switch hitting

[the ohh face]

I was just wondering how many of you cast right handed with a right hand retrieve baitcast.  I learned on spinning rigs and always casted right handed and now do the same with my right hand retrieve baitcastand swith hands on the retrieve.  Do those of you that do the same notice that you lose any fish when they hit right away?  I havent lost any yet but i could see that happening.

[jagdbdg]

I castand retrieve right handed. I dont think ive lost a fish. I tried left hand retrieve on spinning and baitcaster and i just cant get used to it and i feel my hook sets arent as good.

[the ohh face]

its funny you say that cause now that ive been using a right hand retrieve baitcast ive switched my spinning gear to right hand retrieve.  I like the feel of it better and i think i get better hooksets

[BASS fisherman]

I have never lost a fish from switching hands after a cast.  I usually cast with both hands, so my left hand is on the butt of the rod.  As soon as the lure hits the water, I put my left hand on the reel.  At first it seemd odd, but now it is second nature.  It most likely takes only another millisecond to switch hands as opposed to reaching up to the handle and starting your retrieve.

[fishbear]

I bought a left handed retrieve Abu Baitcaster for river fishing for salmon... it just made sense for fighting bigger fish, to use my strongest arm to hang onto the pole with,, and I am ambidextrous so cranking with my left hand is no big issue either....  it just feels right to not change hands every time you cast  out..

[Guest avid]

I always fish with a minimum of four baitcasters.  two lefties and two righties.

any spinning gear i might use is always so casting is done with righthand.

[MALTESE FALCON]

I'VE ALWAYS FISHED WITH LEFT HANDED SPINNING GEAR AND RIGHT HANDED CASTING GEAR. GROWING UP I ONLY HAD RIGHT HANDED LEVEL WIND REELS. WHEN I GOT MY FIRST SPINNING REEL IT WAS LEFT HANDED AND IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO GET USED TO IT. WHEN I TRIED A LEFT HAND RETEIEVE BAITCASTER IT FELT WRONG. WHY FIX WHAT ISN'T BROKE?

[the ohh face]

im getting a new baitcats soon and was debating left vesus right hand retrieve. I cast and retreive right hand now so maybe ishould just stick with whats working like maltese.

[jomatty]

i use a mixture of left and right handed reels as well.  i use the lefty ones for a lot of things, especially anytime im flipping or pitching.  it was easier for me to get left handed reels than learn to cast with myleft hand.  i get somewhat solider hook sets i think when my right hand is on the rod.  i also have an easier time working a topwater with my lefty reels and my right hand on the rod.  i prefer the right handed rods for cranking and spinnerbaiting/c-rigin, or most other long casting lures.  really it dosent make that much of a difference to me, although i try to avoid making short casts with the right handed ones so i dont have to be in a hurry to switch hands.when i make long casts with my right hand i switch somewhere towards the end so that my left hand is on the rod and thumbing the spool by the time the bait reaches the water.

i keep telling myself im gonna learn to cast left handed as well, although im not really sure why i want to do so.  i suppose situations come up where a left handed cast could work better but they are pretty few and far between and i can usually just cast with my right hand and my rod on the left side of my body.

[flechero]

I have never lost a fish from switching hands after a cast.

I'm not picking on the one who said this because I've heard it from LOTS of people over the years.  You may think you've never missed one but think of the initial reaction strikes on a buzzbait for example.  I've had hundreds of fish over the years hit the buzzbait as the blade makes revolution number 1... and they do not go under water when I throw them.  So you may not have missed a fish but you may very well have missed many opportunities to catch fish.  Same for some other baits, too.

You guys should really think about buying the reels with cranks opposite the hand you cast and hookset with... it will only help you in the long run.

Yes, I know there are many people, pros included, who switch hands...  but this question comes up often enough that I think most people would benifit from learning to cast or crank with the other hand.  It's just not that hard to learn.  But this is fishing and 90+% of us fish for recreation... so in the end, do what is comfortable.

[roadwarrior]

I cast spinning and baitcasting equipment with both hands. With spinning tackle I manually close the bail with my left hand and never lose contact with the rod held in my right. Retrieve is left handed. With baitcasting gear I use my right thumb for spool pressure and click over with my right hand. When casting my baitcasters, my left hand never loses contact with the rod. Although I make adjustments with hand placement, I don't actually "switch hands".

I think a two handed cast is more accurate and less fatigueing than single handed casting. I don't notice any difference in fish control or reeling with either hand.

[senile1]

Quote from Flechero:

I'm not picking on the one who said this because I've heard it from LOTS of people over the years.  You may think you've never missed one but think of the initial reaction strikes on a buzzbait for example.  I've had hundreds of fish over the years hit the buzzbait as the blade makes revolution number 1... and they do not go under water when I throw them.  So you may not have missed a fish but you may very well have missed many opportunities to catch fish.  Same for some other baits, too.

I agree with the logic from Flechero above.  But, playing the devil's advocate, many anglers switch hands and begin to reel a buzzbait just before it hits the water.  I don't see that they would miss a fish under these circumstances.  Like Roadwarrior, I cast with both hands unless I am fishing from a bank where it isn't feasible to do so.  I think two-handed casting is the best possible method to use, personally.  

[flechero]

But, playing the devil's advocate, many anglers switch hands and begin to reel a buzzbait just before it hits the water.

True, but the vast majority that I have seen, don't do that.

[the ohh face]

i generally try to have the buzzbait moving before it hits the water but sometimes have to let it sink as switch hands in the canoe on a shorter cast, same with some jerkbaits i like to move real quick when they first hit the water.   Hmmm..   something to think about.   maybe ill try a left handed retrieve and return it if i dont like it.  

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I have never lost a fish from switching hands after a cast.

I'm not picking on the one who said this because I've heard it from LOTS of people over the years.  You may think you've never missed one but think of the initial reaction strikes on a buzzbait for example.  I've had hundreds of fish over the years hit the buzzbait as the blade makes revolution number 1... and they do not go under water when I throw them.  So you may not have missed a fish but you may very well have missed many opportunities to catch fish.  Same for some other baits, too.

You guys should really think about buying the reels with cranks opposite the hand you cast and hookset with... it will only help you in the long run.

Yes, I know there are many people, pros included, who switch hands...  but this question comes up often enough that I think most people would benifit from learning to cast or crank with the other hand.  It's just not that hard to learn.  But this is fishing and 90+% of us fish for recreation... so in the end, do what is comfortable.

Absolutely.  The only reason some folks still do it that way, now that they make reels in both hands, is because old habits are hard to break.  

Remember, anyone who is opro most likely spent a huge portion of their life throwing a nbait.  Back in the day, B/C's only came in right hand so that is what they learned.  Had both been available back then, things would be different.  

There is no reason to start a bad habit early with the equipment available today.  Use the appropriate one ASAP,IMO

[basspro48]

I can cast with both hands, I fish lefty spinning reels but I use righty casting reels. Mainly because I'm a little more accurate with my left arm and I don't like to have to switch up my hands after a cast.

[jomatty]

i suppose that i actually use both hands more often than not as well.  but i usually work the spool with right hand so i consider that a right handed cast.  

i agree with LBH and am glad that when i started i had some knowledgeable people suggest that i either learn both or use a left handed bc reel.

matt

[George Welcome]

First, do what is comfortable!

Second: reasoning behind handle placement on the reels.

Baitcaster: the handle is set to the strong hand as the bait caster is a winch and made to move the fish. With a baitcaster the rod is placed in a set position and the reel does the work.

Spinning: the handle is set to the weak hand as the spinning reel is meant to pick up line, not move the fish. The rod is the mover with the spinning gear.

The design is not some non-corrected phenomenom from the old days.

With that said, remember, do what is comfortable.

As for hand switch with a baitcaster - in the example cited above: the buzzbait. The hand switch occurs while the bait is in the air, and the reel closed when the baits contacts the water. This way there is no sink to the bait whatsoever.

[roadwarrior]

Thanks George!

Clear and straight forward. The question seems complicated , but the answer is quite simple.

[jiangtao]

I always cast with my right hand and just after the lure is going in the air I'll switch hands and stop the spool with my left thumb. This works great with buzzbaits!! Coordination is a must!!

[Bankbeater]

I cast right handed w/ a right retreive reel. Never really gave it much thought before, I just went out and did it.