Right Or Left-Handed Retrieve?

[throwback]

I'm right-handed, and I use a left handed retrieve on a spinning reel. I have a right-handed baitcaster I'm using, but I'm considering a lefty because I think it may work better for me. Any insight on this from those of you that toss a lot more baits then i do?

[J Francho]

Use what feels natural to you. I use both for casting gear.

[ChiCityBasser]

I'm right handed as well and use left handed retrieve spinning reels and it was more natural to stay that route for the baitcast reels. I tried a right handed baitcast reel but it didn't feel natural and now with more left hand baitcast reels on the market I have switched them all over to left handed baitcast reels.

[throwback]

Thanks. Makes sense to me....

[SausageFingers]

Im right handed but throw left hand retrieve on all reels. I've tried both but a left hand retrieve feels more natural to me.

[Avalonjohn44]

I can't make the switch. I grew up reeling with my left and so need to buy BCs that can accomodate that. The problem wasn't so much that I couldn't reel with my right hand, it is that I couldn't set the hook with my left hand/arm. I just didn't have the coordination and the strength in that arm.

It used to be hard to find lefty BC Reels, but there are plenty of options these days.

[RoLo]

I can't think of a single "good" reason why a right-handed angler should settle for

a right-handed casting reel. On the other hand, a couple reasons come to mind

why a right-handed angler would benefit from a left-handed casting reel.

It wouldn't surprise me if the first baitcasting reel was designed by a left-handed angler

Roger

[Hyrule Bass]

im right handed and have reeled with my left hand all my life. my first and only baitcaster(so far) i got earlier this year and i made sure it was a left handed reel. like someone else said, for me its not as much as which hand im reeling with as it is the hand im holding the rod in, much more comfortable with the rod in my right hand especially on a hook set. oddly i also drive with my left hand better than my right hand...

[dulouz]

I use LH retrieve BCs because it made sense after having the same on spinning reels. My only complaint is that a lot of companies only make certain models in LH.

[IALI1]

I'm right handed and have used left hand reels since day one. They just feel more natural and I don't have to switch hands after casting with BC's. However there are a few reels I'd like to own but they don't come in LH, bummer.

[guitarkid]

I used to be a spinning only guy, so a left handed baitcaster felt better than a right handed one. That was another selling feature to me about the BPS pro qualifier. All ratios come in left or right handed models

-gk

[breezy]

I've always used spinning reels in LH retrieve and casting reels with a RH retrieve. I wondered why BC reels were all in RH at the time, but that's what everyone used or even all that was available at times. After several years reeling with my right hand I started to think about trying out a few LH reels. Like stated above, IMO there are no positives for a righty reeling RH but I can think of a few for a righty reeling LH--but in the end I doubt it matters much.

Picked up my first LH baitcaster a few months ago just to try it out. I was afraid I would have a hard time adjusting but after a trip or two it feels completely natural. For me, the LH reel is more comfortable and natural, plus it makes sense to use my dominant hand to hold the rod.

If I could switch all of my reels over to LH by some magic I would do it in a heartbeat. Is it really worth selling/trading all of my reels and replacing with LH? I haven't really decided yet. It isn't awkward to use LH and RH reels, so that's what I'm doing now. Strongly leaning towards just giving in and moving to all LH reels. Every time I set down a LH setup and pickup a RH I ask myself why I stuck with them so long.

[hatrix]

I am a lefty and have always reeled with my right hand. I think the reason for that is the push buttons I started with as a kid on have a right hand retrieve. Not till I graduated to spinning gear did I have a option to pick what hand I reeled with and by that time I was to comfortable to change. It makes the most sense to me that my left hand is on the rod. I cast more accurately and can work baits much smoother using my left hand. Another plus is when using a casting rod my left hand never comes off of it. I don't have to cast then change hands like I see a lot of people do.

[Evans]

This has always bothered me too. Why do the reel companies not make all of their models available in left handed models? I'm like most everyone else here that has posted, RH using a LH reel. It makes sense to me, why throw right handed and have to switch your hand over to reel right handed????? I know of 1 of my OLDer fishing buddies has been doing it for years because of the lack of available left handed reels, so he is used to it now and couldn't throw a LH reel. I was throwing my dad's Shimano Bantam(deep spool added) at age 8 and reeling it LH, so I am a little biased. However, it makes no sense to me to flip a bait into heavy cover and have to switch over to your other hand to reel and set the hook. I would think that would cost people a lot of fish(and probably big fish if you're flipping!) over the years! Not to mention all of this bites on a buzz or spinnerbait that you get when they first hit the water!

My only guess on this problem is that the reel companies don't sell enough of the left handed models so they are afraid to make all of their models in LH. It seems to me that they would make even more $$ doing this! I remember about 8 years ago when I really started getting into fishing and was looking around to buy my own gear, I had a hard time finding reels that I wanted in LH. I had a lot smaller income then so I was mainly looking at reels from Bass Pro. I couldn't believe that Browning had ZERO reels in LH. I ended up buying some Extremes and Rick Clunns and ended up being pretty happy with them. Same thing happened when I wanted to get a good cranking reel! I really wanted a Shimano(because I had grew up throwing them and my dad always told me they were the first to make LH reels!) but yet again, no Curado in LH in the lower gear ratios, but they had the 7.1 in LH????? Instead, I went with a Revo Winch and couldn't be happier with it. But still, why do these reel companies do this? Every person I know in my small bass club uses LH reels if they are RH and RH reels if they are LH(except for the one guy that made himself throw RH reels). I could be wrong but I've always thought there were more rightys in this world than leftys?

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I use both, mostly out of habit. If you're new to baitcasting, and are right handed, get used to handling the rod with your strong hand and reel with your left.

[quanjig]

I feel more comfortable setting the hook and wielding the rod with my dominant hand, simple as that!

[jignfule]

I'm RH & use LH casting reels.So much more natural and lots more comfortable and EFFICIENT!!!!!

[throwback]

I'm RH & use LH casting reels.So much more natural and lots more comfortable and EFFICIENT!!!!!

That is what I'm thinking.

[Bluebasser86]

I'm right handed and I've tried reeling left handed with my baitcasters but my left hand is so uncordinated that I couldn't do it. I tried for several trips but it didn't get any better. I can cast right handed and switch hands in mid cast and be ready as soon as my bait hits the water just like I could reeling left handed. For some reason I could not set the hook with my right arm with a baitcaster like I do with a spinning rod, it just didn't feel right. Maybe I'm just an oddball?

[alhuff]

i've always been a left handed on spinning and right on baitcast....i'm right handed...

Alfred

[K_Mac]

I use both, mostly out of habit. If you're new to baitcasting, and are right handed, get used to handling the rod with your strong hand and reel with your left.

I completely agree that it makes sense to use your strong hand to control the rod. I am RH but learned to cast a LH baitcaster only because that is what I had. When I found that most used a RH it was too late for me to make the change. I would like to be able to use both, especially for longer fishing trips when fatigue becomes an issue, but I don't seem to possess the coordination needed.

Use what works best for you: it's all good.

[throwback]

I bought a used LH reel. Gonna try it before I drop $$$ on a nice one.