RH vs. LH

[Rayraff]

Alright so I'm right handed but I'm thinking about switching to a left handed bait cast so I don't have to switch hands after I cast.  Has anyone gone through the switch and is it worth it?

[RoLo]

I'm right-handed as well, and if a casting reel isn't available in a left-hand version, I'll delete it from the list of candidates.

A right arm is a terrible thing to waste, taking up slack line :

Roger

[Ballpark Frank]

I just recently switched to LH cranking due to nerve and muscle issues with my left hand. The only problem I have experienced is trying to remember not to swap the rod to my left hand after the cast , which with a left hand crank can hurt a little. > I have only been using LH crank for a couple of weeks, but other than the above, I have had no problems. I am actually finding that I can work a worm/lizard/craw, better with the right arm.

[cockroach]

Go with whatever suits you!

Having said that, I am right handed, and I only use left hand wind reels.

I honestly think that's the logical way round, to avoid as you say, constantly changing the rod from one hand to other every cast, and if some muscle is needed with a big fish on, you'll want to be holding the rod with your strong hand.

I think most right handers only use right hand wind baitcasters because until recently that was all you could get.

Most right handers use left hand wind spinning reels without even thinking about it.

If you go back in history pre baitcasters, you had single action reels (similar to fly reels) fitted below the rod, left hand wind. When these reels improved, and you became able to cast direct from the reel, someone presumably had the bright idea that if you fitted it on top of the rod you could control the spool with your thumb, so instead of re-engineering it to become left hand wind above the rod, they just moved it round & it became right hand wind.

Now you've got a pretty good choice of left hand wind reels, you've no reason to suffer poor ergonomics any more.

Make the change, it's worth it!

[rokibass]

I also use a left handed baitcaster. ;D Growing up and useing spinning reels for years reeling with my left hand it only seemed natural to get a left handed baicaster. I used 2 now and wouln't even use a right handed one if given to me. Use what your comfortable with.

Rokibass

[jasone]

Let me tell you...it is worth it.  Your reaction time, especially when flipping and throwing buzzbaits will amaze you once you switch.

Go for it!

J

[Alpster]

I hesitate to offer my opinion here. I am hopelessly right handed and have used baitcasters for going on 40 years. The changing hands thing has NEVER been an issue with me. I have never missed a hookset or had ANY OTHER problems as a result of using a reel with the crank on the right side. I actually do not change hands, and never have. I cast with both hands and the rod ends up in my left hand at the end of the cast as my right hand moves to the crank handle. Even if you change to the left, if you palm the reel on the retrieve, you MUST shift the rod & reel in your hand AFTER the cast to do it. It doesn't matter which hand you cast or retrieve with.

No matter which side you turn the crank on, the only way to NOT shift the rod around in your hands is to make the entire cast and retrieve process with you index finger wrapped around the trigger seat and your whole hand gripping the cork of the handle remaining completely behind the reel. I have never seen anyone fish this way.

The only legitimate argument for cranking with the left hand is Roger's opinion. Stronger arm to cast, control rod and set hooks is understandable. Otherwise, there is no advantage to handles on the other side except  what makes you happy.  8-)

[Raul]

I hesitate to offer my opinion here. I am hopelessly right handed and have used baitcasters for going on 40 years. The changing hands thing has NEVER been an issue with me. I have never missed a hookset or had ANY OTHER problems as a result of using a reel with the crank on the right side. I actually do not change hands, and never have. I cast with both hands and the rod ends up in my left hand at the end of the cast as my right hand moves to the crank handle. Even if you change to the left, if you palm the reel on the retrieve, you MUST shift the rod & reel in your hand AFTER the cast to do it. It doesn't matter which hand you cast or retrieve with

Haven 't been doing it as long as Ronnie, but a good couple of decades and a little more is what I 've got ( Ronnie is older than me ya know  , he was ketchin them big momma basses when I was in diapers ), besides, back then during the age of the dinosaurs when we had to dodge velociratpors in order to get to the lake and catch some armored feesh baitcasters were only manufactured in RH versions and you could choose between RH and RH.

No matter which side you turn the crank on, the only way to NOT shift the rod around in your hands is to make the entire cast and retrieve process with you index finger wrapped around the trigger seat and your whole hand gripping the cork of the handle remaining completely behind the reel. I have never seen anyone fish this way.

Besides that, if you do so, not palming the rod and reel and maintain the handle in your hand just like Ronnie mentioned, then you will have absolutely no control of the rod rotation while under pressure. So wether you like it or not you still gotta move the hand forward after the cast to palm the rod and reel, for us old farts that had to learn to shift hands cuz we had no LH BCS back then it takes us the same ammount of time to shift hands that it takes you to move forward the hand to palm rod and reel.

The only legitimate argument for cranking with the left hand is Roger's opinion. Stronger arm to cast, control rod and set hooks is understandable.

I agree completely on Roger 's opinion

Otherwise, there is no advantage to handles on the other side except what makes you happy. 8-)

Right on !, this is like learning shift gears on a manual transmission vehicle, once you have developed the coordination which is only achieved by practice there 's no difference between either, as a matter of fact, it becomes automatic and you aren 't even aware you are switching hands.

[Mike-in-WV]

X2 I also cast with two hands so there is really no switching. Just slide my left hand up and palm the reel after the cast. Feels perfectly natural. It's all just a matter of preference but keep in mind that you won't see very many right handed pros with a left handed bait caster. Some people say they want to use a bait caster just like there spinning reels and that's fine but they are two different critters all together and they are not held the same or balanced the same.   Mike

I hesitate to offer my opinion here. I am hopelessly right handed and have used bait casters for going on 40 years. The changing hands thing has NEVER been an issue with me. I have never missed a hookset or had ANY OTHER problems as a result of using a reel with the crank on the right side. I actually do not change hands, and never have. I cast with both hands and the rod ends up in my left hand at the end of the cast as my right hand moves to the crank handle. Even if you change to the left, if you palm the reel on the retrieve, you MUST shift the rod & reel in your hand AFTER the cast to do it. It doesn't matter which hand you cast or retrieve with.

No matter which side you turn the crank on, the only way to NOT shift the rod around in your hands is to make the entire cast and retrieve process with you index finger wrapped around the trigger seat and your whole hand gripping the cork of the handle remaining completely behind the reel. I have never seen anyone fish this way.

The only legitimate argument for cranking with the left hand is Roger's opinion. Stronger arm to cast, control rod and set hooks is understandable. Otherwise, there is no advantage to handles on the other side except what makes you happy. 8-)

[Rayraff]

No matter which side you turn the crank on, the only way to NOT shift the rod around in your hands is to make the entire cast and retrieve process with you index finger wrapped around the trigger seat and your whole hand gripping the cork of the handle remaining completely behind the reel. I have never seen anyone fish this way.

I fish a short rod w/ a pistol grip handle.  My dad used to make all of his tournament rods this way so I grew up with the pistol grip.  If I'm reading your post right the short rod and the pistol grip allows you to fish like that plus I think its easier to handle/pitch/flip with them

[islandbass]

There is a wealth of posts, some recent on this very subject. Give the search function a workout to find them.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

This isn't a "one versus the other" type scenario, it's pretty basic.  Hold the rod with the hand you write with.  If you learned yrs ago, when there were no LH baitcasters and you find yourself switching hands, then you have to ask yourself one thing,..."Is it worth some time being uncomfortable to correct a bad a habit or do I keep giving the fish a few extra seconds while I switch hands and stick with what I was conditioned into doing?"

Only you can answer that, it's not a one versus the other question

[Mike-in-WV]

"I hesitate to offer my opinion here. I am hopelessly right handed and have used bait casters for going on 40 years. The changing hands thing has NEVER been an issue with me. I have never missed a hookset or had ANY OTHER problems as a result of using a reel with the crank on the right side. I actually do not change hands, and never have. I cast with both hands and the rod ends up in my left hand at the end of the cast as my right hand moves to the crank handle. Even if you change to the left, if you palm the reel on the retrieve, you MUST shift the rod & reel in your hand AFTER the cast to do it. It doesn't matter which hand you cast or retrieve with"

Casting with my left hand and while palming the reel and using my left  thumb on the spool and my right hand at the bottom of the handle is not a problem for. There is no shifting after the cast because I'm still palming the reel and cranking with my right hand. For some reason years ago I toyed with this method for about 20 cast and I started to really like it and it became easier and easier the more I practiced. Most of the time I still cast with my right hand on the spool and my left at the lower end of the handle but the only shift I have to do is slide my left hand up to palm the reel . It feels so natural and happens so quick that I don't even realize I'm doing it  I like the feel of palming the reel and rod with my left hand and cranking with my right. If you ever really watch the pros they cast so many different ways and make it look so easy and natural that's it's not even funny.   Mike

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

"I hesitate to offer my opinion here. I am hopelessly right handed and have used bait casters for going on 40 years. The changing hands thing has NEVER been an issue with me. I have never missed a hookset or had ANY OTHER problems as a result of using a reel with the crank on the right side. I actually do not change hands, and never have. I cast with both hands and the rod ends up in my left hand at the end of the cast as my right hand moves to the crank handle. Even if you change to the left, if you palm the reel on the retrieve, you MUST shift the rod & reel in your hand AFTER the cast to do it. It doesn't matter which hand you cast or retrieve with"

Casting with my left hand and while palming the reel and using my left  thumb on the spool and my right hand at the bottom of the handle is not a problem for. There is no shifting after the cast because I'm still palming the reel and cranking with my right hand. For some reason years ago I toyed with this method for about 20 cast and I started to really like it and it became easier and easier the more I practiced. Most of the time I still cast with my right hand on the spool and my left at the lower end of the handle but the only shift I have to do is slide my left hand up to palm the reel . It feels so natural and happens so quick that I don't even realize I'm doing it  I like the feel of palming the reel and rod with my left hand and cranking with my right. If you ever really watch the pros they cast so many different ways and make it look so easy and natural that's it's not even funny.   Mike

As long as you realize that it is a method of "compensation".  You are compensating for what was available when you learned.  Your comfort level makes it so you answer the above question with I posed,...."yes, it's worth it"

But to say you've never lost a fish because of it, isn't something you could ever know, unless you've never, ever lost a fish on the set which is highly against the odds, righty OR lefty.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

"I hesitate to offer my opinion here. I am hopelessly right handed and have used bait casters for going on 40 years. The changing hands thing has NEVER been an issue with me. I have never missed a hookset or had ANY OTHER problems as a result of using a reel with the crank on the right side. I actually do not change hands, and never have. I cast with both hands and the rod ends up in my left hand at the end of the cast as my right hand moves to the crank handle. Even if you change to the left, if you palm the reel on the retrieve, you MUST shift the rod & reel in your hand AFTER the cast to do it. It doesn't matter which hand you cast or retrieve with"

Casting with my left hand and while palming the reel and using my left  thumb on the spool and my right hand at the bottom of the handle is not a problem for. There is no shifting after the cast because I'm still palming the reel and cranking with my right hand. For some reason years ago I toyed with this method for about 20 cast and I started to really like it and it became easier and easier the more I practiced. Most of the time I still cast with my right hand on the spool and my left at the lower end of the handle but the only shift I have to do is slide my left hand up to palm the reel . It feels so natural and happens so quick that I don't even realize I'm doing it  I like the feel of palming the reel and rod with my left hand and cranking with my right. If you ever really watch the pros they cast so many different ways and make it look so easy and natural that's it's not even funny.   Mike

Can you explain this part???  My reel NEVER leaves my right hand.  I also cast 2 handed.  My right hand stays right where it is, thumb on the spool, reel in palm, fingers wrapped below.

[Mike-in-WV]

"Can you explain this part???  My reel NEVER leaves my right hand.  I also cast 2 handed.  My right hand stays right where it is, thumb on the spool, reel in palm, fingers wrapped below."

I' fail to understand what your asking "ME" to explain. I never made that statement.

All I was trying to point out was that if your good with a bait casting reel you can cast just about any way you want to and it will feel right.

As for setting a hook with my left hand palming the reel I never found that to be a problem and apparently neither has many other people in cluding the pros. Apparently you find it hard to believe that anyone who is right handed can use there left hand well enough to fish right with it.

You seem to find this to be a problem so you prefer to use a left handed bait casting reel and that's great! We all need to use what we are comfortable using. That's why they make them in right or left hand retrieve now. Use what you like and enjoy it fishing, that's what it's all about,   Mike

[thetr20one]

I am as left handed as it gets. I hold the rod and set the hook with my right and crank with my left. I feel very awkward the other way around.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

"Can you explain this part???  My reel NEVER leaves my right hand.  I also cast 2 handed.  My right hand stays right where it is, thumb on the spool, reel in palm, fingers wrapped below."

I' fail to understand what your asking "ME" to explain. I never made that statement.

All I was trying to point out was that if your good with a bait casting reel you can cast just about any way you want to and it will feel right.

As for setting a hook with my left hand palming the reel I never found that to be a problem and apparently neither has many other people in cluding the pros. Apparently you find it hard to believe that anyone who is right handed can use there left hand well enough to fish right with it.

You seem to find this to be a problem so you prefer to use a left handed bait casting reel and that's great! We all need to use what we are comfortable using. That's why they make them in right or left hand retrieve now. Use what you like and enjoy it fishing, that's what it's all about,   Mike

No, evidently, you are taking a conversation about reeling personal.

The above is your quote, if you were quoting someone else, it didn't "quote" them, just you, in your reply.  

But more to the point, don't take it personal, whatever way is best for you is the right way.  

As for the pro's doing it too, yes they do, they were also conditioned when there wasn't a choice.  Again, it obviously doesn't make anyone less of a fisherman,...it's a personal preference.

[Mike-in-WV]

"Can you explain this part??? My reel NEVER leaves my right hand. I also cast 2 handed. My right hand stays right where it is, thumb on the spool, reel in palm, fingers wrapped below."

I' fail to understand what your asking "ME" to explain. I never made that statement.

All I was trying to point out was that if your good with a bait casting reel you can cast just about any way you want to and it will feel right.

As for setting a hook with my left hand palming the reel I never found that to be a problem and apparently neither has many other people in cluding the pros. Apparently you find it hard to believe that anyone who is right handed can use there left hand well enough to fish right with it.

You seem to find this to be a problem so you prefer to use a left handed bait casting reel and that's great! We all need to use what we are comfortable using. That's why they make them in right or left hand retrieve now. Use what you like and enjoy it fishing, that's what it's all about, Mike

No, evidently, you are taking a conversation about reeling personal.

The above is your quote, if you were quoting someone else, it didn't "quote" them, just you, in your reply.

But more to the point, don't take it personal, whatever way is best for you is the right way.

As for the pro's doing it too, yes they do, they were also conditioned when there wasn't a choice. Again, it obviously doesn't make anyone less of a fisherman,...it's a personal preference.

You have totally lost me in this conversation.  ;D I'm out of here, have a good one and good luck finding that monster bass, Mike