Right or Left Handed Reels

[SoFlaBassAddict]

So as I was out fishing earlier today using some of my spinning tackle, I realized once again just how comfortable it seems in my hands. Now obviously thats because I've used spinning tackle the majority of my life. But it got me to thinking, I can sure twitch a rod and put more action into a lure using my right arm to hold the rod than I can with my left hand holding it..

So if you were me, would you pick up a left handed retrieve baitcaster or not? For those of you who do use spinning gear regularly, which do you prefer using? I'm just curious if it'd be worth the trip over to BPS for me to swap out a reel that I haven't opened up yet or not.

Edited to add:  I am right hand/eye dominate although slightly ambidextrous.

[SmokeRise1]

I've always used spinning left hand retrieve gear also until I made the swith to baitcasters last year. I have both left and right hand biatcasters and tend to agree with you. I don't have any issues tranferring the rod to my left hand after casting or with reeling with my right. The big difference for me is twitching, jerking and working lures with my left hand. I figure this will come with time but, that said if I had it to do over again, I wouldn't have gotten the righty reels.

[I.rar]

as someone who is strictly right handed , id say go for the left hand retrieve. it feels much more natural then a right handed reel imo. and the idea of switching the rod from one hand to the other seems more like a headache than anything.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Thats kind of how I was looking at it myself.  It's not uncomfortable to hold the rod in my right hand at all.  In fact it's very comfortable.  But the having to swap hands thing every cast wears on me, and I can see it becoming a liability down the road somewhere.  I've lost rods before and don't really want to again.  I'm wondering what everybody else will have to say about it.

[badog]

Go for the LH retrieve, no switching hands , more efficient. I was a little worried about getting LH baitcaster, but after a few minutes feels very natural.  

Badog

[J Francho]

For overhand casting, I use a right hand reel.  Since I palm the reel with my left, it never moves, even for the cast.  No switching necessary.

For pitching and flipping, I use a left hand reel.  This allows me to cast with my right hand, and never move it to engage the reel.  I use Daiwa TDX103HSDL with the spool release on the top of the reel, which allows me to palm the reel with my right hand.

Spinning is always a right handed reel (which means left hand crank ).  When I first started using spinning (learned on casting gear) I had a hard time reeling with my left hand, and used a lefty Mitchell (right hand cranking).  I got sick of switching after the cast, and simply trained my hands to do it the other way.

[Little Luey]

Good question.

I have only 2 baitcaster(one was a freebe) and they are both right handed, so I cast with my right hand and transfer the rod to my left after that.

Crazy thing is, my spinning rods, I cast with my right and reel with my left so my rod stays on my casting hand. This does feel more natural to me and I am going to get a left handed reel this weekend.

When I started fishing I was told I should use my stronger hand to hold the rod, so I had my spinning reels handle on the left. I don't really care to switch hands, in a perfect situation I should learn to cast with my left arm also so I don't have to switch.

[bigfruits]

i learned baitcasting on a right hand retrieve reels. recently i switched to left hand reels and i am liking it alot more. especially for bottom lures.

[Hammer 4]

I totally agree....

as someone who is strictly right handed , id say go for the left hand retrieve. it feels much more natural then a right handed reel imo. and the idea of switching the rod from one hand to the other seems more like a headache than anything.

[roadwarrior]

Wow! This hasn't come up in nearly two weeks...

Anyhow, it doesn't really matter, but this is the science

behind dominant hand retrieve:

By George Welcome

Why is the reel handle on the right hand side?

Let's get technical, as there are in fact reasons, not just some lame holdover from days past that put the handles where they are.

What will move the fish during retrieval is placed to the strong hand!

A baitcast is designed to be used as a winch, so it is the reel that retrieves the fish. Hence if you are right handed the handle is in your right hand.

A spinning reel is designed to pick up unloaded or loose line, not retrieve the fish. Hence it is the rod that does the retrieval, so it is the rod that is in your strong hand. If you are right handed then the pole goes to the right hand.

[islandbass]

So as I was out fishing earlier today using some of my spinning tackle, I realized once again just how comfortable it seems in my hands. Now obviously thats because I've used spinning tackle the majority of my life. But it got me to thinking, I can sure twitch a rod and put more action into a lure using my right arm to hold the rod than I can with my left hand holding it..

So if you were me, would you pick up a left handed retrieve baitcaster or not? For those of you who do use spinning gear regularly, which do you prefer using? I'm just curious if it'd be worth the trip over to BPS for me to swap out a reel that I haven't opened up yet or not.

Edited to add: I am right hand/eye dominate although slightly ambidextrous.

Don't even give it a second thought. Buy a casting reel with a handle on the SAME SIDE as your spinning reels. Fishing this way is already ingrained in you so unless you want re-program yourself to fish the "other" way, don't. Now if you want to learn to fish the other way, to augment your skills, then it would probably be better to do so after you master the basics of using a casting reel. The combination of trying to learn a casting reel and learning to work it the opposite way is not an ideal combination conducive to learning, and one that will be fraught with frustration. JMHO, but as one with the same background as you, just speaking from experience.  

[SirSnookalot]

I'm in the left hand crank camp as well, have been for many years.

I honestly see no difference in a "winch" that is pulling in line or spinner that is also pulling line in, both retrieve counterclockwise and use a drag system. The rod supplies the spine to hold or move the fish . Both techniques utilize "pump up reel and down" for sizeable fish. On the reel down which ever you use b/c or spinning the pressure on the drag is greatly reduced and the reel is gathering up line.  Whether it be b/c or spin the fish is pulling against the drag of the reel and we are cranking it in. Fly reels gather line in the same "winch" motion as a b/c, but after the line is limp from a hand retrieve, again the rod supplying the spine.

I will say there are electric reels used by fisherman both commercial and sport that are use for pelagic species that are no doubt winches.

[lv2fish]

I am right handed but only use left hand crank.  It feels alot better fighting a fish with my right hand controlling the rod.  I dont even like using my right hand to crank my little girls zebco.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Wow! This hasn't come up in nearly two weeks...

Anyhow, it doesn't really matter, but this is the science

behind dominant hand retrieve:

By George Welcome

Why is the reel handle on the right hand side?

Let's get technical, as there are in fact reasons, not just some lame holdover from days past that put the handles where they are.

What will move the fish during retrieval is placed to the strong hand!

A baitcast is designed to be used as a winch, so it is the reel that retrieves the fish. Hence if you are right handed the handle is in your right hand.

A spinning reel is designed to pick up unloaded or loose line, not retrieve the fish. Hence it is the rod that does the retrieval, so it is the rod that is in your strong hand. If you are right handed then the pole goes to the right hand.

Well, in my defense I did search and didn't come up with anything relevant  I may need to either be a little less specific or more specific with my searches next time.

And I totally understand the using it as a winch design.  Thats how I learned how to use my stand up gear for offshore/grouper fishing.

Don't even give it a second thought. Buy a casting reel with a handle on the SAME SIDE as your spinning reels.  Fishing this way is already ingrained in you so unless you want re-program yourself to fish the "other" way, don't.  Now if you want to learn to fish the other way, to augment your skills, then it would probably be better to do so after you master the basics of using a casting reel. The combination of trying to learn a casting reel and learning to work it the opposite way is not an ideal combination conducive to learning, and one that will be fraught with frustration. JMHO, but as one with the same background as you, just speaking from experience.  

It's not so much as learning how to use a casting reel, I'm already pretty good at using one...at least for the applications I need in my area.  This was just something I noticed after using some of the UL gear earlier today and was curious what others thought.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

I will say there are electric reels used by fisherman both commercial and sport that are use for pelagic species that are no doubt winches.

Electric reels are for sissies

[adclem]

I am right handed but I use a left handed retrieve BC reel.  I have Carpal tunnel in both of my wrists, the right one being the worse.  So it is easier on me to cast with the right and retrieve with the left and hold the rod with the right.  Not as much pressure being constantly applied to my wrist this way.

Later,

[rubba bubba]

Working the rod for action and playing the fish is far more important and requires more dexterity than turning a crank handle.  I've fished spinning reels lefty and I've only fished lefty baitcasters.  The only time I ever have a desire to fish a righty baitcaster is when I've been fishing for 4 or so days and I want to give my right arm a break.

[SirSnookalot]

Electric reels are for sissies

For sure !!!

[Matt 825]

I used spinning gear when I was younger so I always reeled with my left hand.  When I got into baitcasting gear I got a right hand reel and used this for a while.  Now I use alomost all left hand reels.  In fact I only have 1 right hand reel left which I use for spinnerbaits.

Go with whatever feels more natural in your hands.  

[old bassman]

I started using spinning gear. I received my first baitcaster as a gift with a right hand retrieve. I learned to use it and it was fine. In fact it was hard to find left hand retrieve reels. with that said, my last 2 baitcasting reels have been left handed and I like them much better. I thought it was a hasssel to switch hands during casting and retireving. Now it's not even a thought. Ge the Left Handed Reel. You'll love it.