New to multiplier reel

After years of using FS reels, my wife bought me a Greys GRX-s 13' rod and Greys G-Mag-6 reel and I'm struggling. First of all I used the reel as bought. What do i need to do before use? I've read that I should clean with lighter fuel etc but don't know where to start. When I cast I can't get good distance. After a bit of practice, I managed to avoid bird nests but If I try to put a bit of power into the cast the line always snaps. I'm using 17lb main line and 50lb shock leader with 5oz lead. When I look at the line on the reel if is broken in several places, so I'm inclined to think that it is to do with line lay. Any help appreciated.

Regards,

Brian

hi im no expert with a multiplier but definitley dont clean the bearings with lighter fluid if its a new reel it doesnt need it i reckon that your main line is breaking because of line lay remove all the line and respool it under tension and make sure the line lays even and tight any loose coils will get trapped and cause a crack off also if using 5oz of lead step your shock leader to 60lb just for extra saftey hope this helps

I'm in the same boat as yourself. I've a sports mag and a mag elite and i loaded them with 15lb daiwa mono and no problem until I got mixed up with my mag settings and got a birdie which kinked the line which hindered every cast after so changed to 14 lb suffix synergy and casts a dream . I find the better the line lay the smoother the cast and make sure your magnets or on full and then work them back as you get better.

thanks for the suggestions

24lbs Sufix Synergy with a Penn525mag 2 it works well

what diameter is the line you are using ive been told that 0.35m is the 1, and just as the lads were sayin about line lay when ur fishing, and on the retrieve can you feel alot of little kinks in the line if you can, and when i can i always change my line then that means there are alot of weak points in the line,

another little tip aswell for when ur tieing on your leader,
when you have the main line passed through the first knot in the leader, jus after you tighten it pull another six inches or so of line through the leader knot again coz when you tighten the leader knot on the main line thats another weak spot, so as i said pull the main line through another six or eight inches and finish your knot. simple little knack.

these are just little tips that have been passed on to me, so i like to pass em on too, share the knowledge......lol......

It sounds like the issues your having with the line abrasions/kinks are due to the birdsnesting which can go quite deep into the spool but the kinks shouldn't increase you chances of nesting. The 17lb line is fine and do what lugworm says with the shockleader knot, solid advice that and good practise.

Regards the reel itself, as eddie says dont be tempted to open her and douse the bearings in lighter fluid, this will only speed her up and it sounds like you need to slow her down! The only thing I'd check is that the brake blocks are in place but that should be fine from new. To set her up for casting first make sure that the side to side play in the spool is not too loose, it should move but only just. Then rig the rod up with a 5oz weight and hold the rod upright and knock the reel out of gear. Release the weight from the top and it should fall 'gently' - not totally free but not too slowly either - to the ground. If when it hits the ground you get a mini-birdie turn the centrifugal brakes up a fraction. Keep doing this till the birdies cease. Remember the spool has to be free enough to let line out so make sure its not too tight as that will cause you more problems. You're aiming to get it to be on the edge of a birdie as that where you get the most distance from your cast - its a matter of personal preference so it will take a lot of practise to get a feel for it! Once you get some confidence up you can start easing off the centrifugals and working the magnets which is when you start to gain distance!

As for the cast take it reeeally slow and gentle. You can cast a multiplier with all the brakes knocked off if your slow and gentle enough! Also, and sorry if this sounds really patronising but make sure your stopping the spool once the weight hits the water, not doing this will cause a birdie every time! As will not evening out the line lay on the retrieve.

Anyway hope this helps! You have a cracking outfit there and once you get the hang of it you'll never go back to fixed spools...well except for spinning

Thanks for all the help. I will try again this weekend.

Loaded the reel up with suffix and headed to the beach for some practice early morning. I was the only person on the beach on a damp morning. Started with a few gentle lobs and gradually worked up. No bird nests and much better results all round. Distance wise, not great but I didn't push. Still, I feel I made some progress. I guess practice makes perfect.

Definitely all down to practice mate. I was fairly confident with my Multis and then last night birdied both rods one after another but slowed my cast down and things improved again and was hittin 130 yard casts approx with the mag elite although i still struggled with the sportsmag which i suspect is down to over filling . Plenty of good casting videos on YouTube which I found great

I think it's more down to a jerky cast. When you are trying to get the big one away! You dont mention what casting style you are using ?smooth style done right will go further without a birdie !I'm not slagin your cast I used to make a balls of going for the big one and the harder I tried the worse it got !I got some tips from a caster and things improved !

feel free to slag, I'm keen to learn. You're probably right about a jerky cast. With a FS I cast confidently without even thinking about it. Where as with the multiplier I'm expecting it to go wrong. I use the off the ground cast but, I decided to take thinks easy until I get a bit more confident.

lenghten the drop to about 8 foot or longer it will slow down the cast but improve the speed of the lead and should get you futher and keep it smooth if you feel the rod isnt loading enough shorten the drop a foot at a time till it feels right,good luck!