How Hard Is It To Learn How To Use Left Hand Retrieve If You Use Right?

[Catch and Grease]

I found a good deal on these baitcasting reels but they just sold out of the right hand retrieves, how hard is it to learn to use a left hand retrieve baitcaster if you use right? I use all my spinning rods with the handle on the left side so I don't think it would be that hard...

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

My thought exactly. If you're like me you'll wonder what took you so long.

[einscodek]

Practice

I like left hand reeling right hand casting.. in the beginning it felt alil awkward as im right handed but as with all things practice

[Josh Smith]

Dad (65 in June) found it almost impossible. He has used right-hand retrieve baitcasters and left-hand retrieve spinning since since at least 1975.

Josh

[Kyle46N]

Shouldn't take too long.  If you think about the high number of casts/retrieves you make in a day of fishing, it would probably be only a few trips before it starts becoming muscle memory. 

[Raul]

If your spinning rigs got the handle on the wrong side you are ready for purchasing bait casters with the handle on the wrong side.

[Mike L]

I couldn't do it...I really tried but couldn't.

Why?, I don't know it just didn't feel right.

It felt too ackward, and I also reel spinning with the left.

Gotta do what comes naturally I guess regardless of the extra step.

Mike

[doublest]

Should be a piece of cake for a person with normal physical attributes. I have had 4 strokes that have left me pretty badly impaired on my left side. After a layoff from fishing of a few years, I was lucky enough to get a second chance. I don't get to fish much,but in the few times that I have been able to get out, I found it preferable to cast right handed and crank left handed. The strength in my left arm was so diminished, that I found it difficult to hold the rod in position to allow myself to crank right handed. After losing one heck of a nice outfit overboard  due to my weakened grip. I decided it was time to make the switch. It didn't feel that awkward as I had been used to cranking spinning reels since they were introduced in the 1950's. After 2 or 3 outings, it should come pretty easy if you just hang in there and don't give up.

[fishinphilly]

i tried using my friends reel who is right handed and i use left handed and after about 10 minutes i gave up because it just felt so weird lol so i could help

[SenkoGuru]

I broke my neck on the oil rig 8 years ago, after that I had sever weakness in my left arm and hand. I tried to switch to a left handed reel so I could set the hook with my right arm, went out and bought a bunch of left handed reels too. I couldn't do it, I kept some for flipping but I can't use a left handed reel it was just way to weird and I had a lot of trouble with it. I wound up going through a year of rehab and getting my left arm better.

[Catch and Grease]

Hmmm, maybe I'll buy one and see if I can do it. I think the only thing that would be weird is hooksets with things like thick wire jigs or something....

[Kyle46N]

Hmmm, maybe I'll buy one and see if I can do it. I think the only thing that would be weird is hooksets with things like thick wire jigs or something....

Are you right handed?  If so, don't worry about the hooksets.  Your right arm is stronger, and even though it may feel a little weird, before you know it your hook sets will take less effort becuse they will be with your dominant/stronger arm.  

[bass1980]

The human brain is amazing, if you let it be. It can adjust to almost anything, if you let it.............

 

It took me 2 outings and never looked back.

[FishTank]

I am right handed and used spinning gear for years.  I was casting with my right rand and cranking the handle with my left.  I bought my first bait caster about 9 years ago and it was right handed.  I couldn't get the hang of it.  I was handed a left handed green curado and most of my problems were solved.  I have been using left handed bait casters ever since.   Bottomline, it just felt natural to use left handed bait casters.   I would venture a guess you would have no issues.  

[A-Jay]

Use the TW Demo program - for 20 bucks you can try one for a week or so.

 

 That's short money & plenty of time to know if it's something you want to commit to.

 

btw - I tried it and I can do it - but I always feel like an impaired Gumby.

 

Good Luck

 

A-Jay

[bassr95]

It took me a day or two to get comfortable with LH retrieve and I love it now. I'll never switch hands while pitching again!

[new2BC4bass]

Shouldn't be hard for you since you are use to reeling spinning reels with the left hand.  That was me 6 years ago.  My first baitcast reels were left hand.  A 103ai ito came up for sale like new at a good price.  Right hand.  Figured I'd better grab it if I wanted one.  That was about 5 years ago.  I'm 67.  Now almost half my baitcast reels are right hand.  Cranking with either hand is no problem.  Learning to cast with either hand takes a little more time.  At least it did for me.  Overhand  casts left handed still aren't that great, but left hand roll casts are close to as good as with the right hand,  Obviously you can cast on only one side regardless of which side the handle is on.  I just enjoy switching around on occasion.

 

EDIT:  Another benefit of being able to use either hand is you don't have to pass up a good deal if it isn't the correct hand (if you can only use one side).  Also there are plenty of excellent reels out there that only come in right hand.  Why limit yourself?

[kingmotorboat]

I wondered this same thing as I am probably looking at the same reel

[Diggy]

I started with RH reels and it never felt right to me trying to walk the dog with my left hand being right handed. Bought a LH reel on clearance and haven't gone back. 

[livemusic]

Since I started back fishing this year, I have bought all left hand retrieve reels and I am right-handed, accustomed to reeling with right hand. It makes sense to throw it with my right hand and NOT have to switch hands to retrieve. I also saw some pro videos where the pros recommended this. So far, it's working pretty good, not totally used to it but I essentially went right to it. I also have used a spinning reel, left-handed retrieve a little bit over the years. I have a mixture, because all of my baitcasters of the past have been right-hand reeling reels. Starting to have some arthritis issues, so, mixing it up seems like it should help.

[masterbass]

My first casters were right handed and I used them for a few months then I bought my first lefty and stuck with them.  It shouldn't take more than a few outings.  I'm really glad I switched because it is so much more efficient IMO.

[CRANKENSTIEN]

I'm right handed. But use both. Price can be my determining factor sometimes. I would rather pitch with a left reel. I would rather cast square bills with a left. It is faster and I can get a better rythym with a left reel. All things equal I would now choose left.

[WPCfishing]

I use a lefty reel.. I throw right and reel left.

I've always done it that way.. It make sense too!

[BASSPATROL247]

When i first started using a baitcaster it felt weird having used left handed spinning gear. After a while though i got used to it and it feels natural to me me now. I do use left handed baitcasters when im crankin,carolina riggin and with a jig because for me i have way better feeling with my right hand vs my left....

[Jrob78]

I tried a few years ago.  I've been casting right handed baitcasters since I was 10 years old.  That was too much muscle memory for me to overcome.  Left handed reels balance different and finding comfortable, natural hand placement after the cast was difficult.  I can switch hands faster than I can get settled in with a lefty reel.  After some trial and error I sold the lefty baitcaster.   I'm sure I could have done it if I had to but it wasn't worth the learning curve for me.