Lefty Reel

[Loop_Dad]

Ok, so I decided to try lefty. My logic was by not having to switch hands I can fish faster, more efficient and be ready for strikes any time.

Well, today I used it for the first time...I am not liking it. What I didn't think about was that by casting with right hand and cranking with left, I have to carry the rod all day long with my right hand. I started to notice that my right arm was tired. I've never felt arm being tired while I fish, NEVER, until today. I also felt slight pain in the right wrist area. I have never felt that either.

Hopefully this is just adjustment period. But so far I am regretting that I decided to try and this looks like $110 mistake.

[K_Mac]

I have used LH reels for so long, in spite of being right handed, that a RH reel feels very awkward to me. If it is not for you selling it in excellent shape should recoup a big chunk of your cost. Good luck.

[baluga]

Learn how to cast on your left. That's what I do when I use my lefty casting reel.

I actually developed a bad shoulder after using it for a couple of months until I learn how to cast with my left arm. I only use my lefty baitcaster for drop shooting.

[.RM.]

Loop_Dad,

A question comes to mind.

Are you right or left handed.

Just from your post I would say left handed, the rod feels better in your left hand.

Even though you cast from the right side. You hook set left handed, and only crank right handed.

Switching to the left hand cranking in BC reels is when your right hand is the power for casting, fish fighting , hookesets, and cranking.

It is called Powerhand casting...

Take the reel back and get you a right hand reel, and enjoy fishing again...

It's that easy..

Tight Lines!

[tomustang]

Hopefully this is just adjustment period.

All in good time. Patience is the key

[Loop_Dad]

Loop_Dad,

A question comes to mind.

Are you right or left handed.

Just from your post I would say left handed, the rod feels better in your left hand.

Even though you cast from the right side. You hook set left handed, and only crank right handed.

Switching to the left hand cranking in BC reels is when your right hand is the power for casting, fish fighting , hookesets, and cranking.

It is called Powerhand casting...

Take the reel back and get you a right hand reel, and enjoy fishing again...

It's that easy..

Tight Lines!

I'm right handed.

[BASSHUNTER1961]

I am right handed and made the switch to left hand baitcast reels this year, and will never go back to a right hand reel. Stick with it, and you will be fine.

[Loop_Dad]

I've decided to go back to right handed reel. I will "enjoy fishing again", as RM said.

[baluga]

i got a lefty this year myself, i'm right handed and always had right handed BC's, like for 30 years...but because of an upper left shoulder blade injury that holding the rod in that arm by the end of the day would become basically debilitating...that spot/scar tissue would flare up, knot up and nothing i could do about it, sucks...so i got a lefty reel that i can now hold the weight all day in my right arm without any back issues...

took a lil bit to get used to reeling, setting the hook and fighting fish but after i put in X amount of time with it, well its no problem'o now...nice to pitch with my right and have my left hand on the trigger instantly, cuz i hate pitching left arm...i still use my righties on my other rods etc...but thats just until i can afford to replace them with lefty's...

I used to have that rotator cup issue four years ago. It was due to tip heavy rods and heavy setup like a Revo Inshore on a Heavy 7' Berkley Shock rod. Now I was able to recover by using a well balanced light weight setup like core 100 on 6'6" Heavy Phenix UMBX. Total weight is only 9.8 Oz. Now most of my set up are below 12oz.

[Loop_Dad]

Why would you switch??? It seems like you were set on using your right hand as your crank hand and your left hand to hold the rod.... Why would you switch? And better yet, why would you switch and then make a post and complain about it? Switch back to righty reels, and go catch fish

Lefty for flipping/pitching/punching application. I would hope my post will help folks who are thinking about the same thing. And I don't see anything wrong with trying new things. I don't know about you, central.PA.bass, but for me, the big part of fun in fishing is about trying something new.

[deep]

the big part of fun in fishing is about trying something new.

Love this attitude, and that's how I look at things in general too. Can't say that has always resulted in good things, but it was fun!

Back to the topic, I agree with .RM. Or maybe I'm so challenged that I can't accomplish anything useful with my left hand, other than the basic reeling motion.

[BASSHUNTER1961]

I've decided to go back to right handed reel. I will "enjoy fishing again", as RM said.

So you tried the reel once, and decide to give up? You got a little sore, and this is normal as you are not used to holding the rod in your right hand, but it will go away after a few times out. If you go to the gym and do a few sets of curls for the first time your biceps will hurt for a few days, and this is normal. Give it a chance.

[Loop_Dad]

So you tried the reel once, and decide to give up? You got a little sore, and this is normal as you are not used to holding the rod in your right hand, but it will go away after a few times out. If you go to the gym and do a few sets of curls for the first time your biceps will hurt for a few days, and this is normal. Give it a chance.

You might be right, BH. But I gave up. The potential benefit did not outweigh the problem for me. It was just not fun.

Interesting thing is that I use right hand to hold spinning rod and reel with left. Sometimes I use this for long time, yet I never had this problem. I only have one spinning set up and this is 7"6". It might be lighter, but I don't think by that much. It might have something to do with the right wrist and thumb position on baitcaster over spinning. I did have some problem with my right wrist with computer, so I currently use my left hand for computer mouse. This might have something to do with it. Idk.