So to go along with my vmms seat. I bought a R3215 Fuji Hidden Thread Up Or Down Locking Foregrip.  1st question the hood seems to hold the reel very securely. my question is should i use the hidden hood  by its self or with the locking ring that came that came with the reel seat.  which, pictures is correct ?  both ways seem to work. 

 

 

2nd on the cork at the top of the hidden hood where the rod comes through.  traditionally a winding check would be put there. i’m assuming no winding check or wrap goes there. 

For downlocking I usually have a thread wrap positioned on the blank to show, and bore out the end of the cork so it it is a loose fit.

I use one of these Matagi winding checks, they have a tenon made for this application, sized a MM or two larger than the blank diamter.  I cut the cork cover down to the OD of the winding check and epoxy it on.  I used the SK hidden thread hood/nut on this but I'm sure it would work with any hood and or cork hood cover.  

By itself, I have used those style hidden thread foregrips for decades and never had a problem. Also, the fancy Fuji carbon fiber/aluminum foregrips can work with your system with a massaging of the length. Fuji's Jim Isling mentioned it in his videos on the Perfect Fit system. With the length of the nut and its contact length on the reel seat threads the size of the opening in the front of the foregrip is cosmetic only.

21 hours ago, Logan S said:

I use one of these Matagi winding checks, they have a tenon made for this application, sized a MM or two larger than the blank diamter.  I cut the cork cover down to the OD of the winding check and epoxy it on.  I used the SK hidden thread hood/nut on this but I'm sure it would work with any hood and or cork hood cover.  

that gives me a good idea.  thank you. 

Imo up vs down locking depends on how you grip the handle. For example, if a longer rod you might like a forward grip for balance so an uplocking seat is more comfortable. 

For me, I like whatever style lets me hold the spinning reel foot between my ring and middle finger and also allows my pointer to contact the blanks.  

No foregrip. shortened thread reel seat would be the best option to get a finger on the blank, remember you also do not have to center the reel seat and blank connection, you can offset the reel seat to where the top of the entire reel seat is in direct contact with the blank and your finger to blank reach would be 1/16th to 1/8 inch from the blank, can't get closer than that.