left hander-LH or RH baitcaster reel?

[imafan]

Hi all,

I'm looking around for my first fishing reel/rod. As a left hander, is it better to get a left handed baitcaster or right handed one? is it better to have the dominant hand reeling or holding the rod?

Thanks!

[CKFishin]

IMO go to a BPS or Cabela's or somewhere and try them out..... If I use spinning gear alot my baitcasters feels awkard to me at first and I feel like I should be using a left handed reel.

[Big Bait Fishing]

what ever hand you feel comfortable working the rod with , you reel with the other . for instance - I'm right handed but i work the rod with my right hand and reel with the left , yeah , i use a left-hand retrieving reel . it does not have anything to do with whether your right handed or left handed

[K_Mac]

what ever hand you feel comfortable working the rod with , you reel with the other . for instance - I'm right handed but i work the rod with my right hand and reel with the left , yeah , i use a left-hand retrieving reel . it does not have anything to do with whether your right handed or left handed

Same here. I am more comfortable controlling the rod with my, "power hand". I also recommend playing with both to see what feels right for you. Some guys use both. Whatever works... 8-)

[Senkoman12]

since im right handed i have trouble setting the hook with my left so i use left handed reels and also if you used spinning reels alot than you might want to look at a lefty reel

[bigfruits]

my dominant hand holds the rod.

right handed with lefty baitcast reel.

[Chris W.]

I used to cast right, and reel right. But one day i was thinking about it and it just didnt make sense. I cast right, then switch the rod over to my left hand (non dominant). I made myself learn to reel lefty, and now it's all i use. it makes more sense, i can instantly set the hook and i can work baits better with my right hand.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

I tried using a LH baitcaster once, that didn't go well.  Spinning reels with the handle on the left, I've got no problem.

[I.rar]

im right handed.

rod in my right and crank with my left hand. i dont know how you guys fish with a RH crank. mind boggling.

[Big B]

I'm RH and it just made more sense to me to cast and set the hook with my dominant hand and reel with my left.  No switching the rod from hand to hand on every cast for me!

[NateFollmer]

Learn to fish with either hand. You'll be able to get better angles on casts and it really makes things easier (especially if you're pitching and flipping). My baitcasters are left handed and all my spinning gear is usually right handed (unless I have been using the baitcaster a lot and I switch, then I'll change the handle side).

It only took me about a week to learn to fish with my left hand, so it's not too hard to learn.

[I.rar]

Learn to fish with either hand. You'll be able to get better angles on casts and it really makes things easier (especially if you're pitching and flipping). My baitcasters are left handed and all my spinning gear is usually right handed (unless I have been using the baitcaster a lot and I switch, then I'll change the handle side).

It only took me about a week to learn to fish with my left hand, so it's not too hard to learn.

ive been thinking about picking up one of those procasters just to see how i do with a RH reel. they probably will be gone by the time i go to snag one up though...

[rubba bubba]

As a left hander, is it better to get a left handed baitcaster or right handed one? is it better to have the dominant hand reeling or holding the rod?

This is a question only you can answer for yourself.

[Nine Miler]

I cast right, then switch hands and reel right, too.  That's how I learned, my dad is a lefty, so the handle was always on the right.  He casted left, cause he was left handed; I cannot.

[grimlin]

I'm the ODD one out here...I reel and cast right handed.

I have no problems switching the rod to my left hand and setting the hook.For the life of me I CANNOT reel left handed.I can't even do it with spinning reels either.Feels way to AWKWARD!

I've been doing it this way for years....reel and cast right hand.Everybody's different.See what works for you.

[deep]

There's this theory about how a baitcast reel works like a winch and you use your dominant hand to reel/winch in a fish.

What this theory doesn't take into consideration is that you need to work the lure too, which probably isn't/wasn't a consideration with live bait (that's what BC reels were originally for, right?).

I find working the lure easier with my dominant right hand, so I have LH reels.

Though I guess it's a matter of getting used to; almost all the pros use RH reels; and they get by pretty well I assume

So I'd say don't think about the reel; think about the rod, i.e. if you're comfortable with casting and working the lure with your left-hand, get a RH reel.

[BASSclary]

I tried using a LH baitcaster once, that didn't go well. Spinning reels with the handle on the left, I've got no problem.

X2

[llPa1nll]

Im an enigma when it comes to this like most who have chimed in I use LH reels, always have. However I am ambidextrous I write, throw a ball, cast, righty. I bat and play hockey lefty, go figure.

I like to have the rod in the hand I have the most strength in, which means I reel lefty. When I first started there were hardly any bait casters made for leftys Shimano had some as well as Quantum.

[imafan]

Thanks all for sharing your experience. I was thinking the along the line of dominant hand hold the rod for strength but wanted to get a confirmation. I've only gone fishing a few times and have used my buddy's spare spinning gear with right hand on rod and left hand reel. I felt i could throw further with left hand but didn't have the gear to try as my friend only have spinnies. I probably just need more practice throwing .

I was under the impression that RH reel was made for right hander and vice versa, but i guess it's just mean you reel with your RH.

[lynyrdsky1]

im a lefty but i have left and right handed reels. I have a right handed reel on my flippin pitchin/ carolina rig rod because i can cast out with my left and control my rod with my left and i can automatically react and reel right i dont have to switch hands. But on everything else i use left but its really all up to prefrence

[Ultralight Maniac]

Been using a LH for close to 25 years now for pretty much the same reasons everyone before has mentioned.

Of course when I was in my teens my friends all accused me of doing it so they wouldn't ask to borrow my gear.

I got a good laugh watching them try to reel by moving the rod with their right hand and the handle remaining stationary.  ;D

[grimlin]

Been using a LH for close to 25 years now for pretty much the same reasons everyone before has mentioned.

Of course when I was in my teens my friends all accused me of doing it so they wouldn't ask to borrow my gear.

I got a good laugh watching them try to reel by moving the rod with their right hand and the handle remaining stationary. ;D

I can switch and have my hand on the handle before that bait even hits the water. I have 100% control just like you do.

[Nine Miler]

Been using a LH for close to 25 years now for pretty much the same reasons everyone before has mentioned.

Of course when I was in my teens my friends all accused me of doing it so they wouldn't ask to borrow my gear.

I got a good laugh watching them try to reel by moving the rod with their right hand and the handle remaining stationary. ;D

I can switch and have my hand on the handle before that bait even hits the water. I have 100% control just like you do.

X2, except for a pitch.  I don't flip all that much, so no issues there.

[fishfordollars]

I am left handed. I cast with the left and crank right. Presentation is more important than turning the reel handle. If i can't put it where i want it I'm not going to get bit.

[Uncle Leo]

You know I have tried a LH reel but could not get use to it. When I learned to cast, baitcaster first as that was the only thing my father had, there was no such thing as LH. I just could never adjust. By the way I am RH but cast with either hand. I switch when the right gets tired.