Switch from right to left hand reels?

[Dan N]

Thinking about it, I can cast either way. But have always used right handed baitcaster. I reel with left hand on spinning rods. I think it makes sense to use left hand baitcaster as well. What do I do with the dozen right handlers I have? Sell ? Or just use both?

[Kirtley Howe]

Use both. You would be amazed at how you can reduce fatigue if you change up from right to left during a long day. 

[TnRiver46]

It is fun to use both, builds new skills 

[Revival]

I wish I could cast and reel both ways.  Right hand dominant, but grew up using spinning reels so my baitcasters are the same way.

 

If your RH baitcasters are old, sell them and buy some new LH baitcasters.  
 

I don’t work for the Bait Monkey,  but we are friends.

[Dan N]

I grew up reeling baitcaster with my right hand, spinning rods with left hand , but always casting right handed. Switching hands with baitcaster after cast has never been a big deal. But it just seems to make sense to reel both the same way. I did this year get pretty good at left handed casting due to a wrist injury. But casting right handed is way more natural.  I guess im just gonna get a lefty and see how I like it. 

[Lead Head]

I just move the crank to the left side of my spinning reels. It's far cheaper than buying new baitcasters. 

I cast with my left hand so this always felt natural. I'm right handed, and can cast with my right, but I hate reeling with my left. 

 

[PressuredFishing]

3 hours ago, Dan N said:

What do I do with the dozen right handlers I have? Sell ? Or just use both?

This has been brought up dozens of times, the theory was long ago casting reels handle bigger fish, expecially in SW so you want to crank with your dominant hand. I'm not that old, and as a left handed person am blessed to get right handed inherited reels from my right handed parents. It's nice to not switch hands before starting the retrieve. Use what you like more though, it really doesn't matter

[Dan Strain]

It’s not just casting… As a right handed person, I have a lot more power in my right hand to set the hook with my right arm

 

also, the small motor skills like twitching, jerking etc. it’s just much more natural in my right hand than it is in my left

[T-Billy]

5 hours ago, Dan N said:

I think it makes sense to use left hand baitcaster as well. What do I do with the dozen right handlers I have?

I think you know the answer. There are lots of baitcasters on sale right now, and all of Japan is nearly half off. Think of all the money you could save by replacing your reels with lefty's while they're on sale, and buying them will be fun. Hurry!!! Buy them now, before prices go back up. 

[Woody B]

Mrs B doesn't like to reel with her left hand so her spinning reels are set up with the handle on the right.  She casts with her right, then switches hands, just like I do with baitcasters.  

 

I guess it's just habit for me.  I CAN'T reel a spinning reel with my right hand.  I borrowed a left handed baitcaster from a friend, and I can't reel a baitcaster with my left hand.   I'd cast (right handed) switch hands, then have to switch back.   

 

Before you get a BUNCH of left handed casting reels try one.  (don't be mad monkey)

[dodgeguy]

I'm in the process of converting to all lefties. I fished all eighties for 32 years. Bought a lefty by mistake and loved it for pitching. The only thing I'm having problems with is a buzzbait sinking.

[redmeansdistortion]

Have you tried learning to cast with your left?  I drive left handed since I've owned a lot of cars with a manual over the years, and it didn't take long to pick up casting left handed.  I'm almost as accurate with my left as I am with my right, and I just started doing it a couple of months ago.  It really only took me a couple of trips to get the hang of it.

[MN Fisher]

20 minutes ago, redmeansdistortion said:

Have you tried learning to cast with your left? 

This is why I cried in happiness when spinning reels came with switchable handles...I've always cast with my left hand. While I am right-dominant, my left arm is stronger and steadier...reason why though I'm a right-handed rifle shooter, I'm a left-handed pistol shooter.

[Captain Phil]

I am right handed.  There was a time when I experimented with left hand casting reels.  At the time I was fishing mostly plastic worms.  I felt I could set the hook faster and harder if I held my rod in my right hand.  It worked well.   As I migrated away from worms to spinner and crank baits, it wasn't as much of an advantage.  When I got older, hand fatigue became an issue and I switched back to right hand reels.  These days I cast plastic worms on a spinning outfit and hold the rod with my right hand.  For everything else, I use a right hand casting reel.  I have fished with a number of left hand anglers when flipping.   Left handed anglers have an advantage in this type of fishing as they don't waste time switching hands.

[Str8BraidPowa]

I switched a few years ago due to the fact I was missing bites while tossing jigs and t rigs in inches of water during the summer. I would never switch back, land more fish and I find more deals at the local tackle shops since left handed reals don't seem to move as fast.  Its one of the only things I can do left handed.

[Tennessee Boy]

I’ve been using both for decades.   I like cranking with my right hand with crankbaits and other fast retrieve baits.  I crank with my left for all other baits.  

[A-Jay]

I prefer Right handed casting reels,

Left handed spinning reels.

I cast two-handed.

Been that way for a long time in both salt & sweet water applications. 

When it comes to hook sets, I believe I am close to equally as 'strong' on either side. 

All of that just feels very natural to me and seems to happen that way.

Tried a left handed casting reel a while back.

Just felt really awkward and made me 'think' about what I was doing way too much.

When the ultimate goal is putting big fish in the net.

I'm doing OK and never realized any 'advantage' to The Switch.

So I canned the idea.

Still have the reel.

Not sure why. 

A-Jay

 

 

[Catt]

12 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

I'm doing OK and never realized any 'advantage' to The Switch.

So I canned the idea.

Still have the reel.

Not sure why

 

Did the exact same thing!

 

My left handed reel has been collecting dust in a closet since the mid 80s.

 

When I switch hands the lure is still in the air so there is no wasted time.

[Mike L]

1 hour ago, Catt said:

 

Did the exact same thing!

 

My left handed reel has been collecting dust in a closet since the mid 80s.

 

When I switch hands the lure is still in the air so there is no wasted time.

Ditto, same for me. 
 

Before I got rid of all my spinning outfits (kept the better ones just for the kids) 

they were all lefty. 

For casting I always throw and reel right and won’t even consider going left, as I see no reason or even the slightest advantage to it. 
Changing hands isn’t even a thought. 
As soon as the lure fly’s, I’m standing there waiting and ready to go before the lure hits the water. 
 

However, most times once the first pitch is made I just leave the rod in my left and finish the session pitching left which is only a pendulum swing controlled by the thumb. 
It takes practice but I’ve been pitching left and reeling right for so long it’s second nature. 
 

 

 

 

 

Mike
 

[NavyToad]

My first baitcaster was right handed. Having used only spinning gear up to that point, switching hands and cranking with my right hand was just too awkward. I sold that reel and I’ve used left handed ever since. I don’t think it matters which hand you use, as long as you like it. For me, I couldn’t overcome 30 years of using spinning reels.

[Darth-Baiter]

i like cranking with my right hand.  and having my right hand free to grab the fish is easier.  all the other things, netting, pliers etc.  i can use a lefty reel, but i always turn the drag the wrong way.  

 

i can cast with either hand, so when i get tired i do swap.  all my punching and pitching is with my left hand, so a right reel is the correct orientation for me. 

[contium]

4 hours ago, Catt said:

When I switch hands the lure is still in the air so there is no wasted time.

 

Same here.

 

Hand position when casting and retrieving is different. You don't palm a reel when casting. Everyone I see who claims a left handed reel is more efficient switches hand position after the cast. I fail to see how that is more efficient. I can and often do pitch left handed but I'm palming the reel during the pitch.

[Catt]

If you're changing because you think there's an advantage you will be disappoint.

 

In my opinion it should be about comfort. The more comfortable you are, the more confident you will be, the more confident you are, the more efficient you will be.

[JMac603]

I vote you stay right handed so the lefties are more in stock when I want to go buy em. ??

[FrnkNsteen]

I use both, but I've got far more lefty reels than right.

 

Basically, anything I am pitching, casting and need accuracy or to react quick, or when working the bait, like a popper, spook, jig or T-rig, I typically use a lefty.

 

If it's a cast & retrieve technique like a spinnerbait, buzzbait, crankbait, etc,... I can use either. For instance, my deep cranking rods have right handed Revo Winches on them that I picked up for $79 a piece when Academy was clearing them out.

 

I am more accurate casting with my right and feel more comfortable working the bait with my right. If I am fan casting a weed edge or creekbed with a crank or spinnerbait, I can do that with either left or right so either works.

 

The big bonus is I rarely turn down a good deal because its the wrong handed reel. I can usually use it for something! ? That's my excuse anyway!! ?