Reel clamps on smaller reels?

[CapeFish]

Hi All,

Nearly all multiplier reels come with reel clamps. I can understand the use of them on reels that can pump out huge drag numbers, but are they needed on smaller reels that push out say less than say 10 or 15kg of drag? I never use mine except with my trinidad 40 and 50 because I use them on a rod with a reasonably small Fuji trigger winch and they are known to crack with big reels. If my rods had beefier reel seats I doubt I would use them for these reels either.  For the rest I have never used them. Are they perhaps artefacts of days gone by when rods had week reel seats? Just thinking now modern spinners pump out crazy drag numbers and the reels dont have clamps?

Thanks,
Leon

[Swami805]

I have several rods with deckhand handles, couldn't use them without a clamp. On rods with a reel seat I don't bother with the clamp on light stuff.
Be nice if the larger bait casters came with clamps so I could quit using those after market contraptions

[reelrepair123]

my take is, when have you ever seen a reel that the reel stand screws broke and the reel was in danger of being pulled over the side, although the reel stand is bolted down with the reel clamp, it's still held on by the 4 screws, so, if the drag was too tight and the reel was pulled to the breaking point, the clamp would still be clamped to the rod and the 4 screws would break and good bye reel, i don't see it happening, all the clamp is good for is additional cost, ripping you skin open if your not careful or scratching your boat up, my opinion, you beef up the reels, what happened to fighting the fish , why not use a trailer winch for a reel, put everything in perspective.  have a great day. harryk

[Alto Mare]

If the option is there... why not?

Sal

[Cor]

I have similar opinion on reel clamps as CapeFish, but perhaps that's because we're from the same end of the world.   For my type of fishing the extra weight, even if it's only 100 gr, would be a nuisance.

I have never used or seen a reel clamp used here.   Not even on very heavy Tuna gear.    Have never felt that the pressure on a reel is so much as to warrant it and I wonder if we are strong enough to hold a rod with that kind of pressure on it.

Having said that there may obviously be circumstances where it may be required, perhaps if the reel seat is damaged in some way.

What I one day did experience was the rivets holding the reel foot to the body of an Okuma reel came apart.   I am sure it was a bad riveting job.   See photo. I replaced the rivets with SS bolts and the reel lived happily ever after.

[oc1]

I have several rods with deckhand handles, couldn't use them without a clamp.

I'm sticking with my lashings to hold the reel to the rod.  The cord is usually braided nylon with about 100 lb breaking test.  The nylon will stretch just enough to make the lashing very tight if it is wound on with some tension.  The reel frame would disintegrate before the lashing broke.  Tied properly, the lashing will be more rigid than a reel seat and it will not work loose over time.  Best of all, it has a warm and slip-free feel in the hand.  That is the sort of texture and feel you demand in your fore grip so why put up with a cold and slippery clamp and reel seat?

With a small palming reel the clamp and reel seat are especially annoying.

For large senators on a good varmac reel seat, the front (or front and rear) brace is more important than the clamp.  Look at the first big game rods and reels from the Zane Grey era.  Lashing on the foot and lashed front and rear braces.  Zane Grey never had his reel fall off.

-steve

[CapeFish]

yes look if the rod has no decent reel seat (which it sounds like is the case with a deckhand rod) then there is little other option, so perhaps that's why they are still made? We don't have rods like that here

[Cor]

yes look if the rod has no decent reel seat (which it sounds like is the case with a deckhand rod) then there is little other option, so perhaps that's why they are still made? We don't have rods like that here

I don't know if you ever met the late Neville Heynes, he fished with what is called a Deckhand rod, no reel seat at all.   He attached his reels with two SS hose clamps.    He had some reason for it, but I cant remember what it was.

[Ron Jones]

I have seen an unclamped reel slip a seat and go flying several times. I will always clamp a reel if I can. I like to fish with the lightest gear and line possible and I have had several instances where I have had to back off the drag in order to not damage the stand, a clamp fixes all of that.
The Man

[whalebreath]

....attached his reels with two SS hose clamps.    He had some reason for it, but I cant remember what it was.

I've done same to attach a levelwind to an ultralight spinning rod for small stream Salmon fishing-all kinds of fun and the two hose clamps didn't damage the cork at all.

[CapeFish]

yes look if the rod has no decent reel seat (which it sounds like is the case with a deckhand rod) then there is little other option, so perhaps that's why they are still made? We don't have rods like that here

I don't know if you ever met the late Neville Heynes, he fished with what is called a Deckhand rod, no reel seat at all.   He attached his reels with two SS hose clamps.    He had some reason for it, but I cant remember what it was.

No unfortunately not, was he one of the Rooikrantz locals? I suppose in theory a rod without a real seat is potentially stronger and gives the option to move the location of the reel.

[CapeFish]

I have seen an unclamped reel slip a seat and go flying several times. I will always clamp a reel if I can. I like to fish with the lightest gear and line possible and I have had several instances where I have had to back off the drag in order to not damage the stand, a clamp fixes all of that.
The Man

I have never seen that and suspect it has to do with the type of reel seat used perhaps?

[Ron Jones]

I have seen an unclamped reel slip a seat and go flying several times. I will always clamp a reel if I can. I like to fish with the lightest gear and line possible and I have had several instances where I have had to back off the drag in order to not damage the stand, a clamp fixes all of that.
The Man

I imagine the reasons are varied, and have to do with instalation technique,condition of gear and suitability of the seat and reel foot. I just know it happens, and I don't want it to happen to me.

The Man

I have never seen that and suspect it has to do with the type of reel seat used perhaps?

[Cor]

yes look if the rod has no decent reel seat (which it sounds like is the case with a deckhand rod) then there is little other option, so perhaps that's why they are still made? We don't have rods like that here

I don't know if you ever met the late Neville Heynes, he fished with what is called a Deckhand rod, no reel seat at all.   He attached his reels with two SS hose clamps.    He had some reason for it, but I cant remember what it was.

No unfortunately not, was he one of the Rooikrans locals? I suppose in theory a rod without a real seat is potentially stronger and gives the option to move the location of the reel.

Indeed, a very controversial and awkward Rooikrans angler whose company I sometimes enjoyed.    Always did things his way, did not like change, argued about everything, yet I liked his nonsense.     He is probably sitting on a cloud somewhere and watching me type.

[TRS]

My first surf casting experiences in Hawaii were using an old borrowed half and half rod. The Ocean City reel was hose clamped to the lower bamboo half. The reel seat was nothing more than electrician's tape.  The rod was said to have landed several ulua over 50 pounds. While not the easiest rod and reel to cast, it was a great training rod and reel.