I'm building a sage one 896-4 and wanted the best components I can get. I'm wanting to make it with an aluminum seat with a fighting butt. I'm new at this and any information would be great, thanks

this one from mudhole comes in 3 different tones or they have one all in silver

[www.mudhole.com]

The best day to be alive is always tomorrow !!
Think out side the box when all else fails !!!
Wi.

The reel seat needs to be light but well machined so the threads will not strip. These are the ones I like: Batson R3104 ALPS RA7WL2 Window Fly Seats. Recoil RSLS and SeaGuide TiFS.

Go with a Lemke seat.

While you're at the Mudhole site take a look at the REC line of seats. They are an American Company out of Connecticut.

Ray Zarychta
Glastonbury, CT

Lemke or REC(and grip) reel seat , Snake brand guides/tip

Definitions of "best" vary: best looking or best functioning or lightest or most durable? It is doubtful one reel seat would be best in all categories. The user has to set his priorities.Some people assume the most expensive is the "best".

Check out REC's web site. Multiple options for heavier and salt ready seats including options for fighting butts.

In my opinion the Lemke are the best for your 6wt application. They are aluminum, offered in a number of finishes and very well made. Lemke was formerly the machinist behind Stuble seats whiich were considered on of the very best.

Thanks everyone, it's an 8wt, gonna try for some of the big pike we have here in northwestern Colorado. I was looking at the rec, baston and the alps. Was kind of wanting to use a removable fighting butt. Have to work the next few days so I won't have time to search any more. The rec that I was looking at from mud hole were out of stock but I found them at rec I think I mainly want quality and in case I decide to hit some salt water, I want to be prepared. I'll be back tomorrow, thanks for the input!

Thanks

Here's what i'm looking at, [reelseats.com]

I went with a 2 inch long removable fighting butt (PacBay) for an 8wt i wrapped years ago. it kept coming loose every few trips. or i felt the need to check its tightness. i always used it. so then i felt it was not necessary to have it "removable." the next 8wt i wrapped i went with a permanent butt design. the third rod i wrapped with a fighting butt, i went permanent, but a small 1 or 1.5 inch fixed fighting butt. it just kept getting better. these were all 8wts for LMB.

struble and bellinger were the de facto "premium" reel seats in the past. as you know, ALPS, pacbay, and others now offer pretty good reel seats. i mounted a downlocking Lemke on a 5wt last year, all aluminum in the gunsmoke finish. it's a very nice light reel seat. the only thing you may want to consider is having a one or two locking screw design.

eric
fresno, ca.