A different take on the left vs right hand retrieve

[Sword of the Lord]

I'm a lefty and a righty when it comes to my retrieve, depending on what I'm doing, and not just with flippin. 

 

I'm naturally right handed, and when I fish, I need my right hand doing the work. When I'm fishing worms, Senkos, craws, flukes, etc., baits where my arm and rod does the work, I retrieve left handed because I need my right arm for that. When I'm fishing baits I need to retrieve quickly, where the reel is doing the work, such as spinners and cranks, I retrieve right handed.

 

Anyone else like this?

[fishnkamp]

Exactly the way I do things. Any bait I just cast and crank back in I go with a righty. Any bait worked by the rod I go with a lefty.  This includes carolina rigs, jerkbaits, jigs, paddle tail swimbaits, topwaters, frogs and even pitching and punching.  This also means I can change hands which help avoid the hand cramps I can often get. I have been a mechanic for over 35 years so my hands have taken a beating.  Swapping baits and reels helps.

[HookRz]

Not me. I want the rod in my dominant hand. 

 

You're mileage may vary. 

[fishnkamp]

HookRz does that mean you use all lefties or righties?

[LxVE Bassin]

100% Lefty!

[3crows]

What if one does not have a dominant hand? Some people, most people actually, can use either hand for many tasks through they may prefer handedness for specific tasks. I can switch back and forth without a lot of thought about it just depending on which way I want to cast but I prefer to reel with my right. 

 

Why does the way a fellow casts and reel seem to be a hot topic? I would not in a million years purchase a left side handle BC. Because I just do not want to and no other reason. 

[bigturtle]

rod in my right hand always, need to hookset power

[fishwizzard]

I'm left-handed and as a young man I learned to use pretty much every carpentry and most metalworking tools out there "wrong handed".  When I was into sport shooting it took several years for me to get used to shooting left handed, my inclination was use my right hand. 

 

But when it comes to fishing reels, I am so left-handed it isn't even funny.  I took my young nephew out fishing for a few days last week and as he is a righty I switched a few of my spinning reels over for him.  Whenever I would try to show him a casting trick or help get a lure unsnagged my brain would shut down soon as I picked up the backwards combo. Even just burning a lure back in across the surface felt as awkward as trying to recite poetry backwards. 

[SummertimeCarl]

I have a left-handed  flippin' stick because honestly I usually flip into cover, bounce three or four times, then reel in and flip again.  It would take nearly two times as long if I had to switch the rod in between hands.  

 

For casting and retrieving though I much prefer a right-hand reel.

 

I think people think you have to choose one-or-the-other but each can serve their own purpose.   

[new2BC4bass]

Yup.  Left hand reels outnumber right hand reels, but not by much.  I enjoy switching.  Not a mechanic, but I still can get cramps in my hands.  If I need an accurate cast, it is done right handed regardless of the reel being used.

[3crows]

11 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

Yup.  Left hand reels outnumber right hand reels, but not by much.  I enjoy switching.  Not a mechanic, but I still can get cramps in my hands.  If I need an accurate cast, it is done right handed regardless of the reel being used.

 

I doubt that left hand bait casters outnumber right hand reels. In many cases the lefties are only offered in one gear ratio of three are four offered in right hand BC reels. 

 

Maybe if you include spinning gear. I guess then this could be so. 

[d-camarena]

all lefty here. tried righties but couldnt get used to em

[CroakHunter]

I fish with no hands...

[new2BC4bass]

12 hours ago, 3crows said:

 

I doubt that left hand bait casters outnumber right hand reels. In many cases the lefties are only offered in one gear ratio of three are four offered in right hand BC reels. 

 

Maybe if you include spinning gear. I guess then this could be so. 

 

Guess my meaning wasn't all that clear.  MY left hand reels outnumber MY right hand reels by a few.  I was not making any reference to baitcast reels in general as I am well aware right hand models outnumber left hand models.  Some reels still can only be had in right hand.  Love my Primmus Xi HS, but it is available only in right hand.  Same for my Patriarch XT.  If you want either you are limited to right hand and one gear ratio.

[3crows]

27 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

 

Guess my meaning wasn't all that clear.  MY left hand reels outnumber MY right hand reels by a few.  I was not making any reference to baitcast reels in general as I am well aware right hand models outnumber left hand models.  Some reels still can only be had in right hand.  Love my Primmus Xi HS, but it is available only in right hand.  Same for my Patriarch XT.  If you want either you are limited to right hand and one gear ratio.

 

I figured that, sorry, I should have understood. 

 

I have been watching a lot of flipping videos and even most well known names/pros use right hand reels. 

 

It is weird is it not. Lots of people are like me and reel left on spinning and right on casting and think nothing of it. Why, because we like it that way ;). Things do not have to make sense. I guess.