For my next fly rod build I'm putting together a 1 wt ultra-lite setup, TFO Finesse blank. I have a UL8 reel seat that should work ok but it only has one locking nut, as does the current 2 wt Mudhole kit I'm working on now. I kinda prefer two nuts if I can get an appropriate size reel seat with them. My factory rods have them, even my 3 wt Cabela's model. I've never had a reel come loose before with the seats with two locking nuts but don't have any experience with single nut seats. Are they any more prone to working loose? They must work ok or I figure there wouldn't be so many available. Anyway, if anyone could let me know if there's any logic behind single nut vs two locking nuts I'd love to hear.

It really depends on the seat. Most nylon/composite type seats need only one due to the seat's ability to slightly stretch-conform to the reel foot and associated compression, which tends to resist loosening due to vibration or temperature change. Generally, metal seats have had two nuts as means of creating a jam lock between the two nuts. About all you can do in this instance with your metal seat and one nut, is rely on the advise of others that have used the same seat.

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Most lighter weight fly rod reel seats are single nut. I build only fly rods and have never had an issue with single nut seats. I d prefer double nuts on heavy rods.

Thanks Tom and Phil - appreciate the info. Phil since you never had a problem with them on the lighter rods, and the two I have for my next two builds have wood inserts, I'll be ok with the single locking nut. Tom I can see how it could matter with an aluminum insert. I think if I wanted an all aluminum seat, like with a saltwater rod, I'd only consider two locking nut seats.

A firm rubber O-ring between the nut and seat works well to keep the nut tight as well also, Any Big Box hardware store will have them.

Jay Dubay Wrote:
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> A firm rubber O-ring between the nut and seat
> works well to keep the nut tight as well also, Any
> Big Box hardware store will have them.


Jay - I saw a couple of seats advertised with a rubber o-ring to prevent slippage like you're saying but I can't picture how it goes. So is the ring in front of the nut or under the nut? O-rings weren't visible in the pictures of the seats I saw advertised so that's why I'm asking if they're recessed somehow under the nut somewhere.

Hello Eugene.

Hood-O-Ring-Nut.


Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.

Bob,

New Bern, NC.

Thanks Rob - got it! I like it. I can see how that would work well.