Tom,
Just received in the mail your fine magazine. Hats off to you and all that contribute to it. The articles were very well laid out and everything was explained so the average rodbuilder would have no trouble staying with the article.

I enjoyed the split grip article. Up here in N.E. we have been doing this with SW rods and foam grips for years. Good to see the FW rods being adapted to this way of thinking.

My only question is the lack of a fore grip. How does the transition from reel seat to no grip get tapered so it does not look "choppy".

Hopefully the gentleman that wrote the article can enlighten me.

Thanks,

Bill OConnor

Actually, that part was in the previous issue, volume 4 #3. Doesn't look at all bad and you have to remember that on many rods, the foregrip has become more ceremonial than functional.

The seat is simply mounted flush to the forward bushing/arbor and a trim wrap made against it.

I have done something similar for years on rods where a foregrip isn't really needed. I just cut and shape a very short piece of EVA and make what in reality is just a very short "trim" foregrip. Rarely is it more than an inch long. Just something to finish off that forward edge.

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Tom,
Can you drill a hole (same o.d. with the blank) on the butt of a downlocking fly seat and turn it around? I have not try it but I think it's doable.
Hungsng.

You can do about anything with the right tools, skill and idea. Some of these seats are now made so that they can be installed either way. If you can't find one made to your liking that is intended to be mounted that way, you can do exactly what you suggest. You'll have to make some sort of plug, plate or cap to now close off and trim out what is now the end.

You might also check with the manufacturer/supplier to see if they could get you another moveable hood/ring/nut so you didn't have to drill out the closed hood.

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It is a first class publication all the way around. Best money I have spent on rod building information yet.

Bill:

Another idea? I simply use a wind check. For freshwater casting rods, a wind check's outside diamater is about the same as the outsided diamater of the reel seat (assuming that you are fitting the seat to the rod). For the spinning outfits, a larger wind check like those used on saltwater rods can usually be fit. Then of course you can trim if you like.

I would also like to hear others ideas!