Reel is loose in reel seat on brand new rod

[Tiara33]

I just received a new jigging/popping spinning rod for tuna. I mounted my new Saragosa reel on it and the reel is loose in the seat. It can twist even with the caps cranked down. These are aluminum seats similar to what normally comes on a big game trolling rod.

All my other spinning rods have Fuji DPS plastic seats on them and they fit my spinning reels great.

Are reel seats universal? or are there sizes? Are spinning reel seats different than trolling reel seats??

Help

[cabolew]

I would think the 14000 or 18000 Saragosa would fit the reel seat. Anything smaller may not. Generally, the aluminum seats will come on the heavy or extra heavy rods and require an equally heavy reel. Hope it works out for you. May need to step down one level the rod for a proper fit.

[REDWEISER]

Tiara33 - 12/20/2008 7:48 PM
Are spinning reel seats different than trolling reel seats??
Help

Yes.

[lemaymiami]

Every now and then you'll come across a reel and reelseat mis-match.... Here are your options:
If you have the luxury of swapping out one or the other, then take your rig and change either rod or reel for one that fits. Remember that rod manufacturers can use a wide variety of reelseats when they build a given rod, usually linked to the size line (and thus, the size of the reel...) that the rod was designed for. The reel manufacturer doesn't have that flexibility. They've got to have a given sized reelfoot for that particular model of reel. Most of this has been made much more difficult with the widespread use of "super braid" which allows a smaller reel to have the line capacity (and hopefully the drag and gear capacity) of a much larger reel...

Another option is what I've done more than a few times over the years. Simply cover each end of the reel foot with masking tape until it fits tightly inside the hoods of the reel seat when tightened... Every season you'll probably need to replace the tape but it will solve the problem and won't be visible since the taped portion will be inside the hoods of the reelseat.

By the way, if you're using a conventional reel never do without the brace that most come with. That reel brace under the reelseat makes a very big difference in keeping everything lined up properly.

Whenever I'm building a new rod, by the way, I always mate up the intended reel to the reelseat BEFORE gluing it up. That's one of the little tricks I was taught many years ago when I began building my own gear and then went on to build matched sets of rods for customers. A custom rod builder also has the option of shortening the threaded portion of the reel seat with a hacksaw if it's not needed...

[spearfisher3122]

lemaymiami - 12/21/2008 8:31 AM

Another option is what I've done more than a few times over the years. Simply cover each end of the reel foot with masking tape until it fits tightly inside the hoods of the reel seat when tightened... Every season you'll probably need to replace the tape but it will solve the problem and won't be visible since the taped portion will be inside the hoods of the reelseat.

By the way, if you're using a conventional reel never do without the brace that most come with. That reel brace under the reelseat makes a very big difference in keeping everything lined up properly.

...

I will second this approach. I have done this many of times although I use electical tape instead of masking tape because it will hold up longer and won't fall apart when it gets wet.

Swapping rods and reals would also fix this problem.

Good luck!

[Tiara33]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I tried a few different reels on the new rod and had different results each time. The reel I want to use on the rod is Shimano's Saragosa 18000F, which is their new and very large spinning reel. Its reel foot is a lot narrower than the groove in the hood and it doesn't seem to go in quite far enough to snug up in the taper. I tried a Shimano Stradic 6000, which is a smaller spinning reel and it slid in a little more and snugged up great. It must go in enough to snug up to the taper on the hood. I tried an old Shakespeare spinning reel and it fit great too. Then I tried a Penn International 50, and it twisted around just like the Saragosa. That surprised me, but it did.

As far as I can figure the hoods have tapers on the sides and top as you slide in the reel foot. The reel foot needs to snug up to the side taper or the top taper to fit tight. I just happen to have a reel foot and hood that don't snug up.

I will try the tape trick and I bet it will work. I am also thinking of grinding the reel foot a little sharper on the front edge to get it to go in a little more. I can see it hits on the top of the front edge of the foot.

All my other spinning rods have the Fuji graphite reel seats which are much narrower and fit all my spinning reels very well. Someone suggested always try the reel on the rod before buying, sounds like good advice. I am also contacting the rod mfg. and will see what they have to say. I would be really happy if they could make me the rod with the Fuji reel seat on it. I'll post what the mfg. has to say once I hear back from them.