Lefty Or Righty?

[warrior1]

Kind of wondering how may people have both righty and lefty reels in there arsenal.  I use both, but looking at others gear, there usually seems to be one or the other but not both.  Is there an advantage or does it even matter?

[badhatharry]

I use righty for spinning....lefty for casting and flippin'

[MidwestF1sh]

I keep it simple. Always reel with my left hand. I don't get why people would ever want to cast then switch hands to reel, or why they want to work the bait with their non dominate hand... Just my 2 cents

[blckshirt98]

I'm right handed and lefty only for me.  I used spinning reels when I was young and stuck with spinning reels until recently, so once I started using baitcasters, since there's so many left handed reels available now, stuck with lefty.

[Raul]

I'm right handed, al my reels have the handle on the right side.

[ward131]

I bought my first lefty baitcaster this year because I didn't understand why I was switching the rod after each cast. Now after using it, it makes no difference. I don't even notice when I switch hands and don't miss a beat when I use the lefty. Same when I pick up the spinning rod,  The brain can adapt.

[RMcDuffee726]

I bought my first lefty baitcaster this year because I didn't understand why I was switching the rod after each cast. Now after using it, it makes no difference. I don't even notice when I switch hands and don't miss a beat when I use the lefty. Same when I pick up the spinning rod,  The brain can adapt.

In the exact same situation.  I can't even tell anymore, and even if I could it probably only takes a second to make the switch.  Everyone has their own preferences though.

[Smokinal]

Right handed; all left hand crank.

[MIbassin]

I use all left handed reels. I could care less about switching hands its just that reeling righty feels awkward and unnatural.

[PourMyOwn]

I use right handed reels because that's what my dad taught me on, and in the 80s there weren't many left handed baitcasters. In those days there were no thumb bars, no instant anti reverse either!

A friend of mine has a lefty reel, it's fine, but I'll stick with what I've been using since I was 10. As far as switching hands, I do that mid cast most of the time (buzz bait is cranking before it hits the water)

[lo n slo]

Ok, I am one of those people who does some things left handed and other things right handed. For example, I write, shoot, and eat left handed. I throw, hit, and cast right handed. I can drive a nail with either. But I would definitely say my right hand is dominant. I use a right handed bait caster, but a left handed spinning reel.

Sincerely,

Mixed Up in Mooresville

[Molay1292]

This discussion usually does not end well.    Anyway, RH using RH reel and swithching hands after cast, it's the way I learned.

[Basswhippa]

I'm right and learned with a Zebco 33.   Left on spinning though.

 

I now am learning to cast pretty darn well with my left hand.   Will never switch from reeling with the right hand.  Just the way I learned to use spin cast and baitcasters.

[S10rman88]

RIght handed and grew up fishing only spinning rods with the handled on the left so when I bought my first bait caster I went ahead and got the handle on the left as well. No regrets for me

[Carolina Boy]

Ok, I am one of those people who does some things left handed and other things right handed. For example, I write, shoot, and eat left handed. I throw, hit, and cast right handed. I can drive a nail with either. But I would definitely say my right hand is dominant. I use a right handed bait caster, but a left handed spinning reel.

Sincerely,

Mixed Up in Mooresville

Same here!

[Bluebasser86]

I'm right handed. All baitcaster right hand retrieve, spinning are all left hand retrieve and I CANNOT interchange the two. 

[RMcDuffee726]

I'm right handed. All baitcaster right hand retrieve, spinning are all left hand retrieve and I CANNOT interchange the two. 

Trueeeeeeeee.

[Steveo-1969]

I'm right handed. All baitcaster right hand retrieve, spinning are all left hand retrieve and I CANNOT interchange the two. 

 

Ditto...

[Ratherbfishing]

If you are right handed, the reel handle should be on the left.  Being superior in both thought and deed, I have to poke fun at all you "righties" just a little.  I've noticed that probably 90 percent (a scientifically derived figure-completely made up) of right handed people who use baitcasters with the handles on the right, when using spinning gear, place those handles on the left.  What's up with that?!!!!

 

(Note to those who struggle with the nuances of humor and self-effacing sarcasm:  That first sentence was written in jest).   ;  )

[PourMyOwn]

For the record, I'm ambidextrous. I even shave with a straight razor left handed half the time. (that's trust, believe me) I cast with both hands, especially when I'm flipping and pitching. 

 

I must state that I don't care what anyone uses-although the more right handed baitcasters you guys buy, the more selection for me in the used market. 

 

For my curiosity, when did the left handed reels become common? When I was last in the market for a reel in the early 2000s, it seemed like there weren't many, but now there are. 

[Maxximus Redneckus]

I been switching so long i dont even think about it anymore im a righty with both kinds of reels right handed..but i have been known to reel lefty with a few abus and big baits with some resistance in saltwater manns stretch 10 and 1 oz traps

[ogbfishing]

I use a left handed reel for spinning and a right handed reel for casting. Honestly the only reason this is the case is because that's what I learned with. I can think of absolutely no benefit either way besides casting to one side versus the other being more comfortable for me.

[DTack]

I keep it simple. Always reel with my left hand. I don't get why people would ever want to cast then switch hands to reel, or why they want to work the bait with their non dominate hand... Just my 2 cents

100% because I learned that way and when I spend 2 days trying to re-learn with my left hand reeling it just didn't work.  Really wish I would have learned with my left hand on the reel. 

[WIGuide]

I'm a right and I use right hand retrieve bait casters and left hand retrieve spinning reels. If I didn't palm the reel, I think a left hand retrieve reel wouldn't be too big of deal and would probably be the way I'd go. However, it'd feel cumbersome to use one the way I currently hold the rod. 

[Raul]

There is no "right" or "wrong" way, try with both and pick the one you feel most comfortable, that´s the "right" way.