Science

[Quarry Man]

I am always looking to improve the "small things" to give myself an advantage over other anglers, meaning more fish for me and my fishing friends. I understand that with spinning gear, the fish is fought with the rod. meaning one would want their dominant hand on the rod. The opposite is true with casting gear. I am a right-handed person. I first learned to fish with a left hand retrieve spinning setup. When I was ready to graduate to a baitcaster, I figured that it would be easiest to learn with a left hand retrieve.  I did not recognize the difference in mechanics of the two types of setups. I recently found a great deal on a discontinued matte black Quantum Smoke 7:1. The only problem was that it is a right-hand retrieve. I also have a newer 7.3:1 Smoke in a LH. I like the power of the drag. One reel will go on a 7' XH F rod with 50 lb braid for frogs; meanwhile, the other will be used on a 7'3" MH F rod with 30 lb braid. Not sure which reel should go on which. Thanks!

[RoLo]

32 minutes ago, Quarry Man said:

I understand that with spinning gear, the fish is fought with the rod. meaning one would want their dominant hand on the rod. The opposite is true with casting gear.

 

The opposite is 'not' true for casting gear.

The fish is always fought with the rod, never the reel. In saltwater, casting gear

is called conventional gear, where the fish are big and strong, and where it's even more important

to pump big fish with your dominant arm, and take up the slack line with your reel hand. 

I'm right handed, therefore every casting reel I own is left-handed ('ditto' spinning & conventional gear)

 

Roger

[iiTzChunky]

I personally have always found it pretty easy to cast with my right hand being my dominant hand,and retrieving with my right hand as well after a quick switch. I've tried switching the reel on my spinning reel, casts are all over the place and hard to control. 

 

I do it just out of personal preference. I don't spend much time after the cast switching hands. The lure hits the water, I stop it with my right hand and switch hands really fast and start my retrieve. Unless that bass is hitting my lure within 2 seconds of it hitting the water I'm not missing any bites. 

 

I also keep the line running across my index finger, not sure if anyone else does this. But really adds sensitivity to feeling bites. I felt like I was missing some by just trying to feel it with just the rod. So by running the line over my first get I feel every bite every time. 

[BrianSnat]

I made a similar choice when I added baitcasters to my fishing gear.  I grew up with left hand retreive spinning reels and used them for neary 40 years. I also flyfish and similary use left hand retreive reels.  When I bought several baitcasting rods I chose left hand retreive baitcasting reels. I can work the rod so much better with my dominant (right) hand. 

I can see how right  side baitcasters work a bit better for fighting the fish as far as cranking, but for the purpose of working the lure I see a major advantage in using my right hand to do it.   I'm used to it and can do it far better with my right hand.

I think I will catch more fish by working the rod more deftly with my right hand and any advantage in cranking the fish in with a right handed baitcaster is marginal.   I'm also not comfortable with fighting a fish with the rod in my left hand  I would stick with left handed retreive baitcasting reels because it is what you are used to .
 

[MassYak85]

I'm right handed and every spinning and casting setup I own has a right hand retrieve. Never had a reason to switch. Ultimately what's going to help you out in fishing is fine motor skills so whichever hand/arm you get used to is going to be the best one to use.

[Poolshark]

I am most comfortable using a left handed reel but I use righties sometimes to help with fatigue on long trips. The righties I own end up on spinnerbait, crankbait and swimbait rods. The techniques that require more Coordinated hand motions like plastics, jigs, top waters and frogs get the lefty reels. That way my dominant hand can work them a bit easier and gets a break when chucking and winding 

[wet_dream]

1 hour ago, Poolshark said:

I am most comfortable using a left handed reel but I use righties sometimes to help with fatigue on long trips. The righties I own end up on spinnerbait, crankbait and swimbait rods. The techniques that require more Coordinated hand motions like plastics, jigs, top waters and frogs get the lefty reels. That way my dominant hand can work them a bit easier and gets a break when chucking and winding 

I am just getting into freshwater fishing and made the transition to Lefty baitcasters pretty smoothly. I use spinning setups with a left hand retrieve on the surf and kayak, and find it much easier to work lures with my dominant hand (right) while reeling with my left. I do have conventional setups (saltwater baitcasters) with the crank on the right side, which I use for bottom fishing. I'm basically dropping a bait down vertically with these setups, or casting a very short distance. I actually prefer cranking with my right hand in these situation as you are "winching" the fish up, and my right hand arm is a little stronger.

[CTBassin860]

I reel left handed on spinning gear and right handed on casting gear.I bought my 1st casting combo and it was right handed retrieve.So I learned that way and its the most comfortable for me.I play with lefties ate BPS all the time and it just feels weird to me.Its all preference.

[Hulkster]

back when I started learning to use a baitcasting reel (late 90s) lefties were just starting to come out on the market and were not widely available like they are now.

 

so I learned to cast and switch. having said that, you learn to use the rod and reel effectively on a hook set: pull up hard with your left hand (non dominant hand)  which is either holding the rod or palming the reel and pull up hard using the reel handle with your right hand (dominant hand). it becomes one fluid motion and you get a great hookset.

[Paul Roberts]

I'm ambidextrous with my spinning and casting gear. But I prefer left retrieve with spin and right with casting. Dunno why.

[offsidewing]

Just like golf clubs and hockey sticks, go with whatever feels best.

[RoLo]

When a right-handed angler fishes with a right-hand casting reel, he's forced to pass his fishing rod

from his strong arm to his inferior arm...after every single cast...all day long!

I have a hunch that the first casting reel may have been designed by a southpaw,

but if nothing else, it demonstrates that humans are remarkably tolerant and highly trainable 

 

Roger

[Catt]

7 hours ago, RoLo said:

I have a hunch that the first casting reel may have been designed by a southpaw,

 

Roger

 

Said that for years but it's like everyone's ears are stopped up!

[Paul Roberts]

13 hours ago, RoLo said:

When a right-handed angler fishes with a right-hand casting reel, he's forced to pass his fishing rod

from his strong arm to his inferior arm...after every single cast...all day long!

I have a hunch that the first casting reel may have been designed by a southpaw,

but if nothing else, it demonstrates that humans are remarkably tolerant and highly trainable 

 

Roger

When I bought my first casting rig I worked in a tackle shop. Got to feel everything out. And despite being a righty I chose a RH casting rig. No, it doesn't make sense and I think -when thinking about it- a righty should be using a LH casting reel -just like for spinning. So, a few years ago now, I bought a LH casting reel (Daiwa Fuego -the red one). And before I could use it I messed up my right elbow -my Doc's first case of "bass elbow" ('tennis elbow' for tennis players). I've been fishing lefty ever since (but casting right ). I think this year I'm ready to switch back and see how it goes. And I'll finally get to use that LH casting reel. Wish me luck.

[SFL BassHunter]

I am a righty, and I cast with my right, retrieve with my left. On a spinning or baitcaster. Same thing.

I have absolutely no issue bringing a fish in with my left arm. I can see this being an issue in saltwater fishing with LARGE fish, where your right hand would be more effective to reel since it is your strong arm.

I understand the argument made for reeling in with your dominant hand or arm but I just don't see it applying to bass fishing in most scenarios.

 

As far as your reel question, personally as a righty I would want my frog rod on my right for strong hooksets and being able to control the fish better with the rod.

[bigfruits]

i fight with the rod on both spinning and casting. many forget, its actually fun to fight a fish!

 

im right handed and switched to left handed reels several years ago. it took less than one outing with a lefty to discover this was better for me. to me, i feel like i have more control working the rod with my dominant hand (jigs, t-rig, topwater, jerkbaits etc). also, the reel handle is not in the way and i can cast while palming which i do sometimes for short quick casts. 

 

it doesnt matter which hand you use, just do what feels right.

 

because you have one of each, i'd use the lefty for pitching and the righty for casting.

[Catt]

Don't know any better so I set hook with both hands!

 

Left hand palming the reel, rod handle against my elbow...right hand holding the reel handles...dumb Cajun!