Does anyone make graphite reel seats for fly rods anymore? Im making a light rod and think graphite would fit it just right

The Aluminum are actually lighter than the graphite one's due to less material to achieve same strength, is what I have found

Ron Weber

What brand do you use Ron?

There must be four or five companies making the graphite type reel seats these days and most are better than ever. I don't worry about weight too much all the way at the back of the rod and most graphite seats weigh very little to begin with plus there are other benefits like a more secure grip on the reel, no corrosion or galling and they don't get scratched or show dings. Some fly guys don't like the appearance of the carbon grey seats but they work so well and hold the reel so good that I always try to steer people to them. Just look for a size 16 graphite seat from Fuji, Batson, PacBay, American Tackle, etc., etc. and you will have a seat that performs as good as it gets. For really large saltwater reels look at a size 17 or even 18 just to make sure the foot length will fit.

Unfortunately just a std 16 or 17 seat does not really conform to the AFFTA specs written for reel seats. They will work, but are actually too wide and too tall for most fly reels, regardless of the weight catagory of the reel.

Ron Weber

They will hold nearly any fly reel securely, regardless. In fact, I'm unaware of any other type seat that holds fly reels as well. There is an elasticity that enables them to do this, particularly during periods of temperature changes, vibration, etc.

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As I stated, they will work, but do have a bit more side movement than my liking, also not as aesthetically pleasing, as well as a couple of grams heavier in equivalent sizes. Keep in mind, that this is just one persons thoughts on this, which is mine. There are other features also such as hidden hoods, end plugs that also come into play, but as with anything else, those things can be overcome by different means.

Ron Weber

The Fuji type reel seats look a lot prettier once you find out how well they hold a reel under any and all conditions. I gave up on aluminum seats twenty years ago. Sure some of them look pretty but you won't care about that when your reel is wobbling or the reel falls off when fighting a fish. On the heavy saltwater fly rods I build I will not use anything other than a Fuji. The #17 is the "fit all" size.