fixed spools, why the stigma ?

[topbanana]

There's seems to be this stigma associated with fixed spool reels, almost being looked down upon, as if they're inferior. And god forbid being seen with one as your frontline reel. Is this because it's what people start off with ? And the natural progression is the multiplier ? Its almost like your not a 'proper' angler if you use one, with the exception of spinning or lure fishing.

Now I've used a multiplier since I was 10 years old, I'm 29 now but at the start of the year I bought a fixed spool for use with braid in certain situations. I was impressed to say the least but soon realized that it's not that good in some situations too. For instance when fishing in a strong tide it's pretty pointless imo, same goes for the beaches in a big sea. For heavy ground and lesser tidal flows its spot on though. This brings me onto my next point, mono. With most fixed spools you 1,2 or sometimes 3 spare spools with them. I filled my spare spool with mono and suitable shock leader for times when braids a pain. Now I use my 'mangle' for most of my fishing, distance, heavy ground, beaches and it has never let me down. I fish a low reel, about 6 inch up the rod and its very comfortable reeling in like this as there is no leverage problem associated with a multi that's to low down as you place your other hand up the rod. Then there's casting, I used to pendulum cast but now backcast and I love it.

The quality of the fixed spool now is brilliant, with some costing upto 800 quid and more but there are quite a few at a reasonable price that will deliver.

So there you go, this is my take on fixed spools.

Thanks for reading.

 

[john/r]

There's seems to be this stigma associated with fixed spool reels, almost being looked down upon, as if they're inferior. And god forbid being seen with one as your frontline reel. Is this because it's what people start off with ? And the natural progression is the multiplier ? Its almost like your not a 'proper' angler if you use one, with the exception of spinning or lure fishing.

Now I've used a multiplier since I was 10 years old, I'm 29 now but at the start of the year I bought a fixed spool for use with braid in certain situations. I was impressed to say the least but soon realized that it's not that good in some situations too. For instance when fishing in a strong tide it's pretty pointless imo, same goes for the beaches in a big sea. For heavy ground and lesser tidal flows its spot on though. This brings me onto my next point, mono. With most fixed spools you 1,2 or sometimes 3 spare spools with them. I filled my spare spool with mono and suitable shock leader for times when braids a pain. Now I use my 'mangle' for most of my fishing, distance, heavy ground, beaches and it has never let me down. I fish a low reel, about 6 inch up the rod and its very comfortable reeling in like this as there is no leverage problem associated with a multi that's to low down as you place your other hand up the rod. Then there's casting, I used to pendulum cast but now backcast and I love it.

The quality of the fixed spool now is brilliant, with some costing upto 800 quid and more but there are quite a few at a reasonable price that will deliver.

So there you go, this is my take on fixed spools.

Thanks for reading.

nothing wrong with your enthusiam regarding fixed spools, been using a couple myself on a few occasions.but have to say multipliers for me still are the frontrunners but fixed spools have become a hell of a lot better over last few yrs.

my main use for fixed spool for me would be fishing with braid 30lb b/s straight thro in conditions were there is quite a bit weed about.but saying that i do know a very good caster and angler who uses fixed spool over rough ground and successfully to.

realy these days nothing much wrong with them its down to your own preferences.

 

[billy the]

Well said that Man, i was just saying the other day to fellow anglers that i was going to give a fixed spool a try. As a result i have just been given/lent 2. i have as yet not tried either, but like you say try it with braid and see how it goes. the only thing that concerns me is the size and the distance the spool is away from the rod.
Have you had any problems getting used to the difference

I now have a Riptide RT 8000 with a capacity of 310 yards of .40 and a Leeda 2 XL beach 70 with a capacity of 350 yards of .40. As you rightly say you can pay £800 and more for the latest Shimano so they must be worth a go !

 

[topbanana]

Well said that Man, i was just saying the other day to fellow anglers that i was going to give a fixed spool a try. As a result i have just been given/lent 2. i have as yet not tried either, but like you say try it with braid and see how it goes. the only thing that concerns me is the size and the distance the spool is away from the rod.
Have you had any problems getting used to the difference

I now have a Riptide RT 8000 with a capacity of 310 yards of .40 and a Leeda 2 XL beach 70 with a capacity of 350 yards of .40. As you rightly say you can pay £800 and more for the latest Shimano so they must be worth a go !

Hello mate, I've not had any problems getting used them. I've not experienced ring wraps or 'wind' knots. The only thing that felt a little strange at first was the release compared to a multi but you sharp adjust. Give it a go !

 

[topbanana]

nothing wrong with your enthusiam regarding fixed spools, been using a couple myself on a few occasions.but have to say multipliers for me still are the frontrunners but fixed spools have become a hell of a lot better over last few yrs.

my main use for fixed spool for me would be fishing with braid 30lb b/s straight thro in conditions were there is quite a bit weed about.but saying that i do know a very good caster and angler who uses fixed spool over rough ground and successfully to.

realy these days nothing much wrong with them its down to your own preferences.

Absolutely right john, it's definitely preference as opposed to whether they are up to the job. IMO they most definitely are.

 

[codseeker]

hello my gud friend i wudnt knock the fixed spool at all i do have a wind up with my pal i fish with and hes choice of reel is the fixed spool as he has never got used to the multi in yrs and yet he does out fish me a lot so i say never knock em till ya tried them theres some belters out there i say a faster retrieve will get you out the rough stuff quicker

 

[Nooo Fish]

I've got a penn surf blaster cos I had only ever used fixed spools. I think it's great when my mates get birdies I just smile and tell them you don't get that on a f/s. I bought a multiplier and rod a while back and just couldn't get away with having to lay the line back on. I can cast as far as my mates and their multis with this reel and its even better with the braid spool on. And the retrieval rate is 1 metre per turn so you can reel in very quickly.

I couldn't give a **** toss about any stigma. I like them and that's all that matters.

 

[topbanana]

hello my gud friend i wudnt knock the fixed spool at all i do have a wind up with my pal i fish with and hes choice of reel is the fixed spool as he has never got used to the multi in yrs and yet he does out fish me a lot so i say never knock em till ya tried them theres some belters out there i say a faster retrieve will get you out the rough stuff quicker

Totally agree me auld mucka brilliant for getting your gear off the floor.

 

[topbanana]

I've got a penn surf blaster cos I had only ever used fixed spools. I think it's great when my mates get birdies I just smile and tell them you don't get that on a f/s. I bought a multiplier and rod a while back and just couldn't get away with having to lay the line back on. I can cast as far as my mates and their multis with this reel and its even better with the braid spool on. And the retrieval rate is 1 metre per turn so you can reel in very quickly.

I couldn't give a **** toss about any stigma. I like them and that's all that matters.

Am with you on that mate

 

[Daz65]

I use a multi and and f/s I prefer the f/s on the beach but it can be a pain in the wind especially blowing from the side

 

[mooseboy65]

all I use is fixed spool,i think they are top notch,dont see the problem if I can cast same distance of some really good fisherman I go with,bring in decent fish and ive got to say ive had no bother in the biggest of seas from a beach,all I can see is more reasons to use fixed spool,we all know how cold it gets in winter,you don't want to be sitting around sorting nests out in ya multipler instead of fishing,fair doos you can take 2 or 3 multis,but ive seen a friend take 3 reels and nest the lot,no more fishing.ive got 2 say ive had loads bother using braid on fixed spool,wind knots etc,tangles,so I just stick to mono,i take 2 reels with me and ive got 4 spare spools,with line for different ground,i use a wychwood exorcist or equinox,big pit reels,cost bout 60-70 quid.the retrieve on these reels is excellent aswell

 

[topbanana]

I neglected to mention the winter, wearing gloves all the time apart from baiting up is a definite bonus !

 

[BAZACODBASHA]

I never take any notice of any comments or "stigma" about anything - to do with fishing or anything else. If YOUR'E happy with what you use, good for you. I use both fixed spool and multipliers. As far as I'm concerned both have their place.
Use whatever is comfortable for YOU mate and tight lines.

 

[topbanana]

I never take any notice of any comments or "stigma" about anything - to do with fishing or anything else. If YOUR'E happy with what you use, good for you. I use both fixed spool and multipliers. As far as I'm concerned both have their place.
Use whatever is comfortable for YOU mate and tight lines.

This is a fact mate

 

[paulthespark]

the one big difference for me between a fixed spool reel and a multiplier, and it is a big difference is that it's impossible to birds nest with a fixed spool, now during the winter months I always use my penn525 mag super duper bollocks reel and after 40 years sea angling I think I have got the hang of them [multipliers that is ] but every time I blast it the dreaded birds nest is always forefront in my mind and it can happen to anyone at anytime, so when its one in the morning in the middle of January ,minus 3 and sleet hitting you horizontal in the face the last thing you want is spending half an hour sorting you nest out that's when the fixed spool comes into its own, you can pull a 5 lbs cod in with a fs just the same as a multiplier you can cast just as far[almost] and you will never get a nest, so why do I prefer a multi because when you hit it just perfect and the line is flying off the reel and the reel is singing and you stop it just at the right moment in pitch blackness worth every birds nest I have ever had.

 

[g.ordon]

There's seems to be this stigma associated with fixed spool reels, almost being looked down upon, as if they're inferior. And god forbid being seen with one as your frontline reel. Is this because it's what people start off with ? And the natural progression is the multiplier ? Its almost like your not a 'proper' angler if you use one, with the exception of spinning or lure fishing.

Now I've used a multiplier since I was 10 years old, I'm 29 now but at the start of the year I bought a fixed spool for use with braid in certain situations. I was impressed to say the least but soon realized that it's not that good in some situations too. For instance when fishing in a strong tide it's pretty pointless imo, same goes for the beaches in a big sea. For heavy ground and lesser tidal flows its spot on though. This brings me onto my next point, mono. With most fixed spools you 1,2 or sometimes 3 spare spools with them. I filled my spare spool with mono and suitable shock leader for times when braids a pain. Now I use my 'mangle' for most of my fishing, distance, heavy ground, beaches and it has never let me down. I fish a low reel, about 6 inch up the rod and its very comfortable reeling in like this as there is no leverage problem associated with a multi that's to low down as you place your other hand up the rod. Then there's casting, I used to pendulum cast but now backcast and I love it.

The quality of the fixed spool now is brilliant, with some costing upto 800 quid and more but there are quite a few at a reasonable price that will deliver.

So there you go, this is my take on fixed spools.

Thanks for reading.

Because a multiplier is harder to cast and once a guys mastered it he thinks he's the dogs bollocks and looks down on the ones using fixed spool reels.

 

[john/r]

drawback i have been finding is the odd time getting a good cast the line wraps round the rings and causes a crackoff.

talked to a few people and they say you can totaly overcome it by using a braid leader a problem for me as i prefer clear leaders,other prob with a braid leader is there is no cushing for a fish fighting in the surf.

braid mono i have had quite a few probs with braid and its not cheap .knots has been a big prob heavy mono leader with thin braid a prob for me.

i have to say for me i do not and never will look down or think they are inferior using a fixed spool its everyones own choice i used to use alvey reels when i was younger and to this day still cant see a prob using them now.

 

[big phil 123]

I think each to the own my main problems with fixed spool is the finger slap and the lack of distance. I guess if i put the same amount of time playong about with f spool i might get used to them. I just find multi easier to use with drag etc faster to adjust. And with the f spool i find the retrieve to fast

 

[mardenq]

ive changed to fixed spools and love them.avocast 7000 with 50lb braid and the same reel in the 8000 size with 66lb braid,use 100lb braid leader and fish like nick with the reel 6inch from bottom of the butt.great in the kelp and heavy ground and don't loose near the same amount of gear as can pull out of snags with ease,can cast as far as I could with a multi and heavy line.for cleaner ground I have a shimano ultega 12000 with 3 spools--2 with 15lb mono and one with 10lb mono all with tapered leaders,use with long rod and im amazed how far I can chuck a 6oz lead with very little effort,ive got no probs at all with using fixed spools

 

[magpies]

I tried a 525 mag but as a former freshwater angler I just feel much more comfortable with a fixed spool. Its not the casting really, more the retrieve with the wrong hand and all that. Also time is tight for me and when I get out I want to be fishing all the time, not sorting out the odd birds nest. Which as far as I can see can happen to anyone now and again.