Which is better and what are some of the advantages and disadvantages of each? Trying to pick out components for my first build. Thinking of using the Struble reel seats just wanting to know the experts opinion.
raiderhunter,
The experts do have an opinion on this one - each expert has his own opinion - each one different. 
I am not sure there are any exact scientific advantages/disadvantages but some do feel it matters in the balance of the rod. Mostly I believe this question warrants personal opinion/preferences.
I use both, I like down locking for a long/light weight blank - I agree with the better balance idea (The better balance idea can produce numerous arguments as well).
However the shorter/heavier weight rods I like the up locking as it will keep the reel off the ground when handling the rod. The bottom of the reel seat hits the ground rather then the bottom of the reel. There is a fine line as to which rod might get what seat type when I build it.
Raider -
If you go to the search function and enter “uplocking reel seat” or “downlocking reel seat” or “uplocking / downlocking reel seat” you will get a listing of prior threads on this subject. For example -
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/showthread.php?t=25353&highlight=uplocking+reel+seats
There are also prior threads on sliding band reel seats which can be found the same way.
John
I think it really comes down to personal choice. I have used uplocking, downlocking and even some with 2 sliding rings (up & downlocking?). They all work. Here are some differences I have noticed…
Uplocking
- somtimes require a special inset or adding a special cork ring to the handle. This adds effort and complexity to the construction, but looks nice on the finished product. The complexity is avoided if you order a full set, reel seat & cork handle come pre-formed for good fit.
Downlocking
- moves the reel closer to the butt, some folks like how this effects the rods balance.
- some of my down locking reels don’t fit well in the drift boat. Not enough of the butt sticks out to engage the rod holder.
Sliding rings
- very light, nice on ultra light rods. May not have enough holding power for heavy reels.
You’ll probably find as many differing answers to your question, as there are people responding to it!!
Personally, I like the down locking on light, short rods, and the up locking on the heavier, longer rods.
I absolutely love the esthetics of a down locking reel seat! To me, they’re more traditional, and the casting stroke just feels GOOD!
Can’t count how many times I’ve dumped a reel in the river when using a double sliding ring. Certainly NOT my favorite set up!
Strictly a matter of personal choice!
Some thoughts though. If your building on Graphite traditionaly most use Up locking. If your building on Cane traditionaly most use Down locking.
You will see variations of all sorts on both Graphite and Cane not only on reel seats, but grip styles as well. My friend …That’s the beauty of building your own rod… Ed
And the gathering said: “Amen!!”
If you can, and if you are building the rod, you might want to try it both ways before gluing on. At Grayrock this year, one of the rodbuilders spoke to the gathering about the impact that downlocking or uplocking reel seats can have on the way a rod behaves. Now again, the results are subjective, you might like it one way, another person may like it a different way, but the point is that the change in placement of the reel can have an effect on the way the rod feels/behaves/performs. He also mentioned a new product from REC, a combination reel seat that can seat a reel both upwards or downwards. In other words, if I understand this right, the reel seat will accept a reel in both directions, and you can switch from downlocking to uplocking at any time. I have personally never messed around with this concept of reel position, just put on the reelseat that I felt looked best or made the most sense, but a lot of the other builders at Grayrock seemed to warmly receive the new product from REC. Check it out if your interested.
Jim,
Just cruised the REC site, and saw no mention of a universal reel seat, or what ever they’d call it, working either up or down lock. Do you have any further information?
Is it still in the works, or available now?
Betty
I agree with Betty. Most of my lighter rods have downlocking. Screw or sliding band (5w and under). As for balance, I’m not sure that a less than a couple inches will make a difference in balancing. Personally I like a rod that’s just a wee bit tip heavy.
Betty,
Yeah, I looked on the site as well and can’t come across it. The builder that presented it was the one that had talked to them about the idea and they sent him one, perhaps for testing and comment. I can try to get a hold of him and see if he knows when they will be posting it for sale on their site.
Jim
As much as folk like to discuss the effect uplock or downlock has on balance I can’t see how the reel seat position will change things as much as the line length.
Consider the forces acting on the rod as a balance beam. You have a 9 foot lever arm with a balance point about 1 foot from the end. That means roughly an 8:1 ratio of how forces act on either end. Moving even a heavy reel an inch or so can’t possibly have as much effect as letting out 20 feet of line or switching from a heavy conehead streamer to a light dry fly.
In other words moving the reel an inch forward moves the balance point a little less than an 1/8 of an inch. Changing the length of line from say 10ft to 20ft nearly doubles the load on the tip end (assuming a small fly that weighs near nothing), this would move the effective balance point by almost an 1 1/4". Fly casting is a dynamic equation, you are constantly stripping in line , letting line out, changing from sink tip to floating lines etc. A minor difference in the static ballance point is insignificant to the constantly changing loads during real fishing.
Note: before all the math gurus bombard me with details. I know the above is a highly simplified example. My main point is that the 8:1 ratio of tip end to the butt end means that small changes in the tip load have bigger effects than moving the reel.
fwiw bob venerri offers an up/downlocking reelseat provided you can get ahold of him.
I’ve got one on my 8ft 2/3wt gatti and the difference in where you place the reel is considerable.