Danny,
I have built a lot of rods with the aero reel seat and I have tried the reel both ways.

I just can't imagine building the rod with the reel seat other than down locking.

If you build the reel seat with the reel seat up locking you defeat much of the advantage of having the aero reel seat on the rod - in my opinion.

The aero works so well when the rear grip nestles nicely into the rear of the reel seat. It is easy to make a perfect transition.

A couple of pictures:

[www.rodbuilding.org]

Be safe



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/27/2016 03:00PM by roger wilson.

To add If it is up-locking you hand will rest on the hood and threads Very uncomfortable

Bill - willierods.com

Correct Bill!

As I mentioned before the Fuji VSS seat is a very comfortable grip when coupled with a hidden tread KDPS (or KPS) locking nut with a cork or Eva foregrip. The hidden tread locking nut with the foregrips keeps the hand off the treads and increases the overall diameter of the reel seat. For example, the size 17 KDPS with foregrip will be about 1.1" OD, this is a larger OD then a size 25 standard reel seat. The Fuji 17 KDPS hood will fit the size 17 areo reel seat and this combination will also make a very comfortable grip. You can make the fore grip to fit the KDPS nut yourselt or you can buy one that fits (for example, the fore grip for the Fuji KDPS, sold by mudhole). I would go this route with a hidden tread hood rather than using a large reel seat which will not be as aesthetically pleasing. You can use other styles of hidden tread hoods, but they wiil require the tread on the reel seat to be cut back so they fit.
Norm

I personally dislike an uplocking reel seat a lot! I don't like the way they look in that position and hood invariably loosens due to the back of the hand being positioned on the hood nut. So you are always tightening the hood while fishing, to me a pain in the butt. Some companies are adding a locking nut to help prevent loosening, but the easy way out is to go down locking and add a no thread hood. I stoped using reel seats in the uplocking position 40 years ago. The only time I use an uplocking reel seat is on a fly rod, or if a customer insists. I know different strokes for different folks, but that's what makes s cutom rod custom.
Norm

Norman Miller Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> As I mentioned before the Fuji VSS seat is a very
> comfortable grip when coupled with a hidden tread
> KDPS (or KPS) locking nut with a cork or Eva
> foregrip. The hidden tread locking nut with the
> foregrips keeps the hand off the treads and
> increases the overall diameter of the reel seat.
> For example, the size 17 KDPS with foregrip will
> be about 1.1" OD, this is a larger OD then a size
> 25 standard reel seat. The Fuji 17 KDPS hood will
> fit the size 17 areo reel seat and this
> combination will also make a very comfortable
> grip. You can make the fore grip to fit the KDPS
> nut yourselt or you can buy one that fits (for
> example, the fore grip for the Fuji KDPS, sold by
> mudhole). I would go this route with a hidden
> tread hood rather than using a large reel seat
> which will not be as aesthetically pleasing. You
> can use other styles of hidden tread hoods, but
> they wiil require the tread on the reel seat to be
> cut back so they fit.
> Norm


Would the sz.17 HPS hidden thread hood work on a 17 Aero as well? This one looks like it would be even more comfortable because the hood is hidden as well as threads.

Yes, they are interchangeable, and would work fine. The fore grips that fit the KDPS will also fit the HPS.
Norm

[www.indepthangler.com.au]

This rod is beautiful with an up locking vss, I like it so much I may have to try and mimic some aspects of it. How can I get a locking nut/hood assembly like that? The cabin fiber thread covers and aluminum caps I found look like they're only compatible with sk2 seat parts

The SK2 seat parts will fit the VSS seat. They are all interchangeable.