Bob, To try and answer your question about a fighting butt. I would say yes, if you can get the end cap of of the reelseat, if you can, and have an electric drill available, you can clean out the inside of the blank. Go to Home Depot, or a hardware store find a wooden dowel just slightly under the inside diameter of the blank, at your favorite tackle shop get some cork rings. Using a good waterproof epoxy, glue them on one end of the dowel. I would say about 2!/2 or 3 inches long, I think 6 rings would make about 3 inches. Take and cutoff the dowel about 4 inches beyond the glued on cork rings. Holding it in the electric drill, sand the cork rings smooth, to the shape you want, then glue it into the rod, up against your reelseat. I did this to a rod I have had around for awhile.I don't think you could tell it from a factory installed one. Art B.