Question About Baitcasters

[Felixone]

So I am curious about something.  I don't have one yet, but I always see people in videos and on tv using baitcaster reels.  The thing I don't understand is why do most people I see using them do the whole hand switch thing (cast and retrieve with the same hand).  I want a baitcaster so I have been looking at them online, and most of the ones I have seen offer either left or right hand retrieve.  If that is the case why wouldn't you just buy the correct reel for the hand you want to retrieve with.  Is there some benefit I don't see to switching hands? 

 

Inquiring minds want to know!  So if anyone out there that does the whole switcheroo with their baitcaster can provide some insight I would greatly appreciate it.

[fishballer06]

Because people are idiots...

 

 

Join the movement. Use a left handed reel like the rest of us more intelligent fishermen.

[Catch and Grease]

Haha I hope your kidding^^

If you are more comfortable not switching hands then don't, but I prefer to work the bait with my left arm but cast with my right.

Don't call someone an idiot and unintelligent just because they don't do something the same way you do.

It is only personal preference nothing more.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Switching hands is mostly just A learned habit for what ever reason. There is no right or wrong just right or left . I'm right handed and use almost all lefty bait cast reels

[Verisimilidude]

Seems like wasted time/movements to me.

 

I'm a lefty and I use right handed reels.  

[roadwarrior]

George Welcome

 

Posted August 22 2007

 

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.

[OkobojiEagle]

I think we're past the point where we should be talking about "right-handed" reels vs. "left-handed" reels... today's reels are built with either "right cranking" retrieves or "left cranking" retrieves.

 

oe

[Loop_Dad]

Ok, I can share my story and I prefer to believe I am not an idiot

 

I've been using righty for decades. A couple of summers ago I decided I want to try out lefty because I thought it made a logical sense. Many on here encouraged to do the switch.

 

It turned out I had problem with my right arm being tired, especially when I use longer stiffer rods. Also I felt pain on my right wrist. What was happening previously without realizing was that I would cast with my right arm and gave my right arm some break by switching to the left arm. I can go all day without feeling a thing. I returned my reel after one day.

 

Now, I have pretty decent muscle on my arms.

 

Something to think about probably.

[OkobojiEagle]

 

George Welcome

 

Posted August 22 2007

 

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.

 

 

 

Spoken as a "deep sea" angler... not a fresh water angler.

 

 

oe

[roadwarrior]

Maybe, but George is a very well know Florida Guide and fishes for bass almost exclusively.

Stick Marsh/ Farm 13 is his home lake.

 

As far as "swiching hands" is concerned, I cast two-handed For baitcasting the motion involves

moving my front hand (left hand) into position to plam the reel. I fine this to be a natural movement

and never actually notice the "switch".

[Josh Smith]

A Quick History

 

Back in the day when folks were still trying to figure out how reels should be built, the idea was to cast with the reel on top of the rod so the thumb could be used.

 

When it was time to work the reel handle, the idea was that the reel should be underneath the rod.

 

It didn't work that way.  Folks found it easier to reel backwards.

 

Thus, the tradition of the reel handle on the right hand side of the reel was born, and left-handers like yours truly were happy.

 

Then came the French.  They introduced the spinning reel, and showed the right-handers that a reel handle could be put on the left side.  Blasphemy and unnatural deeds followed.

 

Josh

[aavery2]

Seems like wasted time/movements to me.

 

I'm a lefty and I use right handed reels.  

Do you cast with the same grip you retrieve/fish with?  If not slow down and pay attention to how you make the adjustment from casting to retrieving.  My Grandfather, Brother, and Son are all left handed, I have watched them cast reels for a lot of years, I fail to see an advantage of one style over the other.

 

The biggest disadvantage I see to retrieving with either hand is the much poorer selection of reels with the handle on the left hand side.

[Verisimilidude]

On a normal cast, I definitely change grips, but there are times where I can make lots of quick successive pitches with no change in grip.

[kikstand454]

IMO switching hands has become ingrained in us because most of us started out on the old spincaster reels like the zebco 33. Or in some cases. ..the really old Abu Garcia round reels. Back in the day. ...there were FAR fewer left handed options than there are now. You bought what you could get, and if the store near you didn't have it. ...you learned with what they had. This may have been because reels were originally designed for the reasons okojobieagle sited . I don't know. But I think that's why most people feel that that handle position is "normal". Stores only bought "right hand reels" because that's what the companies offered- and that's what the public had to buy.

Early on in my baitcasting development.....no. ..earlier than that. ..when I switched from spincasters to spinning reels, I felt having the reel handle on the left side made more sense so I don't have to switch hands. So when I switched to baitcasting, my first reel was left-handed.

I have since realized that for ME, moving baits ( cranks, spinners, topwaters- what have you) are more comfortable for me to cast/reel right handed. I reel smoother with my right hand, and in these situations, your cadence and speed is important. I typically switch hands while the bait is still in the air- so instant strikes don't affect me.

Fishing bottom lures ( jigs, t-rigs, punching, flipping. ..etc) however- I like to reel left handed. I feel I get more instant strikes ( when the bait hits the water or on the fall) at a much closer proximity to me (normally) . I don't want to be switching hands and missing fish. Also I have a stronger hookset with my right hand/arm and such hooksets are more important in these techniques.

Being able to do both efficiently helps on long long days where if one arm gets tired, I can just switch out. Either change techniques, or change reels.

Ymmv.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

The rod is a much more efficient tool for moving fish. We can only speculate as to what engineers had in mind as they worked. Practically speaking there is no huge advantage nor disadvantage either way. At least in bass fishing

[OkobojiEagle]

This is often debated and seldom decided... I find it interesting that each new year more left hand retrieve models become available.

 

 

oe

 

(Still waiting for a Chronarch 51 with 5.x:1 ratio)

[bass1980]

Or the Curado with 5.x:1 ratio........sheeesh.

 

Anyways I started RH when a few years ago since majority of people used RH. It was fine, I didn't mind changing hands on the cast. Then I started to get better at catching big fish and felt my left arm can't control the fish like how I wanted it to. I am so right hand dominant it's not even funny. Then I learned how to pitch jigs into tight areas and thought to myself why even switch?

 

So I made the decision to try LH reels. At first I was clumsy reeling with my LH. Couldn't retrieve very fast but my RH was loving it for controlling the fish, pulling fish out of the slop, and pitching jigs. So I never looked back and now LH reels are a must. I sucks that all reels don't offer LH versions and it's harder to find LH reels in the classifieds but I'll take the trade off.

 

So what I'm saying is it really doesn't matter. A human brain will eventually learn and it'll be natural. However I do feel it makes more sense to use LH reels but people are very traditional and won't change.

[tholmes]

Because people are idiots...

 

 

Join the movement. Use a left handed reel like the rest of us more intelligent fishermen.

 

Unless you're left-handed. Then the right-hand cranking reels are the "intelligent" choice.

 

Tom

[*Hootie]

Haha I hope your kidding^^

If you are more comfortable not switching hands then don't, but I prefer to work the bait with my left arm but cast with my right.

Don't call someone an idiot and unintelligent just because they don't do something the same way you do.

It is only personal preference nothing more.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Good job C&G.

Hootie

[IAY]

The logical argument that made me purchase a right handed reel after only using left handed ones is that you can control your cast better, if you are using your right hand to cast. The weight distribution on the left handed baitcasters gives each right hand casts a lot more momentum; this might won't be a problem if you have strong wrist, but I don't so it helps.

[fishballer06]

Just found this thread after posting my initial post in here. I didn't realize a little joke would get so many people riled up. 

 

Anyways, do whatever makes you feel most comfortable. I'm ambidextrous with everything except whenever writing, I can only do that right handed. So I guess I have to call myself "right handed." With that, I've tried baitcasting both left handed and right handed. I do not like switching hands on every cast, and I feel that I have much more power and control whenever I crank with my left hand. 

 

But again, everyone is different, and you should see what you're most comfortable with before making a purchase. 

[J Francho]

Because people are idiots...

 

 

Join the movement. Use a left handed reel like the rest of us more intelligent fishermen.

 

Flattery will get you nowhere...

 

I use both - I must be too stupid to choose one over the other.

 

Here's an inefficient switch in action: