Will Pac Bay Machined Fly Reel Seats work on a spinning rod? I'd like to use the A8SK-G. It's the aluminum skeleton components in gold. I'm looking for a skeleton grip with gold rings. Is there another brand or style that somebody out there recommends over this one? If so, I'd really appreciate hearing it.

Thanks

The seat will have no idea what type of rod you're putting it on. As long as it will hold the reel you plan on using, and you find it comfortable (remember, your hand will be on the seat the entire time you're fishing the rod) then you should be fine.

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just make sure it is long enough to fit the reel foot on your spinning reel before you build it.

I was going to do this on a rod I was making for myself, but as I was sizing it up and playing around with the configuration of the seat it occurred to me that while the fly seats I have are more attractive and appear better made than the Fuji seats I've always used, the metal construction of the fly seats was slippery, cold, and uncomfortable compared to the graphite/plastic of the Fuji.

With fly reel seats, your hand rarely if ever touches the seat itself. With spinning seats, your hand is constantly in contact. I don't have any idea whether or not the differences in how they are used has led to the difference in materials- but I can't imaging being out in really cold weather, spring trout fishing for instance, and having my bare hand on a cold metal seat for hours on end.

Surfcasting for Stripers in late fall has taught me the benefit of gloves; especially one for the hand gripping my spinning reel seat. Waterproof , windproof and flexible gloves provide a gret deal of comfort while still providing the tactile sensitivity for casting and reling in. Knot tying still requires bare fingers, but the gloves are all the more welcome when I can return to them. I take a couple pair, just in case one pair gets cut. I like the idea of using a beautiful fly seat in place of a dull graphite seat. The new woven graphite seats are another attractive alternative. But since the reel foot is still aluminum, it gets cold; so I'd be gripping it with a gloved hand.

I have yet to find a fly reel seat with hoods that will fit the meaty reel feet of any spinning reel, ultra light or other wise. I can tell you that Pac Bay A8 series seats do not have large enough hoods for any of the dozen or so spinning reels I own.

I have used the titanium/woven graphite reel seat sold buy cabelas on all my spinning rods and they are great. They look sharp, and hold the reel perfectly. It's a personal thing, but I hate most of the graphite (plastic) seats by Pac Bay and Fuji. I can't see spending money on good guides, nice cork, and a decent blank, spending several hours assembling and wrapping guides, but then putting a 5 dollar plastic reel seat on the rod. I have two rods (store bought) laying in the garage with cracked locking rings. That alone is enough for me to permanently avoid them. Okay end of rant,. I do however like the reel seats that are mostly hidden in the grip with the front hood/locking ring hidden in the foregrip. (see Ray Jorgensen's photos for an example).


Kevin

All, thanks for the advice.

I plan on using a Stradic ST1000FH. I'll go ahead and order another reel seat as a back-up in case it doesn't fit in the PacBay.

Kevin, I'm a huge fan of those woven graphite reel seats that Cabela's sells too. I agree 100% about how much better looking they are over Fuji's and PacBay's. But for this rod I want to use gold rings to accent the guide frames and the Stradic, and the Cabela's seats only come in Titanium Carbide. If you have any better suggestions for a reel seat with gold rings, I'd love to hear it.

I wonder if I could grind down the feet on the real or grind the inside of the hoods for more clearance. Has anybody tried this?

Do any of the sponsors sell those woven reelseats? I like Cabela's, but they are not a sponsor.

I use Fuji graphite skeleton seats with wood inserts all the time on spinning rods. I understand that some don't like inexpensive, "plastic" seats, but as a general rule, they are almost indestructible (and, I like how they look, also). And, I've not ever found a spinning reel foot that wouldn't fit mine. Since the hoods are graphite, they are not nearly as cold on your hand as aluminum. Likewise, the wood insert doesn't get as cold as aluminum would either. If you'd like to see what Fuji skeleton seats with wood inserts look like, check out Andy Dear's web-site.

If you choose to go this route, I would suggest that you use a 17mm skeleton seat on a spinning rod. This is one size bigger than the typical 16mm seat used on a fly rod. The larger diameter just feels better in the hand. (Obviously, if you have very small hands, a 16mm seat might be better.)