Righty Using Lefty.

[ETR82]

Just started bass fishing this year. (Addicted already). I'm right handed bought left handed bait casters felt more comfortable. Is there any disadvantages using the left handed reel opposed to the right.

[Klebs01]

Nope. I'm a righty with all left hand retrieve reels and it feels a ton more natural and comfortable. Fish what works best for you.

[MFBAB]

I'm a righty and switched all of mine to LH about 10 years ago and no regrets. 

 

If I am right handed, why would I ever want to hold the rod w my left hand while playing a fish? 

Not to mention having to switch hands every time you cast, etc. 

 

It took 1 trip to get used to it, now I feel a little wierd if I ever have to use someone else's RH reels  

[poisonokie]

Not at all. As far as I'm concerned, you're doing it the only way that makes any sense at all. Except for flipping. If you're truly flipping, the handle, knobs, and dragstar can tangle up your line unless you hold the rod with your left. That's why I don't really flip and when I talk about it, I really mean short pitches with heavy baits. Welcome to the most expensive and time consuming hobby on the planet, by the way!

[poisonokie]

I'm a righty and switched all of mine to LH about 10 years ago and no regrets. 

 

If I am right handed, why would I ever want to hold the rod w my left hand while playing a fish? 

Not to mention having to switch hands every time you cast, etc. 

 

It took 1 trip to get used to it, now I feel a little wierd if I ever have to use someone else's RH reels

 

Nice avatar, lol. That's brutal.

[bigfruits]

i also switched to "left handed" baitcasters years ago and I am right handed.

[Todd2]

I'm a righty...switched to LH reels years ago. IMO, the ONLY disadvantage is a lot of times you won't be able to find a certain "on sale" reel in LH as the demand apparently isn't as high for some reason.

[Poolshark]

It really just depends on what you are more comfortable with. I am right handed and I prefer lefty reels most of the time. though I do use right handed reels some of the time and find it helps me with fatigue after a long day

[Bass newb]

LH makes most sense to someone who's right handed. I do that.

[ETR82]

Thanks guys feel much better about my decision to go lefty. u ain't lying about being a $ hobby. I thought golf was bad.

[stepchild]

I'm in the same boat, right-handed using a LH reel. What I find perplexing are the people who use spinning reels LH and biatcasters RH...I just think it would screw me up completely. Just pick whatever's most comfortable to you and stick with it, no matter what anyone says. Heck, I've fished a tournament with a guy who holds his spinning reel upside down and, because of his history doing it that way, was just fine casting and reeling fish in (no matter how weird it looks!).

[RMcDuffee726]

I'm a righty, yet I use a Right Handed Baitcaster. I just enjoying fighting fish with my weaker hand, and having the power in my knob turning hand.  There is no wrong way to do it.  Like everyone else above said, whatever feels more comfortable is the correct way to do it.

[Random Tackle]

As a righty using spinning gear for most of my life the choice was quite easy to go lefty when I bought my first baitcaster.

[BassinLou]

Just started bass fishing this year. (Addicted already). I'm right handed bought left handed bait casters felt more comfortable. Is there any disadvantages using the left handed reel opposed to the right.

 

To answer your question, no.  I am actually surprised more right handed don't use left handed reels. For me, a right hand reel is natural because I am a natural lefty. But for a natural righty I would assume its natural to use a left reel.  At least for me it is. 

[K_Mac]

I am also a right handed fisherman who has all left handed reels. Controlling the rod with my dominant hand and reeling with my left is far more natural to me than using a right handed reel. My advice is to try both. Some use both right or left, depending on the technique. Its all good.

[MasonV]

That's the best way to do it so you don't have to switch hands to cast and reel. I'm a lefty with all right handed reels.

[Big Bait Fishing]

when choosing a reel for the first time , determine which hand you feel comfortable working the rod , you reel with the other hand .. for example , i work the rod with my right hand and reel with the left , all my reels are left handed ....

[Nelson Wormefeller]

I did the same thing I bought a left hand retrieve baitcaster for my first baitcaster

[Deleted account]

There is no right (pun intended) or wrong answer. Use whatever feels better and works for you. I will say, that I am right handed and use RH baitcasters because it is more efficient since I cast and fish with a different grip on the rod. Were I to use a LH reel, it would require 2 shifts of grip. I find I have the reel palmed in my left hand while the lure is still in flight. I do use LH baitcasters and RH spinning, when I have a finger injury or have fished for weeks straight to give the arm a break.

[yugrac]

I am right handed and use all left hand crank reels, both spinning and baitcast. The biggest advantage I like is fishing shallow cover or shoreline. When you dont have to switch hands you can be cranking as soon or before the lure hits the water, this saves on many hang-ups and snags. Also I have had reaction strikes as soon as the lure hits the water, and would have missed fish if not for holding the rod in my right hand and cranking with my left.

[Fisher-O-men]

It is a recent trend and will cause the manufacturers to make more lefty reels. 

[Rob96]

I have always used LH spinning reels but wanted to learn how to use a baitcaster. Nobody had lefties on the shelves. I then happened upon an Abu Garcia Ambassadeur S 5500 combo on clearance for $40. I couldn't sneeze at that. It's a little awkward having to switch but at least I am learning the baitcaster.

[new2BC4bass]

Thanks guys feel much better about my decision to go lefty. u ain't lying about being a $ hobby. I thought golf was bad.

 

I've managed to spend a few thousand over the past 6 years on gear.  Wouldn't have spent nearly as much if I lived where the fishing was good.  I would have been out catching fish instead of on the Internet ordering more gear.  I started taking guitar lessons this year.  Talk about an expensive hobby!  What some feel is a cheap acoustic guitar goes for over $2k.  Way beyond my budget.  

 

EDIT: BTW I am also a righty who started with lefty spinning reels so when I went to b/c reels I stayed on the same side.  Not all reels are available in left hand so I learned to reel right hand and cast left hand.  Not too hard for most people to do and definitely has its advantages.

[Fun4Me]

Putting the preference for what feels better aside, I've never found a way to palm a LH reel, casting with my right hand, without having to add in an extra movement, which makes it the same and I would say worse, than the RH model. 

 

Now, if ones hand never moves from the casting position between casts, I could see it as an advantage. 

[Fisher-O-men]

Putting the preference for what feels better aside, I've never found a way to palm a LH reel, casting with my right hand, without having to add in an extra movement, which makes it the same and I would say worse, than the RH model. 

 

Now, if ones hand never moves from the casting position between casts, I could see it as an advantage. 

Now that is an interesting thought.  I have not noticed whether or not I shift my casting hand after the lure lands.  I'll have to take note of that.  I do know this, my right hand is more coordinated for walking TW baits.