LH or RH?

[Frank19]

I have always used a spinning reel that cranks with my left hand and I always cast with my right hand.  I bought a cheep baitcaster last night so I can start to get the feel for it but for some reason all of the cheaper rod/reel combos that they had cranked on the right hand side.  I am new to fishing so I can really get used to cranking on either side but I always cast with my right hand.  Should I look around for a baitcasting setup that cranks with the left?  Is there any benefit to either side or is it all whichever feels better?

[Raul]

You reel in with the left get a left baitcaster.

[Frank19]

I just thought it was odd when I looked through the thread where people were posting pics of their rods and reels and I noticed a few people that had spinning reels that reeled in on the left and baitcasters that reeled in on the right.  I was just wondering if it is all personal preference or is there some benefit to having it on either side.

[roadwarrior]

Frank19,

That is the traditional set-up for both types of reels.

[Frank19]

Gotcha.  Just wasn't sure how awkward it would be to reel with one hand when using the spinning rod and the other hand when using the baitcaster.

[K_Mac]

Frank19

If you run a search of this topic you'll find it comes up often. I believe it really just comes down to personal choice. Try both and buy what works best for you.

[Frank19]

Will do...thanks.  I think personally I might end up going with a LH baitcaster.  I just don't think it is that practical to cast with your right hand and then have to switch hands to reel it back in.  

[bassclown]

i've gotten used to the traditional ways......left hand spinning and right hand b/c. i tried to use my brother in law's left hand retrieve caster and it didn't feel right. i'm sticking to casting with my right hand and reeling with it also.

[SBM-RL]

My spinning reel is left my baitcaster is right i believe thats the traditional way atfirst i thought about left on the baitcaster but then i relized the availability is less bc u cant always find the ratios u want in left retreve

[RoLo]

I am right-handed, therefore all my casting reels are left-handed.

In this manner, I am able to crank with the same hand I use when spinning,

but more importantly, I am casting and fighting fish with my dominant arm.

I have no idea how tradition got it turned around, but I will not purchase any casting reel

that is not available in a "left-hand" version.

Roger

[fish-fighting-illini]

I always seem to do things a little edifferent. I am right handed and have RH BC. On my spiining's I use right hand retrieve. I for the life of me could not figure out why R handed people people reel with their left hand! lol. I don't have any trouble battling the fish or strength. W/O the extra beef in the left arm I think my feel of the rod might be more sensitive.

I just wasn't corrdinated enough to reel with my left. I tried to make myself reel left and no go. Man I must be uncoordinated!

Like they said personal preference.

Matt

[Frank19]

I more feel like being right handed I want to have the rod in my right hand.  I feel like my right hand has more feel for the rod and cranking with the left is not a problem.  I think my next bait caster will be LH.

[Hot n Tot]

Well, I just hate to see people who are new to fishing develop bad habits and learn it the wrong way!

[SPEEDBEAD.]

It was difficult at first, but this year I taught myself to reel with a right handed baitcaster. I use this for baits that dont require me to begin reeling as soon as the bait hits the water, i.e. jerks, cranks, soft plastics.  My spinnerbaits and buzzers get thrown on the lefties.

[RoLo]

Well, I just hate to see people who are new to fishing develop bad habits and learn it the wrong way!

Independent thinking is not a bad habit.

Why should a right-handed angler, force himself to learn how to cast with his left hand,

and fight fish with his weak arm, while using his dominant arm to crank the reel handle?

Roger

[Raul]

Well, I just hate to see people who are new to fishing develop bad habits and learn it the wrong way!

Yeah, those that are purchasing lefties are doing it the wrong way.

[Guest DavidGreen]

RoLo,

Independent thinking is not a bad habit.  

Why should a right-handed angler, force himself to learn how to cast with his left hand,  

and fight fish with his weak arm, while using his dominant arm to crank the reel handle?

Exactly.....All 20 of my baitcasters are LH...

There was a book published on this topic called Powerhand Baitcasting by Rich Forhan in 1997...

Tight Lines All!!!

[bassclown]

RoLo,

Independent thinking is not a bad habit.

Why should a right-handed angler, force himself to learn how to cast with his left hand,

and fight fish with his weak arm, while using his dominant arm to crank the reel handle?

Exactly.....All 20 of my baitcasters are LH...

There was a book published on this topic called Powerhand Baitcasting by Rich Forhan in 1997...

Tight Lines All!!!

i'm right handed and prefer right hand retrieve casters. i have more control over precise movement of the reel handle when cranking with my right. and about casting with my left hand.....i don't. i cast with my right and switch hands before the lure hits the water. it's become second nature. do whatever feels comfortable.

[lubina]

RoLo,

Independent thinking is not a bad habit.

Why should a right-handed angler, force himself to learn how to cast with his left hand,

and fight fish with his weak arm, while using his dominant arm to crank the reel handle?

Exactly.....All 20 of my baitcasters are LH...

There was a book published on this topic called Powerhand Baitcasting by Rich Forhan in 1997...

Tight Lines All!!!

I'm with you....reeling in is the only thing I do best with my left hand  :-/

[Guest avid]

I typically fish with four rods, all baitcasters.   I use two righties and two lefties.  I switch back and forth between them throghout the day.  I often find myself in a situation where switching hands will give a better angle of presentation.  It also balances out stress to the wrist, elbow, and shoulder joints (not a consideration for youngins, but the older guys know what I'm talking about)

Anything that improves your versatility as an angler is a good thing.

[FishTank]

I was faced with the same decision this year.  I tried a cheap right handed set up early on and I could not get the hang of it.  I borrowed a left handed reel from a body.  Problem solved.  I was just so used to cranking with my left hand that I could not break myself of it.  

Once I figured out how to use my left handed baitcaster I was one happy camper.  Fishing has never been so much fun.

[Bassassasin12]

Most anglers start out with either spinning or spincasing equipment so naturally they start reeling with their left hand. Once switching to baitcasting it is very hard to switch and start reeling with your right hand. I am with ReelMech and RoLo my baitcasters are lefty retrive and all my future ones will be. Why change something when you don't have to. Most established reels offer a left hand retrieve reel unless the reel is just coming out.

[5bass]

I think at some point in our fishing careers pretty much everyone has used a Zebco closed face reel.They are right hand reels.That was my problem,I learned casting with that Zebco and the first baitcaster I got was the same.I never switched.When I did try to switch to lefties,I just couldnt do it and didnt take the time to learn.Now I'm trying it again (left elbow problem) and am taking only my lefty reels to the lake.It's helping,although I catch myself every now and then switching hands out of habit and trying to reel something that is not there. ;D I do know that I have better feel and am more coordinated using my dominant hand (right) to hold and control the rod.My jig fishing improved immediately.

[fish-fighting-illini]

  I got to thinking about this again a little. I've got to fess up too I felt like stirring the pot a little. I'm not positive because I never paid that close of attention. But of the big show boys ( Martin, Houston, Parker Mc Guiness etc I don't recall seeing any of them reeling baitcasters with their left hand ( they might all reel BC's left handed I'm not sure). A couple of people on here ( I think) insisted that a Rh'd person to fish "the  correct" way "should be reeling with their left had". Again I'll double check over the next couple of weeks but I don't re-call any of the show boys reeling BC's with the left hand. If the stated "proper way" is true then almost all of the successful show guys are left handers. If that is a pre-requisite to having a good fishing show then I am definately ol. Don't take this too serious just stirring things up a little on a cold Midwest night. LOL

[dlnie]

KVD cast right handed and reels right handed