How Many Rightys Fish Lefty?

[ww2farmer]

I cast and hold the rod in my right jand, reel with my left. Both casting and spinning. It feels very very strange to me to use a RH reel. I have been using LH casting reels since my teenage years in the mid/late 80's starting with the Old Shimano B-mag 1001's, and Abu 5501's been doing it too long to switch now.

[K_Mac]

I'm right handed, and reel both casting and spinning with my left.

 

Same here. As RW posted, traditionally baitcasters were made to allow for winching with the dominate hand. For bass fishing I find most of the work is done with the hand holding the rod, and I am far more confident in my ability to set the hook and control the fish using my dominate side. I learned to use a baitcaster using an old LH reel, and a RH one just feels wrong to me. Many use both, and if I had the coordination to do so I would. When fishing for several days straight it would be nice to be able to change up. 

 

This question comes up often. There is no right (or left) answer IMO. Find what works best for you and work to get good using it. I don't think the fish care...good luck.

[Doubled Over]

Every handle I own is on the left. 

[retiredbosn]

I like many others.was with spinning gear cast right reel left, casting equipment cast right reeled right. New convert to LH models now all reels have the handle on left. Took awhile to get used to, but grew up fishing spinning tackle so it wasn't that big of a deal

[jhoffman]

Right handed for almost all applications other than pitching and flipping where the rod sweep/set-up needs to be in the "strong hand" immediately, e.g. when the jig is hit immediately on a pitch or flip.

 

Maybe thats why it feels right to me in addition to growing up with spinning. My #1 technique is flipn

[papajoe222]

I am so right hand dominate that, although I grew up fishing spinning gear and reeling with my left hand, I'm unable to reel a baitcaster with my left hand.  I end up cranking the rod and holding the handle whenever I try.  something very similalr happens when I attempt to switch reeling a spinning reelwith my right hand.

Did you ever see someone attempt to patt their head and rub their tummy at the same time?? I can only do it one way, If I try it the other way I end up rubbing my head and patting my stomach.  There is a name for my condition, but saying it here is forbidden!

[J Francho]

I use both lefty and righty baitcasters.

[Snakehead Whisperer]

I am right handed, and prefer left handed baitcasters. I use both though.

[thehooligan]

My handles always have and always will be on the left side, no matter what kind of reel.

 

I'm just not comfortable with anything else.

 

Same here

[fstr385]

Wow, alot of peolple do the same. Im suprized not more Lh retrieve reels are available. Before i began fishing last year, I had no idea there even was one or the other. Even the upside down pushbutton reels like a caster was lh retrieve, right hand cast and button.

[thehooligan]

Wow, alot of peolple do the same. Im suprized not more Lh retrieve reels are available. Before i began fishing last year, I had no idea there even was one or the other. Even the upside down pushbutton reels like a caster was lh retrieve, right hand cast and button.

 

Im always looking for deals on ebay and it can be so frustrating seeing right hand reels go so cheap. Ill find a really good deal on a calcutta, or daiwa alpha/sol and get ready to hit buy it now and then i see its right handed. Then i grab a beer and continue the search, lol.

[fstr385]

Wow, alot of peolple do the same. Im suprized not more Lh retrieve reels are available. Before i began fishing last year, I had no idea there even was one or the other. Even the upside down pushbutton reels like a caster was lh retrieve, right hand cast and button. Thats all I ever knew existed till last year lol. Its just whats learned that makes it right for ya.

[TheKingFisher]

Although I'm a righty, I started reeling left handed on spinning gear and prefer it.  My family has forced me to change over a couple they use to right handed and I can tolerate it.  But I've decided to get my first couple of bait casters LH so that I can reel with my left and not have to switch hands after casting.  We'll see if that's a good move when the season starts up...

[Oldbritguy]

I'm right-handed, but prefer to reel with my left hand, casting or spinning.  That way my right hand is always holding the rod at all times, no switching over and missed strikes. Never could understand why anyone would want to keep switching hands after casting?

[iabass8]

I'm very right handed but it feels so awkward to reel right handed that i've always casted with my right and reeled with my left.

[J Francho]

I learned on spincasters and knuckle busters.  Switching to spinning was a struggle, since I was only used to reeling with my right.  I even used a lefty Mitchell spinner - back from when they didn't convert - and switched hands after the cast.  I've since learned to use a left hand retrieve with spinning, greatly simplifying.  For casting gear, I prefer a righty for moving baits; it's what I grew up with.  Since I use a two handed cast, I'm not really switching hands.  My hend is on the handle before the bait touches down.  For pitching though, I like the lefty reels. 

[TheKingFisher]

I'll add, I bought my second LH baitcaster from a member of the board who is a lefty that fishes righty.  We're all mixed up here!

[Snakehead Whisperer]

Although I'm a righty, I started reeling left handed on spinning gear and prefer it.  My family has forced me to change over a couple they use to right handed and I can tolerate it.  But I've decided to get my first couple of bait casters LH so that I can reel with my left and not have to switch hands after casting.  We'll see if that's a good move when the season starts up...

A right handed spinning reel has the handle on the left. Baitcasters are the exception.

 

AFAIK, the reason that baitcasters have the handle on the right side dates back to antiquity. On early baitcasters the handle would spin with the spool when casting, and for right handed people there was less obstruction to the spinning handles when placed on the right. This is also the reason that most baitcasters have 2 handles as opposed to one (the handle needed to be balanced while spinning. Not an issue on modern baitcasters.) 

 

I've also heard that early baitcasters had very little mechanical advantage, so it was preferred to reel with the strongest hand.

 

I use almost exclusively lefty baitcasters because they build them now, but most of my older reels are right handed. Probably wouldn't buy a righty today though.

 

There has been virtually no innovation in reel design for many, many years. It's probably one of the most overlooked aspects of fishing gear, in my opinion. Many of the design features of modern reels serve no purpose other than to be familiar to anglers. There are exceptions of course, but they are few and far between.

[ColdSVT]

righty the reels lefty here

[Basseditor]

As has been mentioned, the right retrieve dates way back. My first reel was an ambassaduer 5000. I've been reeling right handed for about 50 years. I cast right, and then switch the rod to my left hand. I can switch in mid cast many times (on long casts).

I didn't own a spinning reel until my mid 20s. I learned to reel that left handed.

So, now, bait casters reel right; spinning reels, left. But a disability in my right hand makes it nearly impossible to hold a rod very well in my right hand so no spinning rods for me anymore.

[bassinbrian]

I'm right handed and fish left handed reels

[Christian M]

I'm a lefty and cast with my left hand, but I reel with my right.

[mcipinkie]

I'm an old man (66), but I cast with either hand, depending on the angle I need to hit.  Always retrieve with the rod in my left hand, turned the crank with my right.  There is probably an advantage to strong hand on the rod, but I don't have a problem.

 

Look at most of the pros.  Rod in left hand, reel in right. 

 

I'm a flipper/pitcher so I tried to emulate Brauer and Biffle when I was learning.  I'm amazed every time I see Biffle on TV, the way he handles the big stick.

 

Heck, look at Hank Parker.  I can't believe he ever catches a fish the way he holds the rod.

 

Casting rods only.  Spinner never leaves right hand.

 

I tried a left handed real 20 or so years ago.  Liked it, but couldn't afford to scrap all and go that way.

 

You aren't going to the Classic based on which hand you hold the rod with.

[.RM.]

Been power hand fishing since the term was coined in the early 80's (30yrs).

My strong side is right hand therefor the rod is placed in the power hand (right hand), and the reel cranks from the left hand side.

Is one of the best techniques for quick hook sets on fast hitting fish if have ever used..

 

Tight Lines All! 

[retiredbosn]

I am so right hand dominate that, although I grew up fishing spinning gear and reeling with my left hand, I'm unable to reel a baitcaster with my left hand. I end up cranking the rod and holding the handle whenever I try. something very similalr happens when I attempt to switch reeling a spinning reelwith my right hand.

Did you ever see someone attempt to patt their head and rub their tummy at the same time?? I can only do it one way, If I try it the other way I end up rubbing my head and patting my stomach. There is a name for my condition, but saying it here is forbidden!

I was like you, when I first tried to switch to LH casting equipment I found that my left hand remained stationary and I moved the rod around the handle. I injured my neck forcing me to switch, took some getting used to, but I think I've got it now.