I have a particular fly reel that when tightened down on a specific uplocking reel seat, I almost run out of threads on the reel seat before it is nice and snug. I'm not sure I want to try and remove the butt cap and even then, I'm not sure I have another matching threaded lock ring in order to reduce the travel. Obviously I can wrap some masking tape around that lower reel foot but was wondering if anyone else had tackled a problem like this with some type of soft shim material that wouldn't mar the foot of the fly reel or the reel seat and wouldn't leave a sticky residue.
As always, thank you for your input.

I used to have that issue 20 yrs ago with some factory seats.
Orvis had - maybe still does - composit pads that fit under the reel foot to raise it up so te seat rings can be tightened without running out of thread.
You amy lso "paint" the concave part of the seat with epoxy to make the foot thicker. Do multiple tHIN coats so it doesn't run. Another option - use Gorrila duct tape on the concave part of the reel.
Herb
CTS

I think a strip from a sheet of the composite cork sheeting with the adhesive on the back from your craft store would help on the bottom of your reel foot. Myself I I borrowed a similar strip of rubber gasket material form stores on the ship many years ago to do the same thing on an early rod build.

I can tell you what not to use. Adhesive lead tape! I use this for a season on a reel that was removed & rinsed after each outing. At the end of the season I removed the lead tape from the reel foot only to find major corrosion had taken place. I was able to source a new reel foot as it was secured to the reel by screws. I believe the dissimilar metals & the addition of saltwater caused this. Lesson learned.
Fred



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/28/2024 12:06PM by Fred Hansen.

Thank you all for your input. After trying several of your suggestions, I was amazed at just how little material was needed to make a significant difference. In fact I found that a mere 1/4" x 3/4" single piece of Gorilla tape on the arched underneath side of the lower foot of the reel worked splendidly, both cosmetically and functionally.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/28/2024 12:04PM by Rob Grider.

I have the same issue on an 8-wt rod I made. Essentially the end of the reel foot is fully pressed against each end of the hood, but it still wiggles a bit, as the foot's slope or height is less than that of the for and aft reel seat hood. I have yet to address the issue, but was thinking of either: 1) elevating the reel foot via a light, adhesive material; 2) placing a small amount of gasket or rubber material inside the reel seat hood area; 3) bolstering the reel foot height near its end with something like clear shrink wrap or tenacious tape.

Proof sells REEL+TITE pads to solve this problem.