As the man said, "each to his own." I use multipliers for every type of fishing I can 'cos I've done so since I was aged 10 or so and appreciate the superior line control, weight shifting, and (generally) longer casting capability.
Unfortunately, when I was growing up, good casting multipliers were expensive and often you'd see people attempting to use multipliers for casting when in fact the reel was actually a boat reel with no braking capability or even a balanced, machined spool, so multiplier use for casting got a bad name early. Selling the unknowing customer a crap outfit like the 12ft Essex beachcaster teamed with the Penn Baymaster or one of those horrible purple badly enginereed Shakespeare efforts was common. Don't start me on the Intrepid Sea Streak reel (
http://www.anglersrendezvous.co.uk/cat/ ... streak.jpg). ABU Ambassadeurs and Daiwa Millionaires changed that, though they were expensive. However, you can now get good ones relatively cheaper, 'though probably not as cheap as fixed spools.
Anyway, if you do want to start using a multiplier, you need to understand that unlike a fixed-spool reel, with a multiplier the spool itself rotates on cast and retrieve, so unless you or the reel controls that spinning spool you're screwed. Then consider:
- if you really want one, then buy the best one you can afford. one with a spare spool preferably. make sure it's intended for casting, has a braking system of mag or carbon blocks or whatever too.
- if you're worried about line-spreading - which can be a pain with a fish on - and at night - then consider a model with a levelwind if maximum casting distance is not a concern (rarely on the east coast)
- tighten up the brakes when starting, and eventually ease them off as you become more experienced so you can get to a manual phase.
- learn to anticipate exactly where the lead is after you release - especially important at night - if you want to manually control the line and stop the spool when the lead hits the water. timing really is critical with these reels.
- casting into the wind - tighten up the brakes - with mags the harder you cast the more the brakes work (so I am told).
- keep the reel clean - grit, sand, etc, can throw off the spool even for a split second. any glitch at all in the spool rotating and line feed will cause problems. wash the reel out with tap water hard and use WD 40 after use. don't let the reel hit the ground when baiting up etc.
- practice and be confident with a smooth casting action. any jerkiness at all will result in a tangle. if you think you'd going to make a b*lls of a cast with a multiplier, then you probably will.
- if starting out, i'd load up with heavier line than normally until I get the hang of it. an overrun with a lightweight line is a nightmare to untangle. you'll end up cutting the line off the spool.
- get a rod that's ringed for the reel concerned. you may even be able to get one with a dropped S-handle for multipliers though these add weight and are not common now (an ABU Atlantic 484CS 11.5ft rod is 2-3 times the weight of a Daiwa sandstorm multiplier 13ft).
So, yes, grief involved. But, personally, I think if you want to try out multipliers then keep a look out for a good condition 1980-circa ABU Svangsta Ambassadeur 6000c or 6500c. Leave the newer ABU Garcias (poor build quality and engineering) alone, whatever they tell you.
And when you've mastered all that - then consider using a centrepin reel for a real experience... or one of these Alveys if you want to get really fancy:
http://www.alveyusa.com/products/index.php
