multiplier or fixed spool

[fishytail]

Morning all hope that you have all had a good summer and are dusting the thermals down for the winter session!!!

Well I have spend most my summer out on me mates boat from the tyne with some cracking days had and some nice fish (suprisingly not that far out), anyway, towards the end of last winter I was getting the hang of me mag xtra and abu 7000 but on a couple, well lots, of occassions they, well I, spoilt great opportunities due to my lack of competence/ confidence casting. To avoid further frost bite and the hassle I am thinking of getting a couple of fixed spool reals (former course man you see), so the question being should I keep trying or get fixed spool (apparently there are some good products on that market that can match multipliers). And before you say I should have been on the beech practicing in the summer!! I know.

Any advice, recommendations, suggested models etc.. would be much appreciated.

Well good luck all and hope that the winter brings some good personal success

Fishytail

[The Great Wallsendo]

Hallo mate

I'm recently trying to get to grips with a multiplier after years of using a fixed spool

I've got a Shimano Aerlex GT8000 fixed spool and it's the business...the latest equivalent is the XS8000. It's a good size reel to compliment a beachcaster...anything smaller, I reckon, would be imbalanced.

It'll take yards and yards of 15/20lb line so you'll never run out of line on the cast either...

Prob is...the XS8000 costs Ł100

[Lowrider]

I use a fixed spool if on a clean beach,but it is a big one so plenty of grunt if i do get a decent fish.
You see plenty of F/S being used on boats and the shore on fishing progs from abroad,they seem to have know problems with using them on decent fish.
Multis or almost a way of life in the North east but i am coming around to the F/S with a light long rod for most of the beaches around here.

[thewestwind]

I use both Multiplier and Fixed Spool reels and have done for years, it all depends on the type of ground I'm fishing.
Either type of reel will do a good job for you but if you don't feel totally confident using a Multiplier then by all means go with a Fixed Spool. I've seen too many people wasting hours of valuable fishing time unpicking near impossible birds nests to say that "you must use a Multiplier". One thing is for certain the fish don't know what you're using.
For clean ground work I would not swap my Daiwa Emblem Z5500A's they're loaded with 10 lb B.S Stren mainline and they cast a long long way. Very smooth reels and a joy to fish with.
The Emblem Z series has now been superseeded by the Emblem Pros can't comment on these as I haven't had one to try but would imagine they would be very similar. Only snag is they're expensive but they do last a long time if looked after correctly.
Realistically only you can decide which is the best reel for you.
Enjoy the winter.

[Charlie_Thompson]

Multiplier for me every time for most NE England winter sea angling. I just like the way you're more in contact with the line, straight through the rings etc. This might rankle (?) a few people but IMO the only reason people choose fixed spool reels is because they appear to be "Easier" to use at first. A decent multiplier reel, a few mistakes in the early days then you're away. There are very few experienced sea anglers up here that use Fixed spool and you really got to ask why? Mulipliers are better suited to the job basically!

[Hillbilly]

allright mate,
penn mag is the best reel i have used,a lot more control compared to most reels,practice makes perfect.
regards

[Big Al]

I've been fishing for 20 plus years and always used a fixed spool - initially cos I couldnt afford a multiplier. When I did have the money I borrowed my mates multiplier and tried many times to get the hang of it, but no joy. I think its because I have smallish hands, and couldnt get a proper grip. Just bought a penn surfmaster 850 for 50 quid, casts like a dream, line comes off with a whister, pulls the fish in no bother, and it should last. Saying that, i only use it with 15 lb line with a leader for beach fishing. If I'm on the rocks, then I use a ryobi project, ( 10 years old) which is strong enough to get the end tackle back. Only trouble is, I load it with 30 lb line, and cant get a good cast, as the line level quickly goes down - thats the main prolem with fixed spool reel. I
've noticed that more anglers are using fixed spools now, but in the end, its completely down to personal choice. And as for birdsnests, I've had some god awful tangles when the line has caught under the spool when casting into a strong wind.
Whatever you choose, enjoy your fishing

[Charlie_Thompson]

Definetly no right or wrong involved in this situation just opinion and personal preference.

I have never really used big Fixed Spools before (My edit - i said multiplier in the first version which may have caused major confusion) how do they handle a real heavy weight, either a fish or probably more often a huge weedmonster. The mechanics of them seem a bit cooky to me.

[fishytail]

Some great responses lads and lasses. I mean I can cast the multiplier ok about 80% of the time just the other 20% which seem to be at really bad times and frustrait the hell out of me. I have tried fixed spool and hit the same sort of area without the hassle. I take the point when im not trying to hit the horizon of the rocks the penn mag and abu 7000 are fine. I think it is my casting motion not being as smooth that creats the problems to be fair.

Cheers for the advice and a shame to the lions

Fishytail

[Charlie_Thompson]

80% is not a bad average for any multiplier user Not bad at all. I usually have to strip a bit of line off after an overrun on about 76.95% of all fishing situational casting events.

My mate Geordie who's been fishing since Roman times with multipliers made from wood in the early days. He's been using his 7000's for years and I can guarantee at least one major beach strop per session due to a birdy. I'll see him stood quietly half way down the beach, trying to get his pitmatic headlamp working to enable him to quietly and gently (for there is no other way) remove the little birdette in his reel. 7 mins later the language starts .... and it's foul "effing chuffing fishing effing raa raa" Next there's a tasmanian devil type thrashing and stamping of feet.

More line please vicar

All part of lifes rich tapestry.

[fozally]

The bonus with a fixed spool is you dont have to tune it to get the best out of it unlike a multiplier which needs a certain set up depending on which one you use. If you do use a muliplier when it is set up correctly you would probably use it all the time and the F.S. would gather dust (happened to me).

[Charlie_Thompson]

I've never done nowt to any multiplier I've ever owned, never oiled them, opened them up or twiddled any dials.

[big_sean]

cookery

as lots of people have views

heres mine stick to the multiplyer you wont regrett it
as for the fixed spool give them to the wife for beating eggs with and cookery

sean

[Lowrider]

I wonder though just how many people use a multi cos " thats what we do up here".
No harm in that but at times it may blind us to developments in F/S reels.

[Hillbilly]

80% is not a bad average for any multiplier user Not bad at all. I usually have to strip a bit of line off after an overrun on about 76.95% of all fishing situational casting events.

My mate Geordie who's been fishing since Roman times with multipliers made from wood in the early days. He's been using his 7000's for years and I can guarantee at least one major beach strop per session due to a birdy. I'll see him stood quietly half way down the beach, trying to get his pitmatic headlamp working to enable him to quietly and gently (for there is no other way) remove the little birdette in his reel. 7 mins later the language starts .... and it's foul "effing chuffing fishing effing raa raa" Next there's a tasmanian devil type thrashing and stamping of feet.

More line please vicar

All part of lifes rich tapestry.

I take four mags with me on a session, on a bad day i will have to use them all,but most sessions i will only use one its just down to practise and trying to retrieve the line as level as poss on the spool,never got away wth the wooden ones too much friction,good for starting fires though.
regards