rod n reel question

[Pary]

what kind of tape or strap is everybody using to peace together their custom ice fishing pole n reel?

[Iceman12]

I use masking tape to secure the reel to the rod and then cover the masking tape with electrical tape. Works great for me.

[harvey lee]

Just make sure that when you put the masking tape on the handle that you have masking tape wherever the elec tape is. That way no elec. tape will touch the cork handle. If it does and you have to take the reel off, you could pull some cork off and you will also have a sticky mess.

[Woody Erickson]

Silicon Tape is the best tape that I have found for attaching reels to cork. It only sticks to itself, no gooey mess left behind.

This is all I use now.

Some Manufacturers are:

Tommy Tape

Vypar Products SiliconeE X-Treme

Mocap Silicone Tape

Nashua 386 Silicone Sealing Tape

[marine_man]

Quote:

---

That way no elec. tape will touch the cork handle. If it does and you have to take the reel off, you could pull some cork off and you will also have a sticky mess.

---

This is why I've switched to silicone tape (tommy tape, etc as listed above). One thing I noticed was that unless you really strech the silicone tape it is more flexible than electrical tape. Last year I re-wrapped my rods and streched the tape better and now I don't have the flex issue at all.

marine_man

[tdk]

Tape that gets put on hockey sticks. Works great and doesn't get slippery with a little fish slim on it.

[EBass]

I used that hockey tape too - that's what I had laying around. It'll be fine for this year - I hope.

[harvey lee]

Sounds like I need to try the hockey tape.

[hugonian1]

I've always felt if I'm paying 60 to 80 bucks for a custom rod it better have a reel seat on it. The Thorne hidden hood sure is slick. Is there a reason that so many rods require reels to be installed with tape or straps? Just curious if anyone knows.

[harvey lee]

I like all my Thorne Bros rods to come with the cork handle. The reason is I can place my reel where it feels the most balanced in my hand.

[fishinalot]

What ever kind of tape you use, cut it, don't tear it off. The end of the tape sticks better.

[hanson]

Quote:

---

Is there a reason that so many rods require reels to be installed with tape or straps? Just curious if anyone knows.

---

In my opinion, there are 2 different reasons.

- On inexpensive rods, there are no reel seats to keep the rods more affordable for everybody.

- On high end rods like Thorne Bros, that is what most of us anglers want, and that is NO reel seats. There are a couple reasons that I DON'T like a reel seat. The main one is I can position the reel wherever I want on the handle to achieve a balance that is perfect for me. With a reel seat, my reel goes in 1 spot which might not be where I want it. I've been using Thorne rods with no reel seats for nearly 10 years now and I have never felt the need to have one.

The only reason you are seeing reel seats on rods now is to sell rods, whether the angler knows he needs one or not. There are lots of new ice anglers now and rods with reel seats are a lot easier to sell than a rod with a reel ziptied to the handle. I think that is the only reason there are reel seats on rods now and that is to sell rods. There is absolutely no benefit to having one on a rod.

Look at the St. Croix Legend spring bobber rods. Last year they were sold as a straight graphite Tennessee handle, this year they have a very nice Fuji reel seat built into the handle. Lots of people hate these new rods, but St. Croix can sell more of them.