I was speaking with a gentleman this morning who asked about the proper reel seat diameter and the factor given in my book on ergonomics. He felt it delivered a seat that was actually too large in diameter and during the conversation I realized that many rod builders equate the model number of the reel seat with its diameter. They are not the same and this may be where some confusion has occurred.

A common size 18 reel seat has a diameter of about 22mm. A size 20 will have a diameter of roughly 24 to 25mm. Remember, the model number indicates the inside bore size, not the outside diameter. Your hand deals with the outside diameter (which may also include the seat hoods and reel foot depending on how you hold the rod).

I had thought that most rod builders understood that seat model numbers indicate the inside bore size. Perhaps not. It's something that I'll have to put in a sidebar if I do a 2nd printing of the book. In the meantime please keep in mind that the seat's ID (bore) and OD are quite a bit different.

.........

like guide ring size is OD of the ring, just opposite what one would think.

Guide size is the ID of the guide frame.

yep, but not ID like a person would think, which I think most interest is intended as to what size will pass the line or knots right?

I've found over quite a while now that many overexaggerate the size needed though, I handed them a rod built smaller with the same line/leader combo and it works just fine. I didn't even have to build a new rod to change my opinion, I've been using a match guided set of rods with 4 mm guides for decades. Built a casting versions to see what was up on that side also long ago because of it.
Was liking the larger diameter reel seats long before I knew why, G Loomis and Lamiglas rods had the larger diameter reel seats, or the Wiebe seats, my old Fenwick FS 83 S had the large aluminum reel seat with the hidden rear hood in the rear grip, really, they were used a lot in the Pac. NW. for a long time.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/04/2024 05:54PM by Spencer Phipps.

When they started measuring ring size the ring was part of the frame. It only became confusing when they started using inserts. and no, I don't remember when that was. Lol