So Do I Have The Handle On The Wrong Side?

[Way2slow]

I think you will find way more left handers that use right handed reels so they don't have to switch hands than you will find right handers that use left handed reels. Even though, over the last 10-15 years, I have seen a lot of right handers switch over. Some have actually gone to learning how to cast left handed with their right handed reels to keep from switching hands.

I think this is the nature of the beast. Left handed people have always had to be fairly ambidextrous having to learn to do everything backwards from most in this right handed world. Most right handed people are so dependent on their right hand, they can't even scratch their butt with their left hand. Other than ball players that learn to catch with their left hand, They can barely hold something in their left hand, much less function with it.

[Fun4Me]

I like casting with my right hand, reeling with my right hand, and manipulating the rod with my left. If it was as easy as learning to just reel with my left hand I could probably do that, but I would also have to learn to manipulate the rod with my right hand. I'm not saying I couldn't learn it, just don't know if I want to try. I have experimented with two hand right hand low, baseball grip casting, with the spinning setup with marginal success.  

[Rhino68W]

I actually tried switching my spinning reel handle to the right side and reeling with my right hand for a while. I could not get the hang of it, had to go back to the handle on the left. And I reel baitcasters with my right hand. 

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

I'm just curious if I'm the only person who cranks with my right hand on both spinning and bait casting gear.

It just seems like the folks I've been around, who I'm assuming are mostly right handed, have RH baitcasters and spinning reels cranking from the opposite side. Not me. I'm left handed. I bat right, I throw right, I shoot right (but I shoot better even though uncomfortable left), I eat left and write left and I'm left eye dominant. I can cast from either side but I cannot reel comfortably on the left side. I've tried LH baitcasters and it just felt unnatural. Tried switching on spinning reels and it felt awkward as well. Am I alone here?

I'm right handed. I crank right handed on my bait casters and spinning set ups.

[blckshirt98]

Right handed people use right side retrieve baitcasters because that's all the manufacturer's really offered for baitcasters.  People that used them adopted to it and it's now the prevailing retrieve for the majority of users.

[RiverDave]

Interesting discussion.  I am like the OP as a limited left-handed, mostly right-handed person.  Recently into baitcasting, I have both a right handed and left handed baitcaster.  For years, without much thought, I used left handed spinning reels.  It became the norm.  I use both baitcaster reels while throwing the rod with my right hand.  Both retrieves work well but I have to mentally adjust to the "hand manipulation" movements (like drag adjustments, etc.).

 

I should probably stick to one style so there isn't that "adjustment" to make or confusion in the heat of battle.  The choice will be mine.  They should call them "handle on left side" and "handle on right side" so people don't necessarily think they have to use a certain one.

 

Just my thoughts.

 

Dave.

[Ski213]

It's cool to hear all these different ways of casting and reeling, and what's comfortable to different people. I actually got out tonight for a couple hours to fish. I kind of experimented a little. Tried to pay attention to the switch that I do when I cast with just my right hand a lot of times. My switch is pretty seamless, I've been practicing it for a long time and as has been said several times here, what's comfortable is good to stick with. That being said and I think very true, I like experimenting. Even after 25+ yrs of bass fishing I find times that I'm in an awkward spot and need to make a good cast from it. My experimenting tonight actually showed me that even after all that time I can learn to cast different ways. It also showed me that there ain't no way I will ever be able to reel with my left hand.

Thanks for all the replies!

[Way2slow]

Fixing to show my age. Back in the early 60's, I would only use Mitchell 300 spinning reels. Being left handed, I had to adapt. I held the reel upside down and used my thumb to hold the line pinched against the side of the handle to cast. When they finally came out with the 301 (left handed model), I bought "ONE". It was awkward as all get out trying to cast the way I was suppose to. When I learned to use bait casters, the right handed worked perfect so I rarely used spinning reels. Even today, if I need to make a precision cast with a spinning reel, I flip it upside down and use my thumb to hold the line pinched against the handle. I have never perfected the release using my finger to hold the line to make very precise cast. The one thing this has done is made me very good at throwing light baits with bait casters. I cast fairly light top water plugs accurately a long way with a bait caster most people would never dream of trying. It has to be a really light plug/lure for me to pick up a spinning reel to cast it, I mean almost Beetle Spin size.

[Ski213]

Fixing to show my age. Back in the early 60's, I would only use Mitchell 300 spinning reels. Being left handed, I had to adapt. I held the reel upside down and used my thumb to hold the line pinched against the side of the handle to cast. When they finally came out with the 301 (left handed model), I bought "ONE". It was awkward as all get out trying to cast the way I was suppose to. When I learned to use bait casters, the right handed worked perfect so I rarely used spinning reels. Even today, if I need to make a precision cast with a spinning reel, I flip it upside down and use my thumb to hold the line pinched against the handle. I have never perfected the release using my finger to hold the line to make very precise cast. The one thing this has done is made me very good at throwing light baits with bait casters. I cast fairly light top water plugs accurately a long way with a bait caster most people would never dream of trying. It has to be a really light plug/lure for me to pick up a spinning reel to cast it, I mean almost Beetle Spin size.

I'm similar in that I cannot cast as accurately with a spinning reel. Not nearly as accurately really. Im not good with using that index finger either for that. I guess cause i cant feather the line against the rod like i can feather the spool on a baitcaster. I have some spinning set ups but I've got alot more baitcasting just where I'm better with it. Not saying anything bad about spinning outfits. I know a couple people who are awesome with a spinning reel. I don't even know how they do what they do with one of them. It's funny when we fish together and get to an area where we have to be super accurate or super finesse with the casts and I'm scrambling for a baitcaster and they're going for a spinning reel. When they're fishing a baitcaster they're cutting out backlashes, when I'm fishing a spinning reel I'm cutting out these giant wind knots that they don't seem to get.

[FishTank]

When I started using a baitcaster, I struggled with right handed reels despite being right handed.  I had used spinning gear that cranks with the left  hand for so long that casting and cranking felt wrong.  I went to a left handed baitcaster and the problem was solved.  Moving forward that will probably be all I ever use. 

[WPCfishing]

No one of authority ever told me a right handed reel was for right handed people. lol

I'm right handed. I cast with my right and reel with my left.

Makes sense to me...

When I played hockey I used a lefty stick. That also made sense to me.

[blckshirt98]

Having used spinning reels for 3 years without touching a baitcaster, and then starting to use baitcasters just over a month agao, it's a big switch from baitcasting to spinning and vice versa.  I used to be able to cast my spinning reel to pretty much any spot I was looking at.  I can't do that yet with a baitcaster, and, when I go to a spinning reel my casts are off to the right, and it takes a while for me to adjust back.

[Way2slow]

I've been throwing bait casters for about 45 years, and can be very accurate with one, but I still have to use that little Kentucky windage. Being left handed, my cast have always drifted to the right. I've just been doing it so long, it's like shooting a rifle, I don't need sights, I just point and shoot. My hands and eye coordination is my sights. It's call instinct shooting, same thing applies when casting.

Now, if I want to split hairs at a long distance, I can take my time, use both hands, be sure I whip it straight back and straight forward and it will fly straight. However, most of my cast are just are just roll cast, lifting it out of the water, doing a little roll with the tip and send it on it's way again, those are the ones that drift right.