The estuairies -choosing the fishing side according to the wind direction- are places where shore fishing is fruitfull.

hoosing a reel for the surfcasting is not as easy as it appears. The 2 main categories of reels which are offered to you are the fixed spool type reel and the multiplier. Even if someones would like to oppose them, these 2 ways are not antagonistic. The majority (99.9%) of the French beach fishermen started with a well known MITCHELL fixed spool or equivalent. And together with their readings, their meetings and curiosity of some, they approach the multiplier. It will be noticed that this approach is completely reversed in the United Kingdom or the U.S which practise to 50% the multiplier. Question of culture ? No doubt. To help you in your approach let us point out the advantages and the apparent disadvantages of the 2 types used for the surfcasting :

Fixed spool

- Abrupt released of the line (soft baits)
+ Simple to operate
+ No adjustment to be made
+ Limited Maintenance
- Dimensions
- Heavy weight
+ Automatic Winding of the line
- Twist the line (despite of the last systems)
- Requires a strong pull on the rod to dig up a buried lead.

Multiplier

+ Soft released of the line for the soft baits
- Need a learning to start
- Adjustment needed before the first cast
- Thourough maintenance required
+ Small dimensions
+ Light weight
- Manual leveling of the line on the spool (for real surf. types)
+ Never twist the line
+ True "winch" to dig up a buried lead.

oncerning the operation (the use) of a multiplier, some elementary precautions must be taken to avoid the nuisances of the beginning:

Thumb on the main line !

• "Park" the shock leader knot against the spool side (left or right-hand side) of the reel, without this precaution, you will cut your thumb when this knot (so small it is) will pass below at 30,000 rpm. And believe me, the first pain passed : with the burn due to the sea water in this cut, you will note that it is difficult to continue a fishing party with this handicap. Thus, "park" the shock leader knot completely against the left (or right) inner spool side and rewind the shock leader on the same side so that your thumb press on the 35 or 30/100e to launch. Needless to remind you that this precaution is of primary importance at night; then, 2 precautions are better than one, check once again before casting.
  
• Same kind of precaution to be taken when you "slows down" the reel right before the impact of the lead on water. Despite the temptation (strong one), do not slow down by pressing your thumb directly on the line of the spool : guaranted burn ! Thus, press gently the side of your thumb on the inner side of the flask (left or right) of the spool, and you will note that the stop occurs easely and without problem. Same procedure to be applied when it appears to you the lead is casted in a nondesired direction.
  
• A detail which I did not see approached nowhere until now : Caution, when it rains or simply when your thumb and/or the line in the spool is wet, do not force your throw, the risk of slip of the spool under the strong traction of the lead is very frequent in this case. We are in the same situation as for the aquaplanning : when that starts to slip, it is too late ! Lead left ! and undoubtedly not in the good direction ! More : this implies an emergency braking ! The protection of a rubber finger on the thumb or the use of a strip (tire tube) folding on the spool line did not convinced me yet. Test it anyway, this would to avoid you the possible burns of the first casts.
  

or the fixed spool types, except the necessity to apply the brake before casting (on certain items) and the wear of a protection cap on the forefinger to avoid the cuts of the line, the use is simpler and does not call for particular observations.

Then, fixed spool or multiplier ?

Without detailing all the previous points, the difference in weight, the dimensions as well as the soft release of baits made me adopt the multiplier. Passed the few days of adaptation for the adjustment and the operation, it is difficult to let aside these small mechanics. I do not speak about profit in distance for the multiplier because I could not make the comparison by excluding the other elements which influence the distance of casts (rods, style of casting...). If you want to be objective on this point, it is necessary to dissociate all and, without a "testing machine" and several series of tests, it appears not easily credible to me to advance a value "by guess".