Have You Thought About Going Lefty?

[Loop_Dad]

I am shopping for a new bait casting set up for pitching. Have you guys thought about going left hand reel so that you can pitch with right and reel with left? My spinnings are that way already.

[NoBassPro]

Although I have all my spinning reels set up for left hand retrieve, I have used both left and right hand baitcasters and prefer right hand. I can't offer a detailed explanation other than to say its what works for me.

[Sam]

Left hand spinning and right hand baitcaster.

Friend always questions me with the right handed baitcaster as he says it takes time and energy to switch hands after each cast.

But it is hard to change an old goat's ways about fishing!!!!

[M-D]

I use LH reels, made the switch many years ago and glad I did. Only way you will know if it is right for you is to try it.

[georgeyew]

My spinning reels are all set up for the left hand. So when I bought my first baitcaster, I naturally went with a lefty. I never had the chance to try and get used to a righty so I guess ignorance is bliss I am very happy with my lefty.

[BigMoneyGrip]

I got a Pro Qualifier just to try southpaw. I got a cheaper reel thinking that if I didn't like it, I could sale the reel and not be out a lot of money.

The reel ain't for sale. In fact, I'm saving for a Core 51. I like the southpaw setup and it just seems to flow easy and naturally.

[BassinMD]

I pitch and flip with my left hand and cast with my right I dunno why but pitching I make so many casts I just got lazy and madeself go lefty

[Quillback]

I also pitch left handed and cast right handed. Did it from day 1, didn't even think about it.

[Bluebasser86]

I had a lefthanded Revo STX for about a month before I gave up. I just could not get my left hand under control good enough to reel left handed without it being very difficult. Lost my grip on the handle constantly and moved the rod way too much while I was reeling. Ended up traded it for a right handed Revo S to another member on the forum. I wish I could have made it work but just couldn't do it.

[Loop_Dad]

Anybody knows why transitionally you reel with RH on barrister? I wonder if it has something to do with avoiding the arm fatigue coming from holding heavier rod then spinning all day long on the same hand...

[jslacker]

Strange to see everyone here pretty much set up for LH retrieve on sponning equipment. I have just now started baitcasting and have always fished RH on my spinning gear. Just starting out I have a LH and RH baitcaster, don't know which one feels more natural yet, probably the RH because I'm righthanded and thats how I've done all of my fishing in the past. Something just dosent feel right soing it RH on a baitcaster though IDk... I'm still figuring it all out lol

[new2BC4bass]

My thoughts were just the opposite. Should I try a righty? I grew up on LH spinning reels. When I switched to BC reels, I stayed with the left hand. Then a mint Alphas ito came up for sale....RH. By then I knew they were great reels that were out of production, so I bought it not knowing if a LH in similar shape would ever come up for sale. (I know better now. ) First year it didn't get used too much because it felt uncomfortable to me. The next spring I practiced pitching with an outfit i had purchased for my oldest grandson. He is a lefty, so I bought him a RH reel.

After that I found it much easier to use a RH reel. In fact my reels are split about 50/50 now. If a reel I am interested in is being sold at a good price, I normally don't even consider which hand it is...I just go ahead and buy it. I may actually be learning to like a RH reel better than a LH.

[BASSHUNTER1961]

I cast righty and have always reeled with my right hand till three weeks ago. After 35 years of reeling righty with a baitcaster I made the switch three weeks ago and glad I did. I had it down within a couple hours and it feel like I've been doing it this way forever. Give it a try.

[deep]

Anybody knows why transitionally you reel with RH on barrister? I wonder if it has something to do with avoiding the arm fatigue coming from holding heavier rod then spinning all day long on the same hand...

I believe there's a theory about using the (baitcaster) reel to winch in your fish, or something like that.

Having personally casted and retrieved 4 oz plus baits for over 10 hours in a day for several days in a row, using a very heavy rod (compared to bass gear), I can tell you that I'm not fatigued at all. I use all lefty casting and spinning reels.

[BASSclary]

I like a mix of both. I can do minute movements to the rod with my right hand, so for finesse and pitching/flipping, I use a lefty reel, just because I'm only picking up slack line. However, for moving baits I cant stand LH! The motion feels awkward and my hand will slip off. For any moving technique I MUST go righty.

And for spinning, it's always lefty.

I think preference has a lot to do with whether or not the reel is on top, or below the rod. Just MHO

[Scorcher214]

I have thought about it and I did buy a lefty. I like it for jigs and pitching or flipping. You can just cover more targets when pitching lefty. But when fishing other things, it feels kind of weird. I would try one out before you buy a lefty BC

[islandbass]

There is no theory at all. It means that the inventer of the bait caster was left hand dominant, lol.

Joking aside, I will bet you a floating rapala minnow that you will prefer 100% a casting reel with a left sided crank. Trust me. In the same way that rh people have ingrained in them to use rh casting reels (and we could bet that most of them have been fishing for so long in a time when there probably were not many if any other options) you are accustomed to Lh reels. My bet stands... I know you will prefer Lh reels. There is no need to look back or waste more time.

If you don't mind, I am going to go to my local shop and but a floating minnow in case I am mistaken, lol, but I won't be, but just in case, lol.

[Loop_Dad]

There is no theory at all. It means that the inventer of the bait caster was left hand dominant, lol.

Joking aside, I will bet you a floating rapala minnow that you will prefer 100% a casting reel with a left sided crank. Trust me. In the same way that rh people have ingrained in them to use rh casting reels (and we could bet that most of them have been fishing for so long in a time when there probably were not many if any other options) you are accustomed to Lh reels. My bet stands... I know you will prefer Lh reels. There is no need to look back or waste more time.

If you don't mind, I am going to go to my local shop and but a floating minnow in case I am mistaken, lol, but I won't be, but just in case, lol.

I decided to give LH reel a try. ( I would like a Super Rogue please. )

[clayton86]

I'm the same way my BC gear is RH and spinning is lefty now my wife and nephew are opposite spinning is RH and casting is LH . I did just pick up Two LH Revo S's time will tell when I get to use them in the spring. I'm ambidextrous though so I think i will like it I can write with my left, shoot with my left(and still hit what I'm aiming at) I can pretty much do anything left handed that I can right I'm just right hand dominant. What I'm really interested to see with them is I cant fish a jerk bait on casting gear to save my life it feels awkward twitching with my left and not my right so i throw them on spinning gear maybe with lefty BC gear i can use them.

[j.bruno]

Didnt take much thinking on my part. Just went lefty from day 1 never looked back. Wish there was more gear ratios available on certain models though.

[MichiganFishing1997]

I was taught as a lefty, when i got my first BC, i got a left, Never looked the other way afterwards.

[jignfule]

went LH many years ago, one of the best decisions I've ever made.

[Traveler2586]

I use LH reels, made the switch many years ago and glad I did. Only way you will know if it is right for you is to try it.

X2

For me it felt very natural to go LH, I've never thought about going back to RH. If you look around, I think you'll see everyone using LH on spinning reels where they can choose the setup themselves. BTW, I'm right handed.

[Michael DiNardo]

I tried lefty a few years ago, and it is a natural feel to me. I have both right and left reels and can use either effectively. I fish from shore and wade, when fishing a big river I will use either right or left depending on the side of the river I am fishing. Since I try to reel downstream for the most part, I want to reel on the downstream side of the reel. I think it gives more power to the hookset.

Mike

[Bassn Blvd]

I could switch to lefty, but I like being normal,