Most anglers start off using a fixed spool reel due to the ease of use this type of reel offers. However, many anglers eventually upgrade to a multiplier reel. This is because the free-running, adjustable spool of the multiplier allows greater casting distance and the cranking power of the spool design is more effective when reeling in. The drawback comes with multiplier reels being much more difficult to master. Even a small mistake in casting can lead to the dreaded ‘bird’s nest’ – a messy explosion of line which can take a long time to sort out.
Design
All multiplier reels consist of a cage which makes up the structure of the reel with the revolving spool inside. The handle is on one side and controls such as the spool disengage button (or lever) and magnetic controls are located on the other side plate. The spool revolves on a spindle. Multiplier reels are usually attached to a rod with a moveable reel seat, although coasters (metal attachments similar to jubilee clips) are still used. The choice to have a reel ‘up’ (towards the middle of a rod) or ‘down’ (at the bottom of a rod) is down to personal preference. It is also worth noting here that whereas fixed spool reels can be altered to right or left-handed use, multiplier reels have their handle built on one side and this cannot be changed.
Reel Size and Use
Different reels have different uses for the sea angler. A relatively small reel (such as the Daiwa 7HT) will be ideal for clean ground beach fishing with 15lb line and a shock-leader, whereas a heavier, bigger reel (the Daiwa SL20SH) will be suited to rough ground fishing with 30lb line all the way through. There are also plenty of all-round reels on the market (6500 size Abu Garcias, Penn 525) which allow anglers to perform long-distance casts over clean ground but still have the retrieval rate to handle mixed ground fishing. Many anglers who have been fishing for some time will have built up a collection of tackle and will have light reels for clean ground fishing and specialist bigger, heavier reels for fishing rough ground. However, a single well-chosen reel can handle the vast majority of the fishing situations UK anglers will encounter and only struggle with very long-range casting or very rough ground and rough seas.
Rods for Fixed Spools and Multipliers Reels
Usually, multiplier reels need to be paired up with a rod that has been ringed for multiplier use – rods designed for multiplier reels have a higher number of smaller rod rings which keep the line up and off the rod, as pictured above. Rods designed for fixed spool use have fewer but larger rings to break down the line as it comes off the spool during a cast. However, these days it is becoming increasingly common to see manufacturers making rods which can be used with either multiplier or fixed spool reels, and the idea that rods need to be specifically ringed for either multiplier or fixed spool use appears to be fading into the past.
Multiplier Reel Ratio
Multiplier reels are so-called because one turn of the handle multiplies the number of times that the spool turns. For example, the Daiwa Sealine SL20 has a ratio of 6.1:1, meaning that the spool revolves just over six times for every full turn of the handle. Generally speaking, reels designed for rough ground will have a high ratio as this provides the speed to get rigs up off the seabed and high in the water, away from snags. The previously mentioned Daiwa SL20 retrieval ratio is one of the highest on the market and realistically the highest that a UK sea fishing reel can have as retrieval rates any higher would make the reels over-complicated and too expensive. Most reels on sale in the UK have a ratio of somewhere between 4:1 to 6:1.
Braking Systems – Magnetic and Centrifugal
Multiplier reels have a braking system which reduces the speed of the spinning spool during a cast to make the reel more manageable and provide additional control for the angler during a cast. In some reels, this takes the form of a centrifugal system where the reel features brake blocks located on pins in the side plate of a reel. Some reels have two brake blocks on two pins, whereas modern reels may feature as many as six or eight. As the spool rotates during a cast the brake blocks fly outwards and make contact with the outside edge of the reel, creating friction and slowing the revolutions of the spool down. Using small brake blocks, removing one, or removing them entirely will speed the reel up, whereas using more/larger brake blocks will cause the reel to run slower.
Many modern reels use a highly effective magnetic braking system. This can be in addition to, or instead of, the centrifugal brake blocks. The magnetic system works by placing a number of magnets in the reel which create a magnetic field around the spool. A dial is turned which moves the magnets closer or further away from the spool which lessens or increases the strength of the magnetic field which allows the angler to easily control the spool speed. Generally, multiplier reels with magnetic braking systems offer the best performance but are also the most expensive.
Modern braking systems, particularly advanced magnetic systems, offer anglers greater control of the reel during casting and if they are set correctly they significantly reduce the number of bird’s nests, even with novice anglers. Many anglers set their reels to run at their slowest (either have the magnetic setting at its strongest setting or have the most/largest brake blocks in their reel) and then progressively speed the reel up as their knowledge, technique and confidence of using the reel increases. It is worth remembering that it is better to sacrifice a few yards of casting distance and have the reel set up to function in a smooth and reliable way than have the reel set up to run at its fastest and get a bird’s nest every other cast.
Casting and Retrieving with a Multiplier Reel
Before casting the angler needs to disengage the spool by moving a lever down, or pressing a button. The angler then holds the spool in place with his or her thumb and performs the cast, releasing the spool at the required time of the cast. The spool then spins letting out line as the weight flies through the air pulling the line with it. During the cast either the brake blocks fly outwards to reduce the speed of the spools revolutions or the magnetic system works to achieve the same result. If everything goes well the angler will, if necessary, apply pressure to the spool with their thumb as the weight hits the sea, stopping the spool from spinning. Problems can emerge if the reel has not been set up properly, such as the wrong or the wrong or no brake blocks being used or magnetic system at the incorrect setting. This could mean that the spool spins too slowly, reducing casting distances, or too fast making the reel difficult to control. In a reel running too fast major problems can occur when the reel keeps on letting out line when the weight has hit the water. This results in a bird’s nest, an explosion of loops of line from the reel. Bird’s nests can damage and kink the line and in the worst cases a bird’s nest can prove too difficult to untangle by hand and the only option will be for all of the line to be removed from the reel. When it comes to reeling in, some multipliers are fitted with a level wind which lays the line back on the spool (see below). In multiplier reels without a level wind, the angler must manually lay the line on the spool as he or she reels in.
Other Reel Features
Star Drag: Most multipliers have a star drag system which allows anglers to set the reel to let out line at a certain tension. This is used so that if a big fish threatens to break the line the reel will let out additional line before this happens. The vast majority of UK anglers simply tighten down the star drag as far as it will go when they are fishing and do not use this feature. When a reel is not in use and being stored the star drag should be loosened off.
Ratchet: Also know as a line-out alarm, most multiplier reels have a mechanism which is used so that the reel will make an audible warning when line is pulled from the spool. This is used when fishing for large species such as conger or tope. When they move off with the bait in their mouth the angler will be warned by the noise that they have a bite, and the line being let out will prevent the rod from being pulled into the sea by these large species. In most normal sea fishing situations where smaller species are being targeted it is not necessary to use the ratchet.
Level-wind: The level-wind is a device built into the reel which lays line across the spool evenly when reeling in so that the angler has no need to do this manually. This is a big help to anglers as it means that laying the line evenly is taken care of with no effort from the angler. However, using a level wind also has the result of cutting down casting distances, as the level wind has to move from side to side rapidly during the cast which inevitably impedes the casting distances that can be reached. Some anglers see this as a small price to pay for the convenience of a level wind, whereas other anglers see the level wind as a hindrance used only by beginners and those who cannot master using a multiplier reel. It is also important to note that the level wind itself encroaches on the spool of the reel and prevents the angler from getting a full grip on the spool with their thumb when casting. Some manufacturers make their most popular reels with and without level wind options. Reels without level winds often (but not always) have CT in their name or code, whereas those with a level wind have CS or CSM.
Suggestions for Multiplier Reels
The reels below are suggestions for multiplier reels covering all aspects of shore fishing around the British Isles (please note these are affiliate links where British Sea Fishing earns a small fee for any products purchased at no additional cost to the purchaser).
Reasonably Priced Multiplier Reel
This is a great multiplier reel at a good price and is a good choice for a first multiplier reel or as a backup reel for more experienced anglers. It is 6500-size (the standard size to use with a beachcaster rod) and features forged metal construction, 2 +1 ball bearings, magnetic brakes and a striking purple colour scheme. Designed for right-handed use, this reel will take 250 metres (273 yards) of 0.35mm (15lb breaking strain) monofilament line.
Multiplier Reels for Beachcasters
The Daiwa Millionaire 7HT is the classic distance casting reel. The design features three ball bearings, a lightweight anodised aluminium construction, a mechanical brake system with two sizes of brake blocks and strong star drag. This right-handed reel is both user friendly and capable of huge casting distances and is a great choice for anglers looking for a top quality reel for fishing over clean sandy beaches to light mixed ground, which will take around 300 metres (328 yards) of 0.35mm (15lb breaking strain) monofilament.
The Penn 525 Mag4 is a great all-around reel for clean to mixed ground fishing from the shore. The combination of magnetic braking system and floating spool means that this real can reach great casting distances but still handle fishing across rougher ground and reeling in big fish. The reel features lightweight graphite construction, star drag and 6 + 1 ball bearings. This right-handed reel has a line capacity of 350 metres (382 yards) of 0.35mm (15lb breaking strain) monofilament.
Rough Ground Multiplier Reels
The Diawa SL20SH is a great medium to rough ground multiplier reel which has been popular with anglers all around the UK due to its reliability and power. It is made from lightweight but strong aluminium and features star drag, four ball bearing and a counterbalanced handle for increased cranking power. Designed for right-hand use, this reel has a capacity of 250 metres (273 yards) of 0.40mm (20lb breaking strain) monofilament line.
Left Handed Multiplier Reels
This Abu Garcia Ambassadeur reel is designed for left-handed anglers and is a good choice for all round beach and mixed ground fishing. It features lightweight aluminium construction with two ball bearing, a centrifugal braking system, star drag and a syncronised level wind for perfect line distribution. The line capacity is approximately 300 metres (328 yards) of 0.35mm (15lb breaking strain) monofilament line.
