[Mr. X]

I'm curious about multipliers. We've touched on it before. Seems like there are at two main types, shore & boat. I also notice they vary in size hugely. If you could only have one reel, for all your fishing, which would it be?

I've only used fixed spool reels, closed face & semi-closed face. I did once have a smallish Penn multiplier but only cast it in the garden, where the line kept springing off the spool & I got an instant birds nest on casting it (didn't realise you were supposed to stop it with your thumb!). So I would likely go with a fixed spool, Shimano 4000(-6000) - with model picked to suit the budget (Exage/Stradic/.../Stella). 4000 should be fine for spinning and light general fishing, perhaps something bigger would be better if boat fishing or travelling where the fish are bigger.