Left hand versus right had

[zo6fisherman]

Ok well here is some background then i will ask my question.  I have typically used spinning reels and just recently got into the baitcaster crowd.  Well i bought a cheap walmart version and have got reasonably competent. And now it is time to break down and buy a high quality reel. I am looking at a shimano 50mg/51mg.  I am right handed but with all of my spinning reels i have always reeled with my left hand.  The baitcaster i have now is a right hand model but it just feels backwards.  Don't get me wrong i can use it but my question is should i go with my gut and get the left hand model or just stick with the right hand.  Sorry for the novel.

[Alpster]

WELCOME to the board! Do a search for "left hand" and you will have more reading than you can stand. LOL

Here are a couple of the recent debates on this controversial issue. ENJOY!

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1208602951

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=12085792730

Glad to have you here.

Ronnie

[zo6fisherman]

Thanks ronnie some intresting reads.  I play guitar so my left hand is more dexterious maybe not as cordinated as far as writing etc.  So i beleive i am going to order that new reel in a left hand model.  thanks.

[Davis]

I'm the same as you in a way. Just started using baitcasters for the first time this year. Bought three citicas in the right handed models. People were warning me that it was going to be tough to train my hands coming from a left handed spinning user. Actually I didn't have any troubles and I switch back and forth a lot during a day of fishing and I don't have any issues. But if it feels weird to you with the walmart one than the more expensive one will still feel the same. Go to a sporting goods store and mess around with the left handed one yourself to see if it feels better.

[roadwarrior]

Here is another lengthy discussion:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1187794805/10

Be sure to read the post from George Welcome. He wrote a short, specific response to the question on this thread.

8-)

[islandbass]

Ok well here is some background then i will ask my question. I have typically used spinning reels and just recently got into the baitcaster crowd. Well i bought a cheap walmart version and have got reasonably competent. And now it is time to break down and buy a high quality reel. I am looking at a shimano 50mg/51mg. I am right handed but with all of my spinning reels i have always reeled with my left hand. The baitcaster i have now is a right hand model but it just feels backwards. Don't get me wrong i can use it but my question is should i go with my gut and get the left hand model or just stick with the right hand. Sorry for the novel.

Heck yes, go left handed. I went through the same thing myself.  I highly recommend reading through the linked items. This topic comes up from time to time and there is a wealth of information in them.

Don't be ashamed to be a part of the lefty club. ;D Yeah, I'm a lefty but not in politics.  ;D

[zo6fisherman]

well i just ordered my shimana 51mg left hand and a 7'2" ft m carrot stix and will see how they work.

[islandbass]

well i just ordered my shimana 51mg left hand and a 7'2" ft m carrot stix and will see how they work.

Wow!! Now if the LH reel doesn't work out for you, I'll be more than happy to take the reel off your hands.

[zo6fisherman]

well i just ordered my shimana 51mg left hand and a 7'2" ft m carrot stix and will see how they work.

Wow!! Now if the LH reel doesn't work out for you, I'll be more than happy to take the reel off your hands.

;D  I am pretty confident that it will work and feel more natural then a right hand configuration.  So i wouldn't get your hopes up to high.  I just don't want the same experience that i had with other bc's.  I bought a el cheapo and i would backlash it every other cast same day went and bought a more expensive el cheapo and it was night and day.  So i figure everyone likes the 50 mg so i will make sure i got top notch gear that way if it doesn't work then i can only blame myself.

[xboxfisherman]

I own 2 right and 2 left handed baitcasters. It's unusual at first but now I'm trying to sell the right handed ones to my buddy.

[von]

Use which ever is most comfortable for you.  You're the one using it.

I'm right handed, tried out a left handed bc, it wasn't bad.  Switched over to right hand bc...a little awkward at first but once I got use to it, it feels so much better!  That's just me.   It took me a little while to train my left arm to twitch baits though.  My buddies sure do have jokes about me and my left arm.   ;D

[LAO162]

Last year I got an old green curado 200B as my introduction into baitcasting.  I did ok with it, but was always distracted by shifting hands and reeling with my right hand.  I was all set to go back to purely spinning outfits.  Well, I tried baitcasting once more this season, but with a LH Revo S.  Now, I just concentrate on my technique (or lack thereof ), and I'm not distracted by holding the rod in the wrong hand.  

Congratulations on the new reel.  I think you'll enjoy it.  Cheers!

[Red]

i am a righty, i am basically retarded with my left hand, the only two things i can do half way good with my left hand is reel a reel and cut with a skil saw.  so i use left handed baitcasters, that way my rod is controlled by my good hand and my stupid left hand only has to turn the handle.  i first tried a baitcaster years ago in high school, it was a righty, i just couldnt get it, i gave up, never touched one again until i moved to minnesota and got a lefty C3...i wont buy a righty ever again.

Cliff

[Fishin Phil]

Thanks ronnie some intresting reads.  I play guitar so my left hand is more dexterious maybe not as cordinated as far as writing etc.  So i beleive i am going to order that new reel in a left hand model.  thanks.

You just answered your own question. I play guitar too and attempting to play a lefty guitar would result in utter failure.  Which one is right or better doesn't even exist in guitar circles. Why it even exists in fishing is beyond me.

Go to the store and have some fun. See which feels more natural to you, and there ya go. If someone says the handle is on the wrong side, tell em the fish cant tell the difference.

[wagn]

I do everything left handed and always thought it was a pain, most things are made for righty's. But when i started baitcasting i was so happy. All of your so called right handed reels work for me just fine, no need to switch hands at all

[FD.]

exactly wagn....if there is a lot of pitching involved in your fishing then I would say get a RH model and learn to use it.  I have RH baitcasters and had a difficult time learning to pitch effectively with my left hand.  The upside is that now I can pitch with either hand but I choose to pitch with my left so I don't have to switch hands on the retrieve.