Looking to get a reel seat for an 8wt for saltwater use. Can someone school me on choosing a reel seat for this application? I see $20 basic aluminum reel seats from Mudhole (CRB) and basic aluminum reel seats from REC (~$50). What am I getting for over double the price?

Re REC - I ONLY use REC RSLL for 8 wt and up.
RSLS for lighter.
The REC RSLL holds a reel foot better than any I have tried.
Very annoying for a reel to "flop" around on the seat when casting or reeling.
I'm sure there are others that hold just as well - but they are same price.
Herb

Fuji or similar. Tremendous holding power. Will never rust, corrode, jam, etc.

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I have loved my Fuji seats

I'm with Tom on this one. I'm sure all of them are fine, but it seems most people discount anything other than aluminum. And I'm not sure why. If you're more interested in function vs fancy, those standard spinning reel seats practically laugh at salt water, and hold any reel smoothly and snugly. I find them essentially bullet proof, not to mention pretty much maintenance free.

I've been using these. [www.flyrodcrafters.com]

About a year ago I was talking with a gentleman who was a Louisianan transplant who had bought a G Loomis IMX Pro Blue 903C M, he was commenting on how much he loved the rod, but he was convinced the Fuji pipe reel seat was weak for the rod and would soon fail. I was drinking coffee at the time and it almost shot out my nose. I handed him my rod from the mid 80's of similar power, with the same exact reel seat to inspect. I have no idea what force it would take to get one to fail, whatever it is always seems to be more then any broken rod I have ever seen. the power to weight ratio has to be enormous.

In the 1980's and into the 1990's, many manufacturers knocked off the Fui pipe seats with very inferior materials and workmanship. these were most often found on the discount store rods and because they did tend to fail (nuts and hoods often split) people assumed they were Fuji seats and thus wrongfully associated these failures with Fuji. The genuine article, however, has always had a well deserved stellar reputation.

After the 1990's, most of the companies producing the knock-offs did improve their products. Today I would say that most of the nylon composite seats similar to the Fuji offerings are also very good seats. But old reputations sometimes die hard.

One of the pluses of the Fuji type seat is the thin metal used for the seat hoods, which contain a nylon cushion. As you tighten the hoods on the reel foot, the hoods "stretch" and the cushion compresses onto the reel foot, placing the foot under constant tension. This is one of the reasons that the Fuji seats are not prone to loosening, regardless of temperature changes, rough handling, etc.

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That basic aluminum will work fine. What you are getting for more $ are design, material or spec improvements. Or perhaps some aesthetic factors. I will be wrapping a 10 wt in the months ahead and will go with the Alps Triangle. It is quite functional but I also very much like the look.

I don't have as much experience as y'all do, but my fly reels flop in the last Fuji SKM skeleton reel seat, size 16, that I put on a 9' 9wt fly rod for salmon.

Cranking down on the threads helps, but doesn't eliminate side-to-side reel movement. I do wish I had bought an extra locking nut to put on the threads, because it backs out while fishing and I have to remember to tighten it after every fish.

Even though I love the simplicity, the weight, the rugged aesthetics and the price -- based on my experience, I wouldn't recommend one to hold a fly reel.

(Btw, fly reels were a Danielssen F5W, an Okuma SLV and an older Galvan)

Abe,

Your experience is diametrically opposed to just about every other rod builder I know that uses the Fuji type seats on fly rods. The seat itself shapes to the foot under pressure. I have reels installed on fly rods with these seats and have not tightened them in 20 years - they remain rock solid.

Something is amiss here....

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I've fought big tarpon and tons of big bull reds with my fuji seats and never felt any sort of wobble at all.

Tom,

I went home last night and pulled my 9wt out and mounted the Danielsson reel. Based on your comment, I cranked it down as hard as I could, much harder than before, and it held much better. I did this a couple of times and then examined the inside of the hood. I could see where the reel foot was marking the inside of the hood where it came in contact under pressure.

So, I retract my previous statement about the reel wobbling. It does seem to hold firmly as Tom and others have stated. It was difficult to tighten sufficiently because its a small nut, right under the fly reel, so its hard to get a firm grip on it.

As to the reel seat loosening, I'll have to wait until next summer when the salmon are running again to see if it loosens. I'll be sure to tighten appropriately. I'm guessing (hoping) that it will hold after being properly tightened and after the hoods form to the reel foot. It was really annoying feeling it loosen while fishing.

Thanks for saying something Tom!

And it could be an unusual shaped or sized reel foot. I'm not familiar with that particular reel. Have you tried it in some of the various aluminum seats? It would interesting to learn if none of them can hold it very well.

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The other possibility is your skeleton insert may be a bit too long...

Tried an old Lamson LP, early Waterworks Litespeeds, Cortland Rim Fire, G Loomis Champagne reel (Shimano), Galvin Rush, Ross Gunnison, and Bass Pro White River (the longest foot by a long way), all fit a Fuji 16 mm DPSM beautifully, snug as can be. As soon as they were snug tightened they were locked in.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/13/2024 02:11AM by Spencer Phipps.

I do like the Alps Triangle seat, but they seem like a max 8wt size unless they have different sizes
Presently looking at seats for 11 and 12 wt glass. Bertha and Bashiba. The 11 is a .603 butt.

I have no problem using Fuji seats on offshore rods, I’ll take off my Orvis jacket and see if I can think about it for a fly rod.

I am Building a 10 and 12 weight. I will use ALPS RA801L2TR-B. It locks my saltwater reels perfectly. Fuji has the adtvantage that is not proned to getting stuck due sand and salt .

Alps Triangle is a nice reel seat.as are Pac Bay Channel Lock.