Left Handed Baitcasting

[TNBassin']

I'm a righty but uae all left hand reels. I like to keep the rod in my dominant hand.

[MarkH024]

The real question is how would you know if you are missing if they hit during the switch.....

It seems that those fishing for a pretty long time use RH retrieve reels because there were more available back in the day and you get used to it and most likely they learned on older gear that was RH Retrieve too.

Whatever feels comfortable....go with it.

Easy. I make the switch while the lure is in flight. I normally have my hand on the crank before the entrance in the water. I have tried lefty reels but im more comfortable working the rod in my left hand.

[200racing]

i really like a lh for my dedicated flipping/pitching setup.

[bass1980]

My right hand is so much more dominant so I use LH baitcasters. My first BC was a RH because I was told people just use more RH even though spinning reels they use LH. I did fine RH but after I found that I love to pitch I didn't see any point to needing to switch hands. I couldn't pitch with my left for the life of me. So before I went all out buying my setups I switched to LH.

I cast and pitch with right, fight fish with right which is my strong hand. I'm glad I made the move before my investments dictate what hand I should use. The only disadvantage with LH is availability and if your like me, buying used gears will be limited.

[Sodus Bay Scooter]

Same here, right handed and left retrieve. Typical reasons like stronger right handed and no switching hands.

But even more so, just doing the subtle things like slow dragging and short quick twitching is much more easily achieved with my right (dominant) hand. Make sure you think about things like that and not just retrieval speed which will be as fast as you can muster with practice with your left hand.

This is just my opinion but I think somebody long ago screwed it up when they made bait casters right handed and got people to become comfortable with that ( don't flame me people).

But think about it. Imagine I'd the first bait casters were left handed instead if right. I bet there would be a lot less topics about this issue.

Anyway, do whatever you're comfortabe with. In the end that's all that matters and not what the majority does.

[Nick49]

I fish with left handed reels.  Like many, I began early fishing with spinning reels.  Because of that, with baitcasting reels it is alot easier to maintain deliberate cadence with my retrieves when holding the rod in my right hand and reeling with my left (a direct carryover from using spinning reels).  It really is not much more efficient (except for flipping) because I still adjust my grip on the rod after making a cast and before beginning the retrieve.

[cbass12]

Does anyone have both left and right handed reels in there arsenal?

 

I use LH for flipping and pitching, jerkbaits, and topwater. RH for moving baits like spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and swimbaits.

[flippin and pitchin]

35 years with R/H reels. I tried lefties on my pitchin sticks for one year. They now sit on my partner's rods. It's not for me.

[CRANKSTER]

I too am going to try LH baitcasters this year.  Had a traumatic injury to my left hand/arm recently and how I don't have enough wrist rotation to palm my reels, so my left hand is left to reel with.  Really hope it works.

[BassThumb]

Does anyone have both left and right handed reels in there arsenal?

 

I'm right-handed; I use lefty baitcasters for all of my jig/worm/pitch/flip rods, and righty baitcasters for moving baits.

 

The biggest advantage of a right-hander using lefty reels is not having to shift hands while flipping/pitching.

[Arv]

I use lh. Thats me though. Go with what is comfortable for you.

[tylerwyp]

All LH here. Being right handed with everything, Id rather have my dominant hand working the rod and my off hand spinning because its a lot less complex technique

[Got1Fishing]

Interesting to see how many people are right hand dominant, but use their left hand for fishing. I'm the same way, I never heard of anyone else being the same way. I think it just comes natural to cast with your right hand, use your dominant hand for spool control, and using it again to set the hook. I feel like you lose so much time switching a hands any other way.

[new2BC4bass]

I prefer left handed and I'm right handed. I think it's due to using spinning rods with the handle on the left so it feels more natural to me. Secondly I like having my dominant hand control the rod/bait/fish ect. That just makes sense to me. Like taking a leak with your left hand. Just doesn't feel right haha.

 

 

If switching hands to pee doesn't feel right, you should try wiping yourself with the opposite hand.  Now that is awkward! 

[Tim Cianciola]

im right handed and only use left handed baitcasters. so i can throw with my right and not have to switch hands to reel.

[gr8outdoorz]

I'm right handed and reel with left. I grew up slinging Fly Rods and spinning rods so when I took up bass fishing it was natural to me. I tried reeling with my right hand once and hated it! I like to work the rod with my dominate hand.

[Trailer]

I guess I'm in the minority, but no lefties for me. As soon as the bait hits the water I have what I perceive to be a quick, natural switch of hands. All it takes is slight click on the reel handle. I tried lefty. I felt like Forrest Gump.

[dodgeguy]

the reason it feels awkward is the baitcaster handle has a smaller turning radius than the spinning reel.i cannot get used to it either.i use spinning lefty and baitcaster righty.this theory that you miss fish switching hands is garbage.i switch before the bait hits the water.

[flyfisher]

the reason it feels awkward is the baitcaster handle has a smaller turning radius than the spinning reel.i cannot get used to it either.i use spinning lefty and baitcaster righty.this theory that you miss fish switching hands is garbage.i switch before the bait hits the water.

Not total garbage.  Any time you add in additiona lsteps to any process you increase the chances for failure.  So while switching hands may create minimal fail points you still have more than someone who doesn't switch hands.

 

Most of my fishing friends use LH retrieve for spinning and RH retrieve for baitcasting.

[Kabar]

I'm left handed and prefer right hand retrieve.