Do you cast and retrieve with the same hand?

[snapshotmd]

When I bought my 1st baitcaster I figured I had to learn how to cast with my LH since the crank was on the right side. After I mastered the cast, I noticed that a lot of people out there use their cranking hand and switch right after the cast. I'm wondering if I'm in the minority or not. It almost makes more sense to switch, keeping the same casting hand if you fish with spinning gear.

[J Francho]

Depends on the cast, but mostly a right handed cast.  I have both LH and RH retrieve casting reels.  ALL my spinning is LH retrieve.

[The Rooster]

My spinners are set up for right handed retrieve and I cast almost exclusively with my left hand when it comes to a spinning rod/reel.

My baitcasters are also right handed retrieve but I mostly cast right handed with them and then switch over so that the reel rests in the palm of my left hand while I reel with my right. Occasionally I'll cast left handed though if it's a bait that I want to come alive the instant it hits water, such as a buzzbait. That way I can engage the crank immediately so the bait doesn't have time to sink. No lost time switching hands. The reel is not palmed when I do this though, I have to remain holding onto the rear grip with one finger on the trigger. Seems to work though.

I have tried reeling with my left hand and it just doesn't feel natural at all. I can cast with either hand using either style of reel but to retrieve it in I absolutely must use my right hand.

[Raul]

Yup, cast righty & crank righty.

[islandbass]

It should not matter how other people fish. You should never ever let that bother you or give you second thoughts. What should matter is what will feel comfortable to you. Chances are, if it isn't too ingrained in you yet, if you are right hand dominant, you just might find reels with LH handles more comfortable but even that isn't certain.

But if you have to know, I cast right, retrieve left is my primary preference but I can comfortably fish either way.

[adclem]

Cast right and retrieve left, on spinning and BCs.  Anything else is just not comfortable to me.

Later,

[fish-fighting-illini]

 I throw right and bat right on both. I tried the left hand crank and its not going to happen.

 I'll check next time out but somehow I cast right or with both and I think I use my right hand to feather the line to stop the lure where I want it to go.

 Not quite sure how I do this but it works for me.

FFI - AKA Matt Crum

[tennwalkinghorse]

Cast right and retrieve left, on spinning and BCs. Anything else is just not comfortable to me.

Later,

Thats what I like all so

[Jake.]

I'm left handed, so I cast left and retrieve right.

[.RM.]

RH cast, LH retrieve!  

[Bassboss]

With casting and spinning, I cast with my right hand and reel with my left!

[Flywatersmallie]

on BC I cast left and retrieve right. Spinner, I cast left, retrieve left

[lubina]

RH cast, LH retrieve!

Same.

Spinning, baitcaster, fly gear....no difference.

[CookieMonst3r]

Cast right, crank right.

[NBR]

When baitcasting I palm the reel during the retrieve so I switch hands, some times before the lure hits the water -think buzz baits. So I cast right and retrieve right. If I had left hand baitcaster I'd still need to move my hand to palm the reel.

With spinning tackle I don't palm the reel so I cast right and retrieve left.

[daviscw]

Cast right, crank right.

X2 Same here...

[bigfruits]

i switch hands with the BC but not with spinning

[JL Zingg]

I cast left and retrieve with my right hand.  I'm right handed, and thought that it would be hard to learn to cast lefty, but once I got used to it, found that it wasn't that bad after all.  It makes more sense to me to retrieve with the non-casting hand, instead of having to switch hands after the cast.  

[kikstand454]

both.

i have always cast spinning with my right hand and reel with my left. when i got my first bc... i figured itd be more comfortable and sensable to stay that way. so i got a lh bc. i have now regulated the left hand reel to fishing plastics and bottom rigs and rh ones for retrieving lures. the thought process behind this being i have the reel already in my hand and ready to be engaged if a get a bite on the fall. not as important (to me) for spinnerbaits or cranks.

[Big Bait Fishing]

With casting and spinning, I cast with my right hand and reel with my left!

same here , i guess i got it from using my spinning rod with left-hand retrieve . i can right-hand retrieve on a bc also but im way more comfortable with the left-hand retrieve ....  

[Sam]

Baitcasters - Cast Right - Retrieve Right

Spinning Reels - Cast Right - Retrieve Left

[fishfordollars]

Left hand cast and right hand retrieve. Never have to swap hands. I am left handed though.

[mase088]

Baitcasters - Cast Right - Retrieve Right

Spinning Reels - Cast Right - Retrieve Left

Same here! When I first got a baitcaster though, I tried to cast lefty, quickly realized I shouldn't.