I am going to build a new float rod and am thinking I want to use rings rather than a reel seat on the handle so I can adjust the posistion of the reel. I have heard pros and cons both ways and wanted to ask your opinions. Set up will be for spinning reel, 9 1/2' rod medium power. Main use is jigs for steelhead.
Thank you for any advice.

if its going to be a medium action rod I would go with a reel seat. I cant see much use in being able to adjust the reel position. I would save the time and money and just buy the lami 9' 6" js.

Temporarily attatch the intended reel to the blank until it balances, remove and adjust an inch or so either fore or aft to compensate for the slight weight difference of handle and guides when installed. Reverse handle style, (short rear grip/longer fore grip) and threaded reel seat for anything under 10-1/2' and over 6# line rating.

Good luck.

I bought the 13' 3 piece rod, lamiglas...just to use for jigs......after fishing 1 full season.....rings caused no problems.........95% of the time.....for some reason the bottom ring, towards the butt end, wants to work loose. Doesn't take anything to push it back on the reel seat and I don't want to tape it on........

Enjoy the rod!!!!!

I like the sliding rings on the 11'6" spinning rod I use for fishing jigs. If I ever want to try a centerpin on it, I'll just slide the rings down a bit.

I'd recommend anyone who is getting or building their first float rod to use sliding rings. Everybody has their own preferences how much cork you want on the fore and rear grip. Some like the fore grip longer which means a shorter rear grip, but you have more of the blank extended past the reel which can help with line control. You can go the other way, which I like. I like a longer rear grip, helps me with some arm fatigue at the end of the day. Use a variety of different combinations until you find one that you like. If at a later date you want to make another float rod with a reel seat you'll know how much cork to put for each grip. I'd also say slap some electrical tape around the rings while yes you can get away without using it, I've learned the hard way. Its not fun seeing a 400+ dollar center pin fall off your rod onto a rock and into mud in the middle of a fight.

Thanks for all the info and advice. I think I will go with the rings this time. I like the idea of changing the balance point and amounts of fore grip versus rear grip length relationships till I find what I like and is comfortable. my current spin rod 8 1/2' is just to short and a lot of work trying to mend line all day.

Thanks again
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I'm not a big fan of the "Michigan" style grip (ei. longer fore, shorter rear) either, especially in longer rods because that style balances so poorly when rigged on a rod of any length. It'll balance better with a longer rear grip.

The rings (hesitating to use the Tennessee moniker since I'm still smarting from New Year's football) certainly will reduce overall weight on your rod, and give you some flexibility regarding the balance point. Unfortunately, they're not as secure and you may have to go "trailor park" on it and tape the reel on anyways. My last float rod build was with a conventional seat. The Fuji "soft touch", are really nice in the hand. You can cut the excess threads off to reduce its length. It sounds like you're building a really short rod for that application (9.5 feet), so it should balance out OK. I like the security of a conventional seat, and with your rod balancing it wouldn't take much to fine tune it with a counterweight in the arse end of it. No perfect answer here, and it comes down to personal style or preference. Take a guess. It'll catch fish. If you don't like it, just have fun building a different one!

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A major problem with rings is that over time the cork deforms from the pressure of having a reel on the rod and they lose there ability to hold a reel securely. If you are going to go with the rings check out the article in rodmaker magazine a few issues back on putting washers in the handle to keep the cork from being flattened by the reel . If you don't have rodmaker check out rodbuilding.org you should be able to get help all the help you need.

Thanks JR.
My dad said the same thing (he's from the old rod crafter days). He says he has some graphite bushings he cut down to the size of washers he used to use. I'll be sure and put them in. I'll check out the rodbuilding.org also.
Thanks again...
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