built a deep drop rod for a buddy at work and his Daiwa tanacom 1000 reel clamp doesnt fit the #4 AFTCO bent butt i put on the rod. I used a Calstar blank that did not fit a #2 bent butt so i had to use the #4. It seems the #4 is too wide for the reel clamp to fit properly. Are there any solutions to this or is it ok for him to just not use the reel clamp.

Richard,
Electrical tape works perfectly fine to hold a reel to a rod.

Let me get this straight Roger. Guys spends hard earned money on a custom deep drop rod and you will tell him to use electrical tape to attach the reel ?

Freddwhy (Rapt-Ryte)

even better than electrical tape by far is gorilla reenforced extra thick tape..one wrap on each foot is all you need..

The seat itself should fit the reel but the clamp will not. Telling him not to use the clamp may be fine - it may be unnecessary in his instance (I don't know what line he uses and how much force he's going to put on that outfit) but I don't think that's a good route to take after someone has spent money on a custom rod.

It may be possible to widen the reel foot clamp openings so that the bolts will fit around the #4 butt. You'd also have to do the same to the clamp, of course.

This is one of those lessons that each custom rod builder has to learn along the way - always find out what reel your client is going to be using and make sure it's compatible with what you're building.

...........

Tape is lighter than a reel seat, tape is as strong as a conventional reel seat, different reels can mounted at different points along the handle using tape, and surf casters have been using tape to affix reels to rods for a long time. Different anglers and different rod builders have different priorities.

The OP is talking about a reel clamp - not the reel feet. And I doubt anyone in deep drop fishing situation is going to be taping their reel to the rod - the OP isn't talking about bass fishing here.

.........

TAPE ? CLAMP ? it all depends on the size of fish BIG ? small ? both will work BUT ? FISH ???

William Sidney
AK

The reel weighs more than 3 pounds for heavens sake. I'd try for an aftermarket clamp. Big fish, heavy reel....tape??

Richard,
If you don't find any other solution, just take the rod and reel to a good machine shop and have them make you a custom fitted clamp from stainless steel.

Custom rod, custom reel, custom clamp.

Good luck

This deep drop rod will likely be paired with an electric-powered reel/winch - pretty much a necessity for deep-drop, I believe. The issue here is not the ability of modern adhesive tapes to secure the reel to the rod, but adherence (!) to traditional fishing tackle design and components.

Hello Richard.

Is the problem that the studs are not wide enough or is the plate not deep enough?

If the plate is the problem you can do as Roger say's, but I would use an aluminum block machined down to fit.

If it is the width of the studs you can try to elongate the mount stud holes on the reel.


Hope that helps.


Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.

Bob,

New Bern, NC.

The Penn 33-116 reel clamp is ;nearly 2.5 in. center to center across the clamp holes.

Phil,
There is absolutely nothing remotely traditional about an electric reel!!!

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.

Looks like the reel and clamp will work best on 25 to 34 mm diameter reel seats.

Mark: The use of tape will make the outfit look less like an automatic fish-winch.

I once split a tomato soup can down the side and used it to patch a hole in my exhaust pipe ........ I used some of that fiberglass tape ....... left the label on the can and everything.

Good thing it didn't last very long, because every time I'd drive the car, I'd start craving a grilled cheese sandwich.

Phil,
While new to me, the term “fish wench” is extremely appropriate and suggests you and I might still be on the same page.

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.

David, I liked that, we had tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich for diner.

Mark: fish "winch" - not "wench" I'm a married man!