Homemade Reel Seat Shim

[mr.kagrise]

Today I was working a topwater and the reel became "wobbly" in the seat. I tightened the nut down as tight as I could but a cast to two later, it started right back. I got home and cut a couple of strips from a soda carton and put them in the seat before tightening the reel in and, voila! Feels great. My concern is the fact that I use this set up for topwater and jerkbaits. The need for feel is a non-issue with topwater, but how much do you think it will hinder feel for suspending lures? I'm not fishing for paydays, but nobody wants to lose fish. Is there something that will transfer feel and do the same job the soda box cardboard is doing? I've googled and checked BPS but don't see what I think I need. 

[SirSnookalot]

Not a bit.

 

I've experienced your problem with 2 rods of the same brand and mode, larger rods and larger reels but the concept is the same.  Any kind of shim will work fine as long as it feels solid.

[bassinbrian]

I've used one piece of electrical tape, leaves a residue but sure tightened things up.

[j.bruno]

Maybe you could try this???????

 

 

[Fishes in trees]

I've had that issue.  I tried bulking up the reel foot with electrical tape, duct tape, etc.   Works for a while, but it is a temporary fix.  I've also tried zip ties and small hose clamps.  Again, other temporary fixes that work for a while.

 

The underlying issue is that your reel seat is wearing out.  If you REALLY like that rod blank, you might find some rod builder who could put a new handle on the old blank.  Otherwise, your choice is to put the rod into retirement and get a new one.  That's what I did.

[skunked_again]

Expired credit cards.

 

[TNBassin']

Maybe you could try this???????

 

 

Good call. I was just gonna post this. I use just a small piece of electrical tape on all of my reel foots just to prevent them from getting scraped up.

[SirSnookalot]

 

The underlying issue is that your reel seat is wearing out.  

I don't think so, at least not in my case.  Both of my rods that had this problem were brand spanking new.  Same brand, same model, 2 different sizes, 2 being a 10/20 mh and the other heavy 25lb.  Tried out several different reel brands, did narrow it down to the rod and not the reel.  The remedy was easy with a shim, I used newspaper and trimmed the exposed paper with a box cutter.

[webertime]

Beer/soda cans. Tape, paper, cardboard and plastic will all deform rapidly. Credit card is a cool idea though.