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Post 13 Apr 2021, 08:21 • #26 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/21/06
Posts: 3081
Location: Orygun
SWCR wrote:
Very interesting topic as well as results, and surprising. As someone who sells hundreds of reel seats a year, my analytics come in with a 70% up lock and 30% down lock sales stats


Honestly, I'm surprised that you'd be surprised by those results. The glass/grass demographic (ones who would typically prefer a downlocking seat for many of the reasons stated above--or the older demographic who grew up with downlockers as the only option) is a pretty small portion of overall flyfishers. I'm surprised that it's not more skewed towards uplocking (if we're taking the entire flyfishing population into account).


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Post 13 Apr 2021, 08:49 • #27 
Guide
Joined: 04/03/19
Posts: 221
Location: CO
For me, it principally comes down to balance. Shifting the weight of the reel back an inch really helps balance the rod with some of the lightweight reels I have. I think that’s why most production Euro nymph rods are down-lockers, given the extra length of the rod.

I also think down-locking reel seats look cooler and they are easy to replace without a lip in the grip.


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Post 17 Apr 2021, 20:59 • #28 
New Member
Joined: 02/21/19
Posts: 23
Location: US-VA
I only use DL, which also means most of my rods are custom or built with the DL reel seat.


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Post 18 Apr 2021, 13:44 • #29 
Guide
Joined: 12/20/18
Posts: 204
Location: Yorkshire
I've found I prefer a cap and ring/ dual rings most of the time, they seem to balance the rods better than uplockers, and I find the cap and ring more comfortable than downlocking reel seats.


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Post 18 Apr 2021, 17:28 • #30 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/27/16
Posts: 2327
Location: US-IL
Butt cap and ring, DL ?I like the reel out of my way but they do get dinged up.I like having the grip not crowded.Every rod has a little different balancing point.


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Post 18 Apr 2021, 21:48 • #31 
Guide
Joined: 04/03/19
Posts: 221
Location: CO
Cap and rings look the most elegant too!


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Post 19 Apr 2021, 02:06 • #32 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/24/11
Posts: 1144
Location: Belgium
I can live with both styles but generally prefer downlocking. The balance argument doesn't apply to me, I will grip a downlocking rod lower down close to the reel seat ( see Jim Greene casting video). What I do like is the added effective rod length from gripping lower - and the fact that this tends to get a little more bend in the butt of the rod.

I think the uplocking reel seat was mostly driven by fashion and went well with the longer graphite rods - where extra length from a lower grip doesn't really bring much to the table. Large arbor reels did the rest. A large diameter reel extending below the butt of the rod looks odd and is particularly vulnerable to scratching when the rod is stood up.


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Post 19 Apr 2021, 06:52 • #33 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 10/09/09
Posts: 2796
Location: US-NM
Giorgio now that makes sense but I still hate uplockers.......Aurelio


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Post 20 Apr 2021, 10:34 • #34 
Guide
Joined: 07/07/19
Posts: 221
Location: US-WI
giogio wrote:
I can live with both styles but generally prefer downlocking. The balance argument doesn't apply to me, I will grip a downlocking rod lower down close to the reel seat ( see Jim Greene casting video).

At the 6:44 mark


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Post 20 Apr 2021, 13:03 • #35 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 03/16/08
Posts: 3540
Location: Upstate-NY
I prefer down-locking, *BUT*...

for some longer/heavier rods,
I prefer Up-Locking, with a mini fighting-butt.

I think fighting butts on down-locking setups are just weird.
My opinion...

(Note: Unless we are talking about an 8wt or heavier, "salmon rod" - I don't think a "fighting butt" really adds much to the functional properties of a rod. But I like the aesthetic, anyway. ;-) and put them on some rods 8'-6" and longer, #6wt and heavier)

and for those that can't make up their minds? SPLIT RINGS! The ultimate in flexibility...


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