Baitcasters- Rh... Spinning- Lh...why? 2024

Billington9 reply : 

I have a dumb question but one I've been wondering about for years.  Why do standard bait cast reels have the lever on the right side of reel? Most anglers are right handed- wouldn't it make more sense to hold /cast the rod in your dominant hand and not have to switch after casting ?

 

For example with spinning reels as a RH angler you simply have to cast, set the bail and start the retrieve without switching hands.

 

I am RH and use LH reels while my brother is LH but uses RH reels- the rod never leaves our dominant hand.  As a youth I had a hard time transitioning from LH spinning to a RH bait cast.

 

Again just curious why LH reels aren't standard and /or more popular with RH anglers(?)

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Preytorien reply : 

I've wondered that for some time. I'm not really sure the answer, but I know for me, a right-handed person, I like a lefthand reel. I think it's because I like the feel of the rod in my right hand, which needs to have more power, which my right arm seems to be more powerful than my left. Add to that the fact that I don't have to switch hands or anything after I've made my cast.....all things you've pointed out.

 

I dunno.....just a guess. Haha. I just like lefthand reels better for my own personal use. I'm sure we'll see some interesting answers, which I'm curious about because I've often wondered the same thing.

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Dwight Hottle reply : 

Because we are stupid. We are told to use a spinning rod in our right hand & reel with our left if we are right handed. Since your right arm is dominate it makes perfect sense to cast with your right arm & immediate reel with your left without any transfer. This happens because a spinning reel sits under the rod instead of above unless you are a nerd. 

Then the manufactures of baitcasters determined that right handed people will want to reel with our right hands. That is a flawed premise. We want to cast with our dominant arm. Then we have to transfer the rod to our left hand so we can reel with our right. I as well as most others bought into that stupidity & also because there are more offerings in right handed baitcast reels than left handed. 

Ideally a right handed person would cast with their right hand & reel with their left. That is much more efficient that having to make the transfer from right hand to left with the rod after casting.

 

The bait casting manufacturers have done us wrong.

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AK-Jax86 reply : 

Ha I'm glad you posted this idk if you used the "search feature" lol if this has been brought up before but I have wondered this as well just never asked the question... curious to see some responses

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Grantman83 reply : 

I actually think it comes down to the fact that you have to palm and hold a baitcaster as well as thumbing the spool. I cast both spinning and casting rods from my right side because I am right handed. I can use a spinning setup from either side since I don't have to hold the reel in any ways.

However, it just feels more comfortable to me with how I palm a reel, to hold it in my left and and reel with my right. My body is just more in synch this way. I can twitch the rod while reeling in a smooth fashion while using a right handed reel. My friend Jordon is right handed but uses left handed reels exclusively. I tried using them and just couldn't get in synch.

Furthermore, since my right hand is my stronger hand, I have more awareness when thumbing the spool as compared to my left which is totally off.

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georgeyew reply : 

This has been brought up many times in the past. If you start off learning to reel with your right, then that becomes natural to you. I started off with a spinning and always reeled with my left. So naturally for me when I bought a baitcasting reel, it was a lefty.

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roadwarrior reply : 

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alberto-1 reply : 

I have never been able to reel with my left very well. I can cast well with both arms but cost mostly left handed anymore.

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Jigs 4 Pigs reply : 

Im right handed, my baitcasters and spinning setups are righty. Retrieving with my left hand feels wrong after so many years reeling with my right hand.

Tried to go lefty, couldn't do it.

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Mike2841 reply : 

I'm not sure about anyone else, but when using a heavy saltwater setup I feel more comfortable reeling with my right hand (I use lh bass fishing). Maybe manufacturers made large conventional reels right handed, then when making smaller freshwater versions they just downsized what they had.

I think it makes sense that with a baitcaster the reel is the winch and as most people are right dominant the handle is on the right side. However since bass fishing is done on such light tackle people would rather work the rod with their dominant hand and retrieve with the other.

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MarkH024 reply : 

  On 12/20/2013 at 1:53 AM, Jigs 4 Pigs said:

Im right handed, my baitcasters and spinning setups are righty. Retrieving with my left hand feels wrong after so many years reeling with my right hand.

Tried to go lefty, couldn't do it.

I do the same and have tried to convert. It's more or less controlling the rod and the actions in my left hand is more comfortable.  Don't fix what isn't broken I suppose.

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Paulasaurus reply : 

I'm right handed and I've fished my spinning reels right handed since I was a kid. Cast right handed then move the rod to the left hand for the retrieve. Last season I switched my spinning reels to my left hand to see how it felt since I was considering buying a casting reel. After a full season of left handed on the spinning reel I found that the rod felt much better in my right hand on the cast and retrieve. I felt more confident and noticed I actually had a slightly better hook up ratio along with what felt like a better feel with my lure. My left hand on the crank felt a bit clumsy at first but after a season I felt comfortable enough to buy my first casting reel. I found a Curado 201e7 locally and jumped on it. After fishing it for a couple months it felt great and have since added a second left handed casting reel to my collection. As well as keeping my spinning setups left handed.

 

Right or Left is always in the back of my mind and feel I could learn to fish well with either but for now keeping the rod in my right hand just feels right.

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iabass8 reply : 

i'm am extremely right hand dominant in most things that I do in life but for the life of me using a right hand baticaster feels like i'm trying to write cursive /w my left hand for the first time. left hand reels feel so much more natural when i cast /w my right arm.

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TC235 <*))))>< reply : 

So many reels i cant buy cause there RH only

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OkobojiEagle reply : 

The first ones were built that way for whatever reasons the inventor had and subsequent versions followed suit.  I doubt there are any more sinister reasons that that.

 

 

oe

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Smokinal reply : 

I buy all my reels in LH crank only. I like my dominant arm to work the bait and set the hook. I also have no transfer after the cast. But whatever you are used to is correct. If you catch fish fishing the weird way, more power to ya.

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The Rooster reply : 

For me:

Baitcast - cast right handed, switch hands and reel right handed. However, I pitch left handed using my right handed reels. Seems easier this way, the handle isn't in my way as much.

Spinning - cast left handed, close bail and reel right handed. As I understand it, this is not the way most do it.

Over the years I've learned to cast both rods with both hands. I listed the ways I'm most comfortable doing it. I'm not as good with left handed baitcasting as I'd like but I can do it. Spinning I can go either way but since the bail spins the direction it does it just seems more natural to hold and cast it in my left hand. Line comes around right into my open finger for readying a cast.

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Missourifishin reply : 

I'm probably an odd ball for doing this. But I cast with my right, quickly switch hands and then retrieve also with my right, whether it's spinning gear or casting.

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basshole8190 reply : 

Is it just me or does anyone else feel wierd reeling a bc with their lh? i bought one to try for flipping and pitching but it just feels wierd.

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Topwaterspook reply : 

I'm right handed and  made a conscious decision when I got into BC reels to use left handed reels. Seemed perfectly reasonable to me. Thus started my long association with Shimano reels. Since I've had my right wrist fused and have lots of difficulty casting righty, I'm back to a transition phase. I think it's whatever works best for each of us.

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MIbassin reply : 

I am a righty and I'm the opposite….it feels extremely awkward reeling with my right hand.. all of my reels are left handed.

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Surveyor reply : 

I guess I am the only one here that really does it right.

Daddy taught me so I know its the way its supposed to be done.

I cast baitcaster with my left hand real with right.

Throw spinner with right hand real with left.

 

Daddy's reasoning---- "Son sometimes in order to catch em you just gotta throw it in their mouths. No time to switch hands."

Daddy has passed on and but he loved bass fishing especially with a topwater plug.

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CWB reply : 

  On 12/20/2013 at 5:39 AM, basshole8190 said:

Is it just me or does anyone else feel wierd reeling a bc with their lh? i bought one to try for flipping and pitching but it just feels wierd.

Me too. Also the palming an comfortable feeling. R.W. quoted some very interesting points. I cast a baitcaster with my right arm and switch it over and am ready to reel by the time the bait hits the water so there is no "lost time". Just feels more natural. Spinning the rod never leaves my right arm. Like Rooster says be sure to flip the bail over manually to avoid loops and twist. I always extend my finger out to make sure there are no loops before starting to reel.

Hey Dwight. Who you calling a nerd. I thought thats how everyone does it.

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Waterlogged reply : 

I HAVE to reel with my right hand regardless of it being a spinning or casting reel. I made myself learn to pitch and flip with the rod in my left hand due to a large percentage of my bites coming from the initial fall and the few seconds it takes to switch hands could cost you a stud!

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MacP reply : 

The were initially made right handed retreive for fighting larger fish.  More people are RH dominant and stronger with their right arm.  Cranking big fish on your non-dominant hand can get tiring. 

 

I'll always crank lefty.  I think casting and then switching hands to retrieve is wasted energy.

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flyfisher reply : 

I reel everything lefty which includes baitcsters, spinning and fly rods and i cast right handed as well.

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John G reply : 

I do what comes natural for me. I am left handed and I cast with my left hand and reel with my right. I never really knew that us left handed folks had an advantage with anything in this right handed world that we live in.

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MIbassin reply : 

Im a righty, like i said before i reel left handed with spinning and bait casting reels. 

 

I get to hold my rod in my right arm/hand and my right arm is a lot stronger than my hand.

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Smallmouth Hunter reply : 

  On 12/20/2013 at 1:38 AM, Grantman83 said:

I actually think it comes down to the fact that you have to palm and hold a baitcaster as well as thumbing the spool. I cast both spinning and casting rods from my right side because I am right handed. I can use a spinning setup from either side since I don't have to hold the reel in any ways.

However, it just feels more comfortable to me with how I palm a reel, to hold it in my left and and reel with my right. My body is just more in synch this way. I can twitch the rod while reeling in a smooth fashion while using a right handed reel. My friend Jordon is right handed but uses left handed reels exclusively. I tried using them and just couldn't get in synch.

Furthermore, since my right hand is my stronger hand, I have more awareness when thumbing the spool as compared to my left which is totally off. If the reel was a lefty, you would still hold the rod in your right hand while casting, so wouldn't you still be thumbing it with your right hand/thumb?

If you stick with it, lefty reels will feel just as natural in your hand. Takes about 2 months. The first week of use, you will get good at winding lefty, and after that your comfort with the reel in your right hand will grow. It will feel great after a while.

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Smallmouth Hunter reply : 

  On 12/20/2013 at 9:47 AM, MacP said:

The were initially made right handed retreive for fighting larger fish.  More people are RH dominant and stronger with their right arm.  Cranking big fish on your non-dominant hand can get tiring. 

 

I'll always crank lefty.  I think casting and then switching hands to retrieve is wasted energy.

Wasted time as well..

 

Let's say there was a bass cruising along the shoreline 20 feet away, and you try to make an accurate cast just past him and a few feet in front of the path he is swimming, but the wind suddenly blows your lure 10 feet to one side. The obvious thing to do is cautiously and carefully reel in the line, but very quickly so you can get another shot at catching the cruiser. If you had a lefty reel, (this is for a right handed person by the way) you could reel up and immediately depress the thumb bar and throw your lure out to him again, but if you had a righty reel, you would have to reel up, switch hands (around .5 seconds for most people I am guessing), then cast, and again switch hands (.5 seconds).. That is 1 second (maybe more) that is wasted.

 

Another situation is casting to the bank with a buzzbait or spinnerbait or something like that where a constant retrieve works great. The distance to the shore is 10 feet (from the boat) and you are making quick casts and burning it back. With a righty reel, every cast is wasting about 1 second of your life that you could spend fishing. If you made 1000 casts, well, there goes 1000 seconds. Obviously I am exaggerating my point right there, but still it is quite tedious in my opinion to switch hands.

With a lefty reel in this situation, you could cast probably 10% more times in the same amount of time due to not needing to switch hands! That is an estimate; it could be more.

There are many more situations like this that I am sure you can think of.

 

Anyone who wants to switch hands but just doesn't feel comfortable: Don't downgrade yourself. You can do anything realistic thing if you set your mind to it and if you are determined. Get out there and start casting and it will feel normal in no time. It will be well worth it in the end, when you can cast quicker. Also, you will have less pains at the end of the day from not needing to switch hands twice every cast. 

I have been using leftys for a long time now, and I am glad I made the choice back when.

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Grantman83 reply : 

Ha that's a good point. I guess I was thinking more about pitching left handed, which I can barely do. I've got too much money into my right hand reels, I ain't switching. Lol

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jignfule reply : 

Few people know the real reason baitcasters handles started out on the right side the spinning reels handles were on the left side. It was due to the pressure that  the N.A S. applied to the industry. The  N.A.S. influence has diminished in recent years, (thank heavens),but at one time they pretty much dictated all policies and actions of all manufactures in the fishing industry. The National Ambidextrous Society is still alive and well though, and we still should be vigilant in our attempt to curve their power and influence.

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Fishwhittler reply : 

I heard this story a while back and don't know if it's true, but I believe baitcast reels were originally cast with the reel on top of the rod, and then flipped over and reeled with the left hand.  Then some guy figured he'd just leave the reel on top of the rod and switch hands after casting, and the rest is history.

 

I use both RH and LH reels, and the argument that you save time by casting with one hand and reeling with the other isn't really true.  There may be a slight time savings, but it's so small that the fish won't notice.  Unless you can feather your spool with the ball of your hand (I can't), you still have to change your right hand's position on the reel before you start your retrieve.  That split-second to change hand position takes approximately as much time as it takes to swap the reel from one hand to the other.  Oftentimes I'll switch hands or move my right hand before my lure even hits the water, so there's virtually no lag time.

 

It comes down to which one you're more comfortable using.

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Hattrick7 reply : 

Makes more sense to use the dominant hand for casting, pitching, working baits, hook setting and fighting while the less dominant is used for cranking. With the exception of offshore fishing and trying to land a 200lb tuna or something.

Just seems like a waste of time and energy also to constantly switch back and forth from cast to retrieve for hours and hours especially with a bait like a crank or spinnerbait.

It reminds me of a gear shifter vs steering wheel paddles. Yes taking your hand off the wheel to shift gets to be second nature but with steering wheel paddles what's the point?

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SirSnookalot reply : 

  On 12/20/2013 at 2:09 AM, Mike2841 said:

I'm not sure about anyone else, but when using a heavy saltwater setup I feel more comfortable reeling with my right hand (I use lh bass fishing). Maybe manufacturers made large conventional reels right handed, then when making smaller freshwater versions they just downsized what they had.

I think it makes sense that with a baitcaster the reel is the winch and as most people are right dominant the handle is on the right side. However since bass fishing is done on such light tackle people would rather work the rod with their dominant hand and retrieve with the other.

With a larger conventional outfit the rod is held in both hands while pulling up then reeling down, it doesn't make that much difference what hand I use to reel.  I do also have a lighter offshore conventional reel that is left handed and most of the time only my dominate hand is on the rod, but this combo is not used for really large fish.

IMO in small game fishing like bass or inshore species I think the rod does the bulk of the work, whether it's a b/c or spinning you set the drag and move the fish with the rod, I don't see where the reel type makes any difference in landing a fish.  I don't buy this winch philosophy. 

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Smallmouth Hunter reply : 

  On 12/20/2013 at 1:40 PM, Fishwhittler said:

I heard this story a while back and don't know if it's true, but I believe baitcast reels were originally cast with the reel on top of the rod, and then flipped over and reeled with the left hand.  Then some guy figured he'd just leave the reel on top of the rod and switch hands after casting, and the rest is history.

 

I use both RH and LH reels, and the argument that you save time by casting with one hand and reeling with the other isn't really true.  There may be a slight time savings, but it's so small that the fish won't notice.  Unless you can feather your spool with the ball of your hand (I can't), you still have to change your right hand's position on the reel before you start your retrieve.  That split-second to change hand position takes approximately as much time as it takes to swap the reel from one hand to the other.  Oftentimes I'll switch hands or move my right hand before my lure even hits the water, so there's virtually no lag time.

 

It comes down to which one you're more comfortable using.

I was exaggerating in the post I made in the previous page, but still, it is very convenient to be able to reel immediately after casting.

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WRB reply : 

Being old enough to remember when bait casting reels didn't have free spools, knuckle busters, the handles needed to be vertical to allow the spool to spin freely. Your wrist functions better right handed during the casting motion and keeping the handles upright. The old knuckle buster reels have small handles giving you very little leverage to winch in fish, you still used the rod to fight fish.

The original spinning reels were made in France and only available left handed, you cast with the right hand operated the reel handle with the left. The reason at that time was better balance for right handed or the dominate population.

Tom

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Ratherbfishing reply : 

My first baitcast reel (waaaay back in 1981) was right-hand retrieve.  I bought it that way because back then, that was about all that was available and...well, that's how "it was done."  When that reel finally crapped out, I bought left-handled reels and haven't looked back.  For me, it's the logical arrangement.  I need more strength and control with my dominant (right) hand then I do cranking coordination or strength with my left hand-which is sufficient regardless.

 

More recently I was given a right-handed reel but couldn't use it because I kept reaching for the handle on the left side. Some people have a hard time transitioning to a left-handled reel.  I had a hard time transitioning back so I just gave that reel to a friend (who hasn't yet "seen the light").  Use whatever works for you, though.

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Mr_Scrogg reply : 

I cast spinning with left, reel with right. I cast baitcasting with right and reel with right. Call me wierd.

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Fishwhittler reply : 

  On 12/20/2013 at 11:26 PM, aprw1 said:

I was exaggerating in the post I made in the previous page, but still, it is very convenient to be able to reel immediately after casting.

 

My post wasn't aimed at you, or anyone in particular.  I do prefer LH reels because they're more comfortable for me to use, and my right hand has better coordination than my left hand does so it's easier for me to work some lures with the rod in my right hand.  Just saying, if a fish swings at a lure and misses in that split-second while one is transitioning the rod between hands, it's not unlikely that the fish would get away in any case. 

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Preytorien reply : 

With so many people saying they prefer a left-hand reel, I wonder why there are so many more offerings from manufacturers for right-hand reels?

 

Not complaining, my favorite reel is left handed, but just in browsing, it seems like there are so many more right-hand reels. I've also noticed a lot of resellers only list their right-hand reels as the ones on sale when they have deep discounts/door busters/whatever, the left-hand models are regular price.

 

Weird.....either way, my reels are all the orientation I prefer. So I'm good

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Grantman83 reply : 

I will admit, I never knew there was such a left handed preference until I got into fishing. It seems like they are 10% of the population but 50% of fisherman

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roadwarrior reply : 

I don't think so...the guys that fish "wrong handed" just like to promote the idea.

I suspect 90% or more fish baitcasters with a right hand retrieve. You might be

surprised how many guys switch the handle on spinning gear and fish them with

a right hand retrieve, too!

 

 

 

 

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KyakR reply : 

I made the transition to BC fairly late, after years of spinning.....was taught on S, so after struggling so futilely with a RH reel that I was wearing scissors around my neck, I got a LH reel and was immediately better. Was a little sheepish at not sticking with it, though. I also heard from an older-timer (he!) what WRB said: that 60 years ago BC had no triggers, anti-reverse or drags, so reeling with the right hand was essential. He implied that LH reels were for wussies then he winked at me     

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KyakR reply : 

Not WRB......the older-timer.....

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cbass12 reply : 

I use LH reels for working baits like jerkbaits and topwater and for bottom contact baits. For moving baits I can use either. I tried to use a RH baitcaster a few months ago on my flippin rod and after the first time using the reel I returned it. Of course I might have to convert to RH at some point if my tendinitis doesn't get any better...........

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erichthered reply : 

I was wondering why there was a difference between baitcasters having Rh retrieve and spinning reals Lh when I bought my baitcaster this past summer. My friends didn't have a good answer. It just seemed odd to me to switch hands. I did buy a Rh reel but still wonder if my next one will be a lefty.

After reading these responses to the original question I still don't think I know the answer.

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jignfule reply : 

  On 12/23/2013 at 1:40 AM, erichthered said:

I was wondering why there was a difference between baitcasters having Rh retrieve and spinning reals Lh when I bought my baitcaster this past summer. My friends didn't have a good answer. It just seemed odd to me to switch hands. I did buy a Rh reel but still wonder if my next one will be a lefty.

After reading these responses to the original question I still don't think I know the answer.

Just use the one that feels most comfortable and natural to you.

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Jeff H reply : 

  On 12/23/2013 at 2:34 AM, jignfule said:

Just use the one that feels most comfortable and natural to you.

 

Geez...imagine that!  It really should be that simple!  I wonder how many of the top pro's sit around and agonize over things like this.

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erichthered reply : 

I just didn't have any opportunity to try anything other than a right hand without having to spend the cash on it. I am a man of few rods, one spinning, one bait casting, and one fly.

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Diggy reply : 

  On 12/20/2013 at 1:27 AM, Dwight Hottle said:

Because we are stupid. We are told to use a spinning rod in our right hand & reel with our left if we are right handed. Since your right arm is dominate it makes perfect sense to cast with your right arm & immediate reel with your left without any transfer. This happens because a spinning reel sits under the rod instead of above unless you are a nerd. 

Then the manufactures of baitcasters determined that right handed people will want to reel with our right hands. That is a flawed premise. We want to cast with our dominant arm. Then we have to transfer the rod to our left hand so we can reel with our right. I as well as most others bought into that stupidity & also because there are more offerings in right handed baitcast reels than left handed. 

Ideally a right handed person would cast with their right hand & reel with their left. That is much more efficient that having to make the transfer from right hand to left with the rod after casting.

 

The bait casting manufacturers have done us wrong.

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Basswhippa reply : 

  On 12/21/2013 at 5:03 AM, roadwarrior said:

I don't think so...the guys that fish "wrong handed" just like to promote the idea.

I suspect 90% or more fish baitcasters with a right hand retrieve. You might be

surprised how many guys switch the handle on spinning gear and fish them with

a right hand retrieve, too!

 

 

 

 

X 2.  

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Glenn reply : 

You know.... you could get a left handed baitcaster, and switch the handle on a spinning reel to make it right handed, just to flip everything around.

 

 

sssspookeeeee!

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Arv reply : 

  On 12/23/2013 at 1:02 PM, Glenn said:

You know.... you could get a left handed baitcaster, and switch the handle on a spinning reel to make it right handed, just to flip everything around.

 

 

sssspookeeeee!

Fish would start flying if that happened!

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Dave P reply : 

I can and do, do both. But, I just do not like reeling a casting reel with my left hand. It feels wierd to me.

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NBR reply : 

I sit here and look at 6 bait casters over 50 years old sitting there in a place of honor on a shelf in my man cave. I think the reason for a right hand cranking bait caster is that is how the manufacturers made them. Spinning gear originated in Europe (I think France) and my first one, circa 1948 was a single bail left hand cranking reel.  Again that's the way they were made.

 

I believe continuing left or right cranking is a matter of habit. I get confused by just thinking about cranking a bait caster left handed or spinning gear right handed. When bait casting I do palm the reel so I would need to switch hand position most of the time regadless of the cranking hand. I don't think there is an efficiency loss by switching hands. Often and usually when fishing buzz baits I switch hands just before the bait hits the water. I also often cast with the baitcaster palmed in my left hand but not when I want a very long or accurate cast.

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Mike L reply : 

  On 12/20/2013 at 1:53 AM, Jigs 4 Pigs said:

Im right handed, my baitcasters and spinning setups are righty. Retrieving with my left hand feels wrong after so many years reeling with my right hand.

Tried to go lefty, couldn't do it.

 

 

Me Too!1

 

 

 

Mike

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