Switching To Lefty

[BassAssassin726]

I'm being 100% serious, give this a shot and you'd be pretty amazed at how fast you can adapt. Just do everything you do with your right hand normally, with your left (brushing teeth, fork and knife, "wipe", open doors, use keys, computer mouse, etc.) for 2-3 weeks. It takes no time or real effort and if nothing else you are creating new pathways and connections in your brain, which is good to do anyway.

X2 Excellent advice. It may sound silly but it works. I did it when i was younger and started playing guitar and drums. My left hand might as well have been dead. Did that for a month and now its the same as my right. Stil do it to this day.

[bigt89]

Leftys is all I can use I'm left handed its more natural for me I can throw right but hurts my wrist unless I hold the reel or a rod with a 2nd grip above reel now my off shore gear I can do right handed for marlin tuna etc. I just hate how lefty are hard to come by in my area. Leftys are easy to get used to just feels weird at first but so much more comfortable for me

[rockchalk06]

I feel stupid for asking this, but why are people switching?

[Arv]

I learned baitcasters with both. It really wasnt that bad. I prefer a lefty reel because I started with left handed spinning reels, so it feels a little more comfortable. But after forcing myself to use right handed reels it really doesnt make a difference any more. Also, I hate to pass up a good deal on a nice reel just because of the dexterity

[hooah212002]

I feel stupid for asking this, but why are people switching?

Say you cast right-handed, but also reel right handed (for your baitcaster). There is that split second it takes to swap hands when your bait hits the water. If you get a hit as your bait hits the water or as it's falling, you could miss some fish.

[clayton86]

Also, I hate to pass up a good deal on a nice reel just because of the dexterity

Exactly why I have 2 lefty reels

[rockchalk06]

Say you cast right-handed, but also reel right handed (for your baitcaster). There is that split second it takes to swap hands when your bait hits the water. If you get a hit as your bait hits the water or as it's falling, you could miss some fish.

I see. I have never had that happen. I tried messing with one the other day and it felt so awkward that I put it back.

[johnnytoxin]

You could learn to switch hands before the bait hits the water which a lot of us do. There is no advantage/disadvantage to what hand you reel with. Just do what feels good!

[MarkH024]

You could learn to switch hands before the bait hits the water which a lot of us do. There is no advantage/disadvantage to what hand you reel with. Just do what feels good!

x2

[Sherlock 60]

"My next goal is to cast my righty reels with my left hand and reeling with my right, so I don't have to switch hands with the righty's."

I have been doing this for 2 years now and the left feels just as natural as the right. It is much more efficient, and, depending on which direction I am casting, I probably cast left-handed about 60% of the time.

[clayton86]

After my last trip the RH reels feel like the odd ones now but just for a second I'm now proficient with both it didn't take to long.

[new2BC4bass]

Exactly why I have 2 lefty reels

And why about half my reels are right hand.

You could learn to switch hands before the bait hits the water which a lot of us do.

I thought the whole idea was to maintain control of the spool throughout the cast?

I see. I have never had that happen. I tried messing with one the other day and it felt so awkward that I put it back.

In reference to having a fish hit the lure just as it hits the water, I have had it happen several times, and I don't fish anywhere near as often as the rest of you lucky guys.

[johnnytoxin]

@new2bc4bass: when I switch hands in mid cast my left thumb takes over controlling the spool. Its all personal preference/comfort brotha.

[unionman]

I never got the switching hands thing. I'm a righty. Started fishing with a spinning reel with the handle on the left and just stayed with it when I went to baitcasters. Id rather have the rod in my dominant hand for feel. I can reel just fine with my left hand. Its just spinning a handle in a circle. Lol

Exactly.

[loodkop]

Every time this subject comes up ( about once in 6 weeks) I wonder how much money KVD could have made if he didn't have to switch hands after casting? Just do what feels right and don't be bothered by what others do.

[jignfule]

Glad I switched to lefty many many years ago. Feels much more natural to me.

[retiredbosn]

I always fished left handed when using spinning tackle, I think most ppl do, but when I started using baitcasting reels I had to use a RH reel don't really know why. I tried to stay with the handle on the left hand side but in the end my left hand would stay stationary and my right hand would move the rod and reel around it!! Crazy I know, I think it has to do with the fact that in spinning gear your left hand is lower than your right, in B/C of course they are on the same plane. If you can figure it out let me know.

[TNBassin']

I've never understood how right handed people like myself, crank with their right hand. All of my gear is lefty retrieve. just seems more natural to me to fight the fish with my strong hand/arm, and retrieve with my left hand.