Right Handed Reels for Right Handers?

[Tizi]

So, all of my reels are right handed.  I am right handed.  I am wondering if it makes more sense to have a left handed retrieve reel instead?  Seems like there would be less wasted motion due to switching hands after the cast to retrieve? 

[Dens228]

I'm the same, but I don't even notice switching hands........it's just how I've always done it.   Plus I would think you'd reel with your dominant hand. 

 

[optimator]

I've always just switched hands, that's how I learned to cast. I tried a left hand for a while but it just felt too weird after all these years. Funny thing though, I reel with my left hand with spinning gear.

[Dangerfield]

I write left handed but dominant right. Throw right handed, bat/golf/hockey right handed, spinning gear right handed retrieve and I just bought my first baitcasting reel and it's right retrieve as well. I'll definitely attempt one-handed casting with the left before I try casting with my right and passing. Do what's comfortable because you'll be on the water doing it a lot.

[freelancer27]

I really never understood why right handed people would use a right hand retrieve? You cast with your right hand, need to switch hands to retrieve...

 

From an objective point this is just not practical since over a day of fishing I would probably spend almost 5-10mins just switching my rod from one hand to another. For techniques where fish can hit the lure as soon as it hits the water, I would also think that switching hands would put one at a disadvantage. 

Additionally I feel with a right cast - right retrieve model you are putting the stress of cast and retrieve on one hand/arm rather than distributing it (might only play a bigger role with high distance retrieves  like crankbaits).

Am I alone with this?

[JFlynn97]

I'm right handed and all of my reels are left-handed. To me it makes more sense to have the rod in my right hand where I have more control over the rod and I'm better able to work lures. Plus, I've tried using my rod in my left and retrieving with my right and it just feels off. Not having to switch hands is also a bonus, especially when flipping/pitching.

[ratherbfishin1]

It has always confused me when I see people, including pros, switching hands after a cast.  I realize its not that big of a deal but why would someone do that?  I personally don't switch hands and I started wondering if I was doing it wrong, am I?  It seems useless to me to do that but am I missing something?  Do I just have a "natural gift" or whatever because this is the only way it feels normal to me and I don't see why people would switch hands.

[MN Fisher]

I learned way back to cast with the 'off' hand. If it's one of my spinning reels, which have left-side handles, I cast with my right hand. My BC has a right-side handle, so I cast with my left.

 

It does take practice, but then I never have to switch hands between cast and retrieve.

[ratherbfishin1]

So based off of what I've read it's a plus to not have to switch hands... and there really is no bonus to switching.  Is this right?

[optimator]

6 minutes ago, ratherbfishin1 said:

So based off of what I've read it's a plus to not have to switch hands... and there really is no bonus to switching.  Is this right?

Probably no "bonus" to switching, but there are no drawbacks either. At least not for me. I've done if for so long it's just a fluid motion now. Plus I like casting with my right hand. I have more control over it. This is just what works for me. 

[MN Fisher]

^^ what he said. I just do the off-hand cast because it works for me, I'm semi-ambidextrous so it's not an issue. Others might have problems learning to cast with the 'off-hand'.

[Fishingmickey]

I'm a lefty righty. Left handed and I use a right handed bait caster. My spinning reels are right handed too, I do switch hands. I think that not having to switch hands is a big advantage. I chunk a spinner bait a lot, a really lot. I feel that it gives me the ability to start the blades on the spinner bait as soon as the bait hits the water. I can cast into a foot of water with three inches of moss algae growing off of the bottom and bring my spinner bait back clean.

Fishingmickey 

[optimator]

14 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

^^ what he said. I just do the off-hand cast because it works for me, I'm semi-ambidextrous so it's not an issue. Others might have problems learning to cast with the 'off-hand'.

I can't walk and chew gum at the same time. 

4 minutes ago, Fishingmickey said:

I'm a lefty righty. Left handed and I use a right handed bait caster. My spinning reels are right handed too, I do switch hands. I think that not having to switch hands is a big advantage. I chunk a spinner bait a lot, a really lot. I feel that it gives me the ability to start the blades on the spinner bait as soon as the bait hits the water. I can cast into a foot of water with three inches of moss algae growing off of the bottom and bring my spinner bait back clean.

Fishingmickey 

Spinnerbaits are trickier. I have to switch hands while the bait is still in the air. But it's second nature now too. Find what works best for you and go fishing! 

[Darren.]

To each his/her own. I learned to swap hands and 

never have a problem doing so. Much ado, IMHO.

Stick with what works, don't overthink it. I doubt

you will see *that* much of a wasted motion.

[sully420]

Im right handed but only fish left handed retrieve spinning and casting works for me and no hand switching.

[BankBasser]

When I first started fishing it was with spinning gear using left hand retrieve reels. I fished that way (gills,/crappie/walleye) for a loooong time before getting into bass fishing. When I bought my first baitcaster I didn't think about which side the handle was on until I first cast it and realized it was on the "wrong" side. I went with it and even bought some additional reels with right hand retrieve. I could never warm up to them and eventually sold them off and bought left hand retrieve reels. They feel much better to me.

 

I think it has more to do with what you're used to and what just feels right. There isn't a right or wrong answer.

[Fishinthefish]

I am right handed. I fish only left handed retreive reels. Holding the rod with my dominate hand made more sense and is more comfortable to me. Especially when fighting heavy hitters like King Salmon on bass rigs with 20lb braid to make the fight harder and longer.

[Jaderose]

Here we go again!  There is no right answer and it doesn't matter.  I switch.  Cast right, reel right with reel in left hand.  Both Spinning and BC.  Never once lost a fish because of that.  Happens without me thinking of it.  IF you do it a different way.  Great.  If you think I'm wrong.  Great.  Do it the way you do it or train yourself to do it differently.  I tried, DID miss fish and stopped because I don't care how someone else does it or what is "correct".  Kinda that way about most things in life, really.

[Deleted account]

Nope, not doing it. Check back with me in January.

[Blacktail 8541]

I write right handed, eat with a fork in my right hand and bat left handed, shoot left handed. Some things it does not matter witch hand I use, like casting. It did take awhile to learn to use my left thumb to control the bait caster spool. I predominantly use my right hand to reel bait casters and my left for spinning. I see this as an advantage because no matter what the orientation of the boat, it is still relativity easy for me to make a good cast.

[Tywithay]

I am right handed and use a right handed reel as well. I can cast and reel just fine with my left hand, but I've found that I have a more difficult time working the rod with my right hand, for whatever reason; even though it's my dominant hand. I have the same issue whether it's spinning or casting, and have my handles on the right side with both, so my left can control the rod. 

[redux]

Righty with lefty reels. When I cast lefty I have to switch hands and I don't notice a difference in it being "harder" or "slower". I use lefty reels because using a rod on my left hand feels terrible. Whatever works for you and gets you fishing is the "right" way to do it.

[Armtx77]

What I always found odd, was seeing somone with righty retreive on their baitcasters, but their spinning gear would be lefty retrieve.

 

My first baitcasting setup was a Abu Garcia BlackMax in left retrieve. That was in 1993 and I was 16yo. Still have both those lefty BlackMax in a box somewhere.

[Chowderhead]

12 minutes ago, Armtx77 said:

What I always found odd, was seeing somone with righty retreive on their baitcasters, but their spinning gear would be lefty retrieve.

This what I do - feels very natural and comfortable for me. I still catch fish.

[Chance_Taker4]

I'm left handed and cast left and reel right. It feels more natural to me. However when I taught my wife to fish she naturally picked up the rod with her right casted it and switched hands not even realizing she did. Now that she uses Baitcaster more comfortable I notice that she casts wit her right and switches hands and thumb control during the cast before the bait hits the water.