Why Do People Use Right Handed Reels?

[drodriguez]

So I grew up fishing salmon and steelhead in Western WA. My Dad taught me that you want your dominant hand on the rod and your off hand on the reel. Needless to say, this has transitioned over to bass fishing, ESPECIALLY when it comes to flipping and pitching, making long casts, etc. I'm just wondering as I've noticed among bass fishermen it doesn't seem to matter as much. Why do most of us fish "backwards?"

[drodriguez]

Train of thought came from realizing most Americans are right handed. This is what brought on the curiosity.

[Jrob78]

It's just the way we learned when we were kids.  It's hard to untrain that much muscle memory.

[jhoffman]

There used to not be a left handed baitcaster. The guys that dont use lefties are switching hands mid cast most times.

[Raul]

The only time you fish "backwards" is when you put your spinning reel facing upwards and reeling in back, yeah, I've seen it. Really, the is no right way or wrong way, my left hand is really good at doing some things and reeling in is not one of them, complete lack of dexterity for more complex mechanical movement, it's good for holding things; my right hand is better for complex mechanical movements like reeling in and casting. I cast with my right and switch the rod to the left to hold the rod. Who can say I'm doing it wrong ?

[EvanT123]

I feel like these threads always discriminate against lefties. Ever use scissors with your left hand!!!????

[Chris9999]

I personally dont think that there is a specific "your dominate hand should do this", What ever is more comfortable and what has the muscle memory of doing that particular action is what should be doing that action. I cant for the life of me reel in left handed and if I did, it would probably take a year or so to get fully used to just the reeling action.

[everythingthatswims]

It's funny because on a spinning rod, it seems natural to reel with my left, but on a baitcaster, I have to use my right. I bet I could have more solid hook sets if I fished lefty with a baitcaster though.

[Pz3]

To be honest. I learned right hand baitcasters. I would prefer a left handed one.... how ever the way I use it as of now is kind of goofy. I feel that goofy sway holding the rod actually helps a bit in giving the lures I toss a little unique action.

Maybe it doesnt but who knows. It works for me!

[papajoe222]

It's funny because on a spinning rod, it seems natural to reel with my left, but on a baitcaster, I have to use my right. I bet I could have more solid hook sets if I fished lefty with a baitcaster though.

I'm the same way.  I've tried L/H baitcasters and look like an uncoordinated newbie. Same goes for a R/H spinning which really brings out the clumsy in me.  Kind of like rubbing your belly and patting your head.....both ways

[RipSomeLips]

Baitcaster is right handed, spinning is left handed. I am glad to know that I am not alone, I do it because that is all I had growing up and was never taught different I suppose. I tried going left handed with a baitcaster a few years ago and it didn't seem worth it to me. But who knows...maybe I will try again this year.

[OK Bass Hunter]

Tradition and for awhile that's all most stores carried.

[BigKev77]

Hey, you do it your way and I will do it the right way. You see what I did there

[Bluebasser86]

I tried to use left handed casting reels for a minute. My left hand might as well be controlled by someone else because I sure can't get it to do what I need it to. I also couldn't set the hook effectively at all with my right hand and a baitcasting rod, just didn't feel right at all. So basically I do it because it works for me. 

[tatertester]

Reminds me of a classmate that broke his right wrist....Could not write, so he switched to his left hand and was writing in no time, looked the same as the other hand.....Learned memory.

[roadwarrior]

George Welcome

Posted August 22 2007 - 11:37 AM

 

Let's get technical, as there are in fact reasons, not just some lame holdover from days past that put the handles where they are.

What will move the fish during retrieval is placed to the strong hand!

A baitcast is designed to be used as a winch, so it is the reel that retrieves the fish. Hence if you are right handed the handle is in your right hand.

A spinning reel is designed to pick up unloaded or loose line, not retrieve the fish. Hence it is the rod that does the retrieval, so it is the rod that is in your strong hand. If you are right handed then the pole goes to the right hand

[Tywithay]

I use right hand with casting and spinning. I am naturally left handed, but after breaking my left wrist and a couple surgeries, I got pretty proficient with my right. I can still cast with both, but reeling is much easier with my right.

[Zach Dunham]

 

George Welcome

Posted August 22 2007 - 11:37 AM

 

Let's get technical, as there are in fact reasons, not just some lame holdover from days past that put the handles where they are.

What will move the fish during retrieval is placed to the strong hand!

A baitcast is designed to be used as a winch, so it is the reel that retrieves the fish. Hence if you are right handed the handle is in your right hand.

A spinning reel is designed to pick up unloaded or loose line, not retrieve the fish. Hence it is the rod that does the retrieval, so it is the rod that is in your strong hand. If you are right handed then the pole goes to the right hand

 

 

I was also told another reason for this and it has to do with how you hold the rod. A righty using a spinning rod will usually cast with the right hand and then reel with the left, and your hand just stays in the same position on the rod the whole time. With a baitcaster, a righty will still usually cast with the right, but the grip you would use during retrieval is different than the grip you would use while casting, so it is easier to just transfer it to your left hand right into the correct grip and then reel with the right hand, rather than transfer it to the left and back to the right again to get the grip corrected.

[Brian Needham]

I am lucky yet standard.

 

I am left handed but reel right handed.

 

this lets me hold the rod in my left hand and reel with my right......no switching hitting mid cast.

 

Denny Brauer always urged people to fish/flip/pitch like this, as fish will hit it on the fall.....while you are switching hands.

[Master Bait'r]

If I were to cast with my left...  Let's just say I might as well just throw my whole tackle box right into a tree and save myself a few dozen birds nests too.  

 

 

 

It really does suck that every reel for sale is a righty though.  Really steams my clams, man.  Go look in the Flea Market- every single reel is righty.  I have been looking for a Curado 51e for WEEKS- and I've seen literally a hundred 50e reels.  Only two were 51s and as a result the price was WAAAAAAAAAAY higher.  I've given up and even spent more than I should have just to get on with it.    

[JGBassinAL]

Train of thought came from realizing most Americans are right handed. This is what brought on the curiosity.

 

I'm confused...are most non-Americans left handed?

[tholmes]

I am lucky yet standard.

 

I am left handed but reel right handed.

 

this lets me hold the rod in my left hand and reel with my right......no switching hitting mid cast.

 

Denny Brauer always urged people to fish/flip/pitch like this, as fish will hit it on the fall.....while you are switching hands.

 

Same here.  Being a natural lefty, I've always cast with my left, reeled with my right with both spinning and baitcasters. After doing it this way for 50+ years, there's no chance I'm changing now.

 

Tom

[new2BC4bass]

Learning to reel with either hand shouldn't be much of a problem.  Learning to cast with either hand takes more practice, but I think most people can learn to cast with either hand with a little effort.  Some obviously would require more practice than others depending on dexterity.

 

I seem to have a different opinion than Roadwarrior on a couple threads today.  Sorry young man! 

 

The reel may be a winch and thus require your dominent hand, but I got to tell you that after pulling a 1/2 oz. spinnerbait for awhile (sometimes through the top of grass/weeds) that it wasn't my left hand which was doing the cranking that got worn to a frazzle, but my dominant right arm that was holding the rod.  My wrist was totally worn out.  I suppose mostly from lack of practice.  I don't get to fish much locally, but when I visit in Florida, I'll be out all day throwing lures.

[jonnyblazex]

  I can use left or right retrieve reels just the same.  I prefer spinning in left retrieve, but baitcast dosent matter. I have some in left and some in right.  Its nice to mix it up, and challenge yourself, you use both sides of your brain, and after a short amount of time it becomes natural, even to do the opposite.  That's why it feels so awkward for some, because they NEVER use the other hand, a major disadvantage!

[aavery2]

  I can use left or right retrieve reels just the same.  I prefer spinning in left retrieve, but baitcast dosent matter. I have some in left and some in right.  Its nice to mix it up, and challenge yourself, you use both sides of your brain, and after a short amount of time it becomes natural, even to do the opposite.  That's why it feels so awkward for some, because they NEVER use the other hand, a major disadvantage!

So what do you see as the major disadvantage?