Why don't more pro's use left hand baitcasters?

[tkoglin]

I've been watching a lot of Bass fishing DVD's lately and the one thing I notice that most of the pro's use a RH baitcaster but they have to switch hands after casting to retrieve.  

Why don't they just use a LH baitcaster?  :

Is there something I'm missing? With all the casts these guys make, it would seem to me that switching hands after every cast would get old.

[Guest muddy]

BECAUSE THEY ARE RIGHT HANDED, Geezz even I can answer that

[tkoglin]

so you mean to tell me that they would rather switch hands after every cast instead of learning to turn a handle with their left hand?   :

[NJAngler609]

Im right handed and use a left handed retrieve...i feel i have more control of the pole thats why i like the left hand retrieve...plus thats how i've fished my whole life...Its just what you prefer

[islandbass]

so you mean to tell me that they would rather switch hands after every cast instead of learning to turn a handle with their left hand? :

It might be moreso that they've already reprogrammed their muscles to do so.  Back when they started, a lh reel was not very common to find. You had to use the rh reels or none at all.

Today, many companies make both so there are now more options.  The best thing to do is the learn to fish both ways.  That's what I did, but my preference will always be LH reels.  

[.dsaavedra.]

its such a small act, switching hands, that you barely even notice it. its just natural. i use rh reels and it just feels natural to me. i have used lh reels and they just feel weird. i feel like i should be palming the reel with my left hand and it feels very unnatural palming with my right hand.

plus, i cast two handed, over my right shoulder 90% of the time, with my right hand just below the reel and my left hand just above the butt (gives me more control on the cast). so i dont really have to "switch hands" all i do is just bring my left hand up the rod handle and palm the reel, then bring my right hand up and begin my retrieve.

[Irrelevant]

I've been watching a lot of Bass fishing DVD's lately and the one thing I notice that most of the pro's use a RH baitcaster but they have to switch hands after casting to retrieve.  

Why don't they just use a LH baitcaster?  :

Is there something I'm missing? With all the casts these guys make, it would seem to me that switching hands after every cast would get old.

When I was researching reels when I bought my first baitcaster a few weeks ago, I wondered the same exact thing.  I was really torn between getting a reel with a left-handed retrieve vs. right-handed retrieve for this very reason.  I ended up getting a RH but I kind of wonder if I should've gotten LH instead now that I've used it for a bit.  

I never had this problem with spinning reels because you can just swap the handles.

With my spinning reels, I use my left hand to retrieve and my right hand to cast.  With a baitcasting reel, I use both my right hand to reel and cast so I have to do the hand-switching dance I'm not really used to yet.  I have a buddy who uses his right hand to cast and retrieve with both reels and I can't wrap my head around doing that with a spinning reel.  He has to swap handles out when he uses mine and vice versa.

[KU_Bassmaster.]

so you mean to tell me that they would rather switch hands after every cast instead of learning to turn a handle with their left hand? :

Yes

[Hooked_On_Bass]

With my spinning reels, I use my left hand to retrieve and my right hand to cast. With a baitcasting reel, I use both my right hand to reel and cast so I have to do the hand-switching dance I'm not really used to yet.

Irrelevant, if you cast with your right hand and reel with your left using a spinning reel, why would you not do the same thing with a baitcaster :-?? Myself, I cast with my right hand and retrieve with my left for both baitcasters and spinning.

Just curious. Maybe I'm weird ;D.

[d.hark]

Theres about a half dozen threads about this same topic. A few of the older pros are probably just used to doing it cause they didnt have left hand baitcasteres when they started. For me its just a feel thing. I reel lefty for spinning gear and righty for baitcasters. Cast both righty.  The lefty baitcaster just doesnt feel right to me I think it has to do with the tighter rotation of baitcasters retreive. The switch thing is no problem and I dont even notice it anymore. Plus why not do both things with your dominate hand thats just seems normal to me. There is no right or wrong just do whatever feels better to you

[Irrelevant]

With my spinning reels, I use my left hand to retrieve and my right hand to cast.  With a baitcasting reel, I use both my right hand to reel and cast so I have to do the hand-switching dance I'm not really used to yet.

Irrelevant, if you cast with your right hand and reel with your left using a spinning reel, why would you not do the same thing with a baitcaster :-?? Myself, I cast with my right hand and retrieve with my left for both baitcasters and spinning.

Just curious. Maybe I'm weird ;D.

To be honest, it was my first baitcasting reel I had for a while and I ordered it online.  I saw all the right-handed "pros"  : and my buddies using RH reels so I figured I'd go with it.  I'm semi-ambidextrous (is that even possible?) and  I had tried using a baitcaster before with RH retrieve and I actually naturally cast with my left hand while using it so I figured I'd be good either way.  I'm slowly getting used to it; it's no big deal but I think my next reel will be LH.

Maybe I just cast with whatever hand is easier for me to pick out backlashes with.  

[armesjr]

I have a right handed baitcaster, and do the hand switch thing.  Then with my spinning rod, i cast with my right and reel with my left.  I have tried using a left handed baitcaster, and reeling with my right hand with my spinning reel and it just feels weird.  Like someone else said, i think it is all just what you used first, is what your most comfortable with.  

[detroit1]

Back when i started fishing, i don't think you had a choice! ;D ;D  I cast both handed and retrieve both handed, AT THE SAME TIME!!!  winter is starting to get to me man...8 more weeks to go

[Hooked_On_Bass]

Ahhhhhhh I see where your coming from Irrelevant ;D.

[flechero]

LH retrieve reels were not available when most of the older pros started out.  I couldn't say when they started to become easy to find but I never noticed them until sometime in the early 90's.  

[TheBeast]

Irrelevant, if you cast with your right hand and reel with your left using a spinning reel, why would you not do the same thing with a baitcaster ? Myself, I cast with my right hand and retrieve with my left for both baitcasters and spinning.

Just curious. Maybe I'm weird .

x2

I cast right handed and like to palm the reel while casting and the handle on the right just gets in the way.

[Mike-in-WV]

I'm right handed and about to try bait casting reels again after staying away from the bird nest makers for years. It was always strange feeling to me to fight a fish with the Pole in my left hand and reeling him in with my right. It just ain't natural! :-/ But I will be using a right handed bait caster because it was a gift from a lady who lost her husband to cancer and she found it on a shelf in the garage still in the box,Mike

[NBR]

Many palm the reel in their left hand during the retrieve and with a fish on. It is easier to move the rig from your right hand to palming the reel in your left if you cast and crank right.

Think about it cast right, move rig to left hand and palm reel with right hand, and begin to crank. Admitted you can cast with a palmed reel and most do at times but I don't think it is very efficient.

[Jake P]

I dont think its looked at as having to switch hands after every cast. Its a habit and a part of fishing, you make a cast you switch hands and reel in. Its not a big deal if you've been doing it for years and years.

[dodgeguy]

With my spinning reels, I use my left hand to retrieve and my right hand to cast. With a baitcasting reel, I use both my right hand to reel and cast so I have to do the hand-switching dance I'm not really used to yet.

Irrelevant, if you cast with your right hand and reel with your left using a spinning reel, why would you not do the same thing with a baitcaster :-?? Myself, I cast with my right hand and retrieve with my left for both baitcasters and spinning.

Just curious. Maybe I'm weird ;D.

because when i started fishing spinning reels all had the handle on the left and baitcaster had it on the right.the spinning reel handle is larger and sits under the rod and the baitcaster handle is smaller and sits over the rod.the end result is when i try to reel a left handed baitcaster it feels totally uncordinated.switching hands is easy and you don't even think about it.

[Ozarker]

I have small hands and do not cast very well while palming the reel.  If you use a left handed reel, cast with your right hand and do NOT palm the reel while casting you are in a worse situation because the hand you use to palm the reel is holding the handle of the rod.  VERY AKWARD.

[fooman]

I use both,took some time getting use to the lefty but it's all the same now..You can find some cheap lefty's on ebay

[bugman]

Many palm the reel in their left hand during the retrieve and with a fish on. It is easier to move the rig from your right hand to palming the reel in your left if you cast and crank right.

Think about it cast right, move rig to left hand and palm reel with right hand, and begin to crank. Admitted you can cast with a palmed reel and most do at times but I don't think it is very efficient.

I agree, switching hands that many times would be defeat the purpose of using a left hand reel. I thought using a LH reel would be good for flipping & pitching but did not take into account palming the reel. The only time a LH reel might come in handy is with a short pistol grip rod because I tend not to palm the reel with that type of handle.