Hmmm, interesting comment, Rob . . . I don't know that many folks who cast with that much momentum or acceleration to cause that degree of intertia. I'll work on it . . . my casting stroke must be too wimpy.
Here are two other perspetives, both that I've heard before from industry folks. The first perspective is balance. If you are familiar with the item Abel sells calls the Abel Arm, it's an angled reel foot extension that moves the weight of the reel forward and more under the grip. This places the weight of the reel more towards the grip. An uplocking reel seat is similar in concept, but in a less extreme sense. In an uplocking reel seat, the weight of the reel is moved more towards the grip and your hand, for better balance; a downlocking reel seat moves the weight of the reel away from the grip. Balance, for most rods, would be better if the weight were moved closer to the grip (that which supports the rod/reel/line assembly). The second perspective is the "teeter totter" perspective. The further the weight is from the grip, the larger the 'moment arm', which during a long day of casting, requires that you use more force to cast. Think of a teeter totter and how it moves relative to if the weight(s) are moved closer or further from the pivot point. The further weight moves from the pivot point (which would be your grip/hand on a fly rod), the larger the counter weight (force) on the other side needs to be. So, the further you move the reel (as in downlocking reel seats) from the grip, the more force you need to exert at the opposite end (rod tip end). Another item not discussed; the uplocking reel seats protect my reel. Walking along rivers I've fallen a few times where my hand hold the rod jammed on the shore. If I had a downlocking reel seat, the reel would have smacked the rocks. Instead, my reel seat sacrifices itself for the reel. So, instead of a beat-up reel, I have a beat-up reel seat end. Although reel seats can be expensive, they are a whole lot cheaper than a reel, and a scratched up reel seat end won't end my fishing day, where a dented reel could end my fishing for the day. Richard Embry ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rob Blomquist" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2002 8:35 PM Subject: Re: Reel seats? On Tuesday 14 May 2002 09:26 am, Kent Lufkin wrote: > A discussion a week or so ago about switching out reel seats has had > me wondering about the difference between uplocking and downlocking > seats. Nobody got into the physics of it: Basically, when you cast, there is an upward force that runs through the rod, and can cause a downlocking reel seat to loosen. Uplocking reel seats will tighten with this force. I have had many a reel drop off a rod while fishing with downlocking seats, but nary a one with uplocking. Rob -- Rob Blomquist Kirkland, WA On the side of the software box, in the 'System Requirements' section, it said 'Requires Windows 95 or better'. So I installed Linux and lived happily ever after.
