How do you take the side plates off a bait caster?

Depends on the brand and model. A lot of reels have a thumbscrew on the handle side that you undo which allows you to twist the palming sideplate off. Most Shimanos have a trapdoor mechanism on the palming sideplate that you open and twist to get the sideplate off. My Ardent has a little lever on the bottom of the reel for removing the palming sideplate.To remove the handle sideplate on just about any reel, you'll need to remove the handle and drag star, then undo the screws holding the sideplate to the frame. 

Pflueger patriarch

Current model, I don't know. Older model, there is a chrome pin that goes through from the crank handle side all the way across and threads into the palm sideplate. The head is visible at the top and near the front of the reel on the crank handle side, and has a knurled edge. Unscrew this to release the palming plate (brake side) and then rotate the plate upwards from the front and it will pop off. Don't do it over the water or you may drop it and then it's lost.

For the handle side, it's complicated. Have to remove the crank, drag star and washers beneath it, and several screws. You shouldn't do this unless you know what you're doing inside it. This is where the gears and release mechanism are.

Try online "reel service-Pflueger-bait casting" a few video's are available.

Tom

Thanks guys

I'll look on line