Reel Seat vs. Cork Tape - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

FlyFishinYakr · 01-07-2012, 07:20 PM

When I'm not using my Fly Rods, the one thing I learned from deckhands and rod builders when i was young, cork is fine if you don't do alot of fishing. Cork (as mentioned earlier in this post) will dry out and crack and peel after some time in the sun. I have two sets of rods I use, (yes I am fortunate) one for my long range fishing which all rods have seats and then my "day use" set of rods for half-day to overnight trips and my Kayak fishing. On my "day use" rods I use 60# tarred marine cord. To say durable would be an understatement, I have a Clastar 196-8, 270-8, Seeker SJ-90, Calstar 530-9' & a Truline D8 all wrapped in the mid-late '80's and the cord is still just fine not frayed maybe just al little faded from where I mount my reels. It's also a (IMO) more non-slip surface even after releasing fish. On my D8 I did mount an 8" contoured foregrip (because it's my basic Y/T, 40# tuna Jig stick) and after about 30 min. on multiple 50# + class YFT a cord grip can get a little coarse on the hands.
Basicly I use cord on any of my rods that are in the 40# class test or less and reel seats on everything over 40#.
That's just my preference.
FFY.
(DISCLAIMER) btw: seel seat exceptions now include the 3 Shimano W/C Teramamar inshore rods & my 2 Waxwing rods, so that I can use smaller baitcaster reels like my Diawa Lunas' & shimano curado 200's and 300EJ's with Power Pro. I haven"t figured out what I'm going to do with my Talica's yet cause their reel seats are smaller in Diameter than most rods for the particular class line for the particular reel.

yaky yak · 01-07-2012, 09:29 PM

Its been an awful long time sense I've wrapped a rod, but I much preferred butt cord to cork on my rods also. Not as common these days but durable as hell.

The Kid · 01-08-2012, 02:46 PM

Tuna Cord

and yes it plays a huge role. Anything with a "sticky" grip such as eva or hypalon and yes even cork tape, when wet, will be much more difficult to pull out from the rod holder. Against a smooth surface the texture that is porous will grip to the surface and makes it difficult to pull out especially when you are pulling a rod out at angles.

Tuna cord doesn't stick.

Devildawgjj · 01-08-2012, 03:36 PM

I presume my calstars' have the hypalon grips? For the 8ft rod, the real seat is about 6 inches to low. Could I clamp my reel above the real seat (not looking very asthetic) but feels better?

Not sure what direction to go with.....tuna cord/marine cord (any pictures in their respective application). And could I use that on top of the hypalon or would I have to remove it?

Very insightful gentlemen!!

Willy · 01-08-2012, 07:12 PM

Another option:

Get some shrink tube, Marshals sells the good 3M stuff in all diameters. Cut a length just longer than your cork puppy (I actually do most of my grip for durability).
Shrink that stuff onto your rod grip using your girl's hair dryer, get a cork puppy and you're good to go.
Long lasting, not too slippery, and preserves your rod and grip medium.

My .02

Willy

taggermike · 01-09-2012, 09:31 AM

The padded hypolon is nice but on the kayak where your hands are mostly wet I find hyp get spippery, especially with a little fish slime on it. Cork tape works well and been durable for me over the years. My favorite by far though is the tuna cord wrap. It's cheap, fast, durable, and provides grip even in the middle of a 'cuda blitzkrieg. The first rod I wrapped had tuna cord and I sealed it with spray laquer, I think. On my next rod I just left the cord unsealed and it lasted just as well. I've even done tuna cord over old, worn smooth cork tape and that worked fine too. You can also do turks heads and other decorative cord work if you're so inclined. Mike

01-07-2012, 07:20 PM	#1
FlyFishinYakr Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Nor Cal...30 min from Bodega/Tomales Bay, 1hr from Clear Lake, 2+ hr to Berryessa & the Delta Posts: 729	When I'm not using my Fly Rods, the one thing I learned from deckhands and rod builders when i was young, cork is fine if you don't do alot of fishing. Cork (as mentioned earlier in this post) will dry out and crack and peel after some time in the sun. I have two sets of rods I use, (yes I am fortunate) one for my long range fishing which all rods have seats and then my "day use" set of rods for half-day to overnight trips and my Kayak fishing. On my "day use" rods I use 60# tarred marine cord. To say durable would be an understatement, I have a Clastar 196-8, 270-8, Seeker SJ-90, Calstar 530-9' & a Truline D8 all wrapped in the mid-late '80's and the cord is still just fine not frayed maybe just al little faded from where I mount my reels. It's also a (IMO) more non-slip surface even after releasing fish. On my D8 I did mount an 8" contoured foregrip (because it's my basic Y/T, 40# tuna Jig stick) and after about 30 min. on multiple 50# + class YFT a cord grip can get a little coarse on the hands. Basicly I use cord on any of my rods that are in the 40# class test or less and reel seats on everything over 40#. That's just my preference. FFY. (DISCLAIMER) btw: seel seat exceptions now include the 3 Shimano W/C Teramamar inshore rods & my 2 Waxwing rods, so that I can use smaller baitcaster reels like my Diawa Lunas' & shimano curado 200's and 300EJ's with Power Pro. I haven"t figured out what I'm going to do with my Talica's yet cause their reel seats are smaller in Diameter than most rods for the particular class line for the particular reel.

01-07-2012, 09:29 PM	#2
yaky yak Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Riverside, calif Posts: 130	Its been an awful long time sense I've wrapped a rod, but I much preferred butt cord to cork on my rods also. Not as common these days but durable as hell.

01-08-2012, 02:46 PM	#3
The Kid Loves Surface Irons Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: San Diego Posts: 455	Tuna Cord and yes it plays a huge role. Anything with a "sticky" grip such as eva or hypalon and yes even cork tape, when wet, will be much more difficult to pull out from the rod holder. Against a smooth surface the texture that is porous will grip to the surface and makes it difficult to pull out especially when you are pulling a rod out at angles. Tuna cord doesn't stick.

01-08-2012, 03:36 PM	#4
Devildawgjj Kayak BOOT Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Ventura County Posts: 251	I presume my calstars' have the hypalon grips? For the 8ft rod, the real seat is about 6 inches to low. Could I clamp my reel above the real seat (not looking very asthetic) but feels better? Not sure what direction to go with.....tuna cord/marine cord (any pictures in their respective application). And could I use that on top of the hypalon or would I have to remove it? Very insightful gentlemen!!

01-08-2012, 07:12 PM	#5
Willy Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: La Jolla Posts: 189	Another option: Get some shrink tube, Marshals sells the good 3M stuff in all diameters. Cut a length just longer than your cork puppy (I actually do most of my grip for durability). Shrink that stuff onto your rod grip using your girl's hair dryer, get a cork puppy and you're good to go. Long lasting, not too slippery, and preserves your rod and grip medium. My .02 Willy

01-09-2012, 09:31 AM	#6
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	The padded hypolon is nice but on the kayak where your hands are mostly wet I find hyp get spippery, especially with a little fish slime on it. Cork tape works well and been durable for me over the years. My favorite by far though is the tuna cord wrap. It's cheap, fast, durable, and provides grip even in the middle of a 'cuda blitzkrieg. The first rod I wrapped had tuna cord and I sealed it with spray laquer, I think. On my next rod I just left the cord unsealed and it lasted just as well. I've even done tuna cord over old, worn smooth cork tape and that worked fine too. You can also do turks heads and other decorative cord work if you're so inclined. Mike