baitcasting reels

[skateandfish]

im am a right hand dominant guy. i want my fishing pole in my right hand because its stronger and im more cordinated with it. now i just started using baitcasting reels and my dad go tme one with the handle on the left side and its perfect. but my question is why is it that all the pro's i see use reels with the handles on the right? you cant tell me every pro is left handed. it seems like a bigger hastle to keep switching hands from casting and reeling. anyone have an explanation?

[SenkoSlayer]

I have always wondered this as well. I am right handed but my left handed dad taught me to fish. When I started out on a spinning reel, I reeled in with my right hand. So naturally when I got a baitcaster (with the handle on the right side) so I didn't have to switch up my retrieval.

[grimlin]

I've been casting and reeling right hand all my life.

I'm one of those weirdos i guess.... ;D

[b.Lee]

I don't understand why people have a left handed baitcaster, have the rod in there left hand, cast and then switch the rod to their right hand to reel in... just boggles my mind.

I have rod in left, reel with the my right. no switching no bs

[NorcalBassin]

If you're raised on spinning gear, it definitely feels more natural to reel with the left. That's true for me and I always feel awkward when I switch between spinning reels and baitcasters. There must be a reason why the pros do it... but I can't figure it out either.

[JaxBasser]

I was raised on spinning gear and always have to reel with my left when I use spinning gear but for some reason I HAVE to reel with my right when it comes to baitcasters. It just doesn't feel right if I don't even though I always reeled with my left hand until I was introduced to baitcasters. It's weird and makes no sense to me.

[John M]

Well, I use the lefthanded reels  and like a fool transfer the rod to my left hand to cast(dominant). But I have met a few right handers that have made the change to a lefthanded reel and cast right handed,then retrieve with their left hand. No loss time,no missed hook sets on pick-ups. The proper way to do it could be to have your dominant hand do the casting and your opposite hand do the retrieving. So, you can see even many of the pros have limitations

[fishfordollars]

I'm left handed and fish a right handed reel. Don't like having to switch the rod from the right hand to the left. Learned to cast with the left years ago.

[Red Bear]

im right handed and ALWAYS hold my rod in my right hand and reel with my left hand, i cast with my right hand as well. i feel i have better control holding and working the rod in my right hand especially with the weight of a fish on there. it just feels so unnatural reeling with my right hand. i imagine if i was left handed all that would be opposite of what it is now...

[RussBert]

I am also right handed, and use left-handed baitcasters. I also use spinning gear regularly. I like to cast with my right hand, and reel with my left.

It what works for me  8-)

[stealthcaster]

I recently got a st croix avid 6'8" medium extra fast action with a right handed abu garcia revo S.  It would be my dream combo if the reel was left handed.  I'm so sick of switching hands, why didn't I think of this?!? haha

Most of my baitcasting reels that are bigger that I use for saltwater fishing, I don't mind reeling with my right hand.  But with a bass combo where you're constantly casting and retrieving, it really gets to be a pain to switch.  I wish I could find a lefty with a revo in my position and trade him reels!!!

[KYntucky Warmouth]

Personal preference and product availability.....you're welcome....thread over 

[b.Lee]

Even on spinning gear I change the handle over to the right side

[Jake.]

Try using the search function. This topic has been discussed several times recently.   8-)

[Ern]

There is option B.  Instead of learning to reel left and trying to get left handled reels, Learn to throw left hand with the rod.   Too Easy I guess.  :

[Sqvedgis]

I reel with my left with spinning and my right with casting gear and I couldn't imagine any other way.  I never thought about it, but if I had to make an educated guess I'd say that: A) it may have to do with the weight of a spinning set-up hanging under the rod, and casting is more of a balancing act on top of the rod while palming & typically my spinning gear is used with lures that require holding the rod tip higher with more of a constant jigging, whereas with casting gear my tip is usually closer to the water with a pull & crank type retrieve.

I may be out of my mind so I'm gonna play around with it later today and try and put my finger on it

[rumbal]

I am also right handed, and use left-handed baitcasters. I also use spinning gear regularly. I like to cast with my right hand, and reel with my left.

+1

[DRhodes]

I too have always reeled with my right, its how you were raised to fish.