Hey now fellas. I’m just curious. My reel seat on my store bought rod are basic Fuji reel seats. Where i fish is very muddy and sandy and when I go to take the reel off I notice sometimes the reel seat seizes up and I can’t loosen the locking ring (I don’t know the technical name). Would an aluminum reel seat fix that?

I am having my rod builder build me a rod and I am just deciding on the components.

If the reason you're having trouble with loosening the thread barrel nut is because it's got mud and sand in the threads, I doubt if an aluminum seat would make a difference.

At times I have had a problem with the thread barrel nut sticking as well, and I only fish from a boat, so my gear stays very clean. Sometimes they just stick.

David,
The “...basic Fuji reel seats” you referred to, by other manufacturers as well, are basically reinforced plastic; often nylon with either FG or CF reinforcement. Plastic has an inherent lubricity to it and I would think better suited for your seizing / galling concerns than aluminum. Just my thoughts; no hard evidence. On the other hand, plastic is softer than aluminum and may be more prone to deformation. To minimize the tendency to gall, rather than using plastic-to-plastic or aluminum-to-aluminum for a seat, plastic-to-aluminum would provide the best combination, but admittedly have never seen one.

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

Anything that would jam or lock a nylon seat will likely do even worse on an aluminum seat.

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I believe the solution is not another type seat, but keeping the seat clean. A good wash after use, including moving the reel seat parts.

Personally I believe aluminum seats have gone the way of knickers and sword fighting.

When done fishing try to wipe and brush down the seat and rings before unlocking the reel. It should get free enough for you to do a thorough cleaning.

Good luck.

Simply wash down the seat and get it clean before removing the reel or use silicone stretchy tape or even electrical tape and wrap the threads including the reel collar so no grime can get into it AFTER you install the reel .

Aluminum would definitely be worse. If the reel seat is getting that dirty then the reel is also getting messed up. Don't set your rod flat on the sand or ground, you will be buying new reels after just using them a couple of times.

Thanks for the response guys. My reels are fine but that’s bc I take them off and rinse them down after every other outing.

What do ppl use aluminum for then? Saltwater?

David,
Yes. Aluminum seats afford piece-of-mind when employed on heavy (50lb +) rods which is backed-up by the fact that they are certainly stronger than plastic seats. Although Fuji offers a beefed-up plastic seat, the DPSH, which works very well for heavier rods, most builders seek the security of aluminum above the 50lb class. Also, large reels often have clamps; it would be nearly impossible to damage an aluminum seat by over-clamping; plastic?.?.?

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

Some people like the look of the aluminum seats on fly rods where they're going for a more vintage look.

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I just like the look of an aluminum seat on fly rods. A composite seat looks strange to me. For 20#-50# class and above, uplocking aluminum is the way to go. You don't want to chance that expensive reel going in the dink.