Is there an easy way to remove the brake side plate side? Or do I have to remove the handleside to get the brake side off?

If i remember correctly u just twist the side plate clockwise

There's a knurled thumscrew on the crankside.  Loosen that, slide it out, rotate palmside so the front goes down, or CCW on a righty, CW on a lefty.

There is a screw that runs from the handle side to the brake side. You can see it at the top of the reel.

Loosen this completely before trying to rotate the side cover.

Thanks for the responses. The reason I asked is because it wasn't casting far at all and I just learned today that this reel had external and internal brakes. Sure enough every internal brake was turned on.