Do you use the same side retrieve (LH, RH) with both spinning and baitcasting gear? 2025
Mike 12345 reply :
I am right handed, but I grew up always using spinning gear cranking/retrieving with my left hand. On the other hand, with baitcasting gear, I use a right-handed retrieve.
Strange, maybe-
Do you use the same retrieve with both types of gear, or change up depending on what you are using?
Just curious.
basser89 reply :
I'm right handed also. Spinning reels I reel with my left hand only. Baitcasters, I mainly use right handed retrieve unless I'm flippin and pitchin, then I will switch up to a lefty.
Skunked in DR reply :
QuoteI'm right handed also. Spinning reels I reel with my left hand only. Baitcasters, I mainly use right handed retrieve unless I'm flippin and pitchin, then I will switch up to a lefty.
x2 and add buzzbaits and frogs to the list of LH retrieves
mudkart reply :
X3
Raul reply :
Both have the handle on the right side and no, I 'm not left handed.
zbass reply :
All lefts but I am right handed.
fishinfiend reply :
I cast with my left hand and retrieve right hand with a bc and spin.
ww2farmer reply :
I hold my rod in my right hand, and crank with my left. With both spinning and casting gear.
ChiCityBasser reply :
I use Left Hand retrieve with both so had to get Left Handed (wrong Hand) B/C as well since it felt odd switching back after the cast to retrieve.
SoCalRob reply :
I'm right-handed and use my left for retrieving on spinning.
However, on casting gear, I like to reel with my right hand with fast-moving lures such as spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, and cranks and use left if a slower presentation is necessary.
Anyone else do this?
roadwarrior reply :
Geez...It seems like this comes up every other week:
http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1187794805
8-)
Mike 12345 reply :
Sorry, I did not see the other posts.
roadwarrior reply :
QuoteSorry, I did not see the other posts.
No, no, no...I didn't mean for my comment to come across
as a criticism, it just strikes me as odd that this question pops
up on a regular basis. It's amazing too that so many have such
a strong opinion which never changes.
8-)
Hooked_On_Bass reply :
QuoteDo you use the same side retrieve (LH, RH) with both spinning and baitcasting gear?
Of course! 8-)
All my reels are lefties.
Mike 12345 reply :
No problem, RW, I did not take it the wrong way, I just didn't catch the topic before. And here I am thinking I'm so original! ;D
I can see from everyone's responses that most people have worked out what's best on an individual basis- which is sort of where I am with it.
The reason I asked the question is because I have seen people say that you should use all the same brand rods/ reels, etc, so it all feels the same and consistent. I just wondered if people went the next step and set up the retrieve on their reels similarly or not.
Thanks to everyone for your responses-
roadwarrior reply :
Review the thread I referenced and take special note
of George Welcome's post. That's where I stand, too!
8-)
Bassaholic84 reply :
Im right handed, but my very first pole when i was real little was a spincast and it was right handed. My dads baitcasters were right handed so ive always switched my spinning reels to retrieve with the right hand. I dont even know if i could reel with my left hand ive never done it ;D
Tucson reply :
QuoteI hold my rod in my right hand, and crank with my left. With both spinning and casting gear.
My method too.
.ghoti. reply :
There is, of course, only one correct answer to this question.
Do what feels good to you.
All my BC reels have the crank on the right side.
All my spinning and fly reels have the crank on the left side.
I cast only with my right arm, so I'm switching hands when using a baitcaster. Been doing it that way for a long time. A really long time.
I bought a left-handed baitcasting reel once. Used it for about five minutes, and gave up. Traded it off for a right hander.
vicdotcom reply :
Im right handed. All my baitcasters, spinning reels, and fly reels have the handles facing the right. I always cast with my right hand with all 3 types. So I switch hands after each cast with all to reel in or strip line. Just feels more natural for me.
And honestly, I dont even realize that I am switching hands after each cast unless I think about it lol
daviscw reply :
Right cast and retrieve on spinning and baitcasting although I never use a spinning.
Md reply :
I'm left handed and reel with my right hand on both bc and spin outfits. The most important thing is feeling comfortable with what I'm doing. This brings up the topic of "feel". I've heard Rick Clunn and others emphasize recently about how long it takes to get used to another rod/reel when you switch while on the water. It may take up to half hour to get in tune and get the "feel" of the new set up according to them-which can lead to many things including lost fish, backlashes, time lost, etc. It is so important to Clunn that he CLAIMS to only fish with only the same rod reel combos to eliminate that time of getting that feel back while on the water. He had five identical bait cast combos on the deck of his boat while he was explaining this. But this is coming from a guy that is arguably the best pattern fisherman of all time. So when he's on a pattern such as cranking ledges, he may have five very similar baits tied on different pound test on each identical rod/reel to get to different depths. I've also heard KVD mention the importance of the transition time it takes to get the feel back. It's something the average guy, myself included, doesn't usually recognize. That's why they are the best. As for me, some days I'll have one spinning rod on my front deck, and some days I'll have three identical bc combos, and others I'll have eight that are nothing alike. But that's why it's so much fun!
LAO162 reply :
LH retrieve for both. It was too distracting to learn to switch hands and the reel with the other...
From a practical perspective (at least to my ILLOGICAL mind 
), switching hands is another action that can adversely impact the balance of a bank fisherman. Occasionally, I'm standing on one foot atop a slippery rock, reaching out as far as I can, and backhanding just so that I can get into that little spot on the other side of the brush. Switching hands just adds to the possibility that I'm going to take a really cold bath 
vicdotcom reply :
QuoteLH retrieve for both. It was too distracting to learn to switch hands and the reel with the other...
Thats funny, Im the complete opposite, I find it to distracting to learn to retrieve with my left hand and to control the rod with my right.
(and I am right handed).
Strike King reply :
im right handed too so i crank both my spinning and baitcasters with my left using my stronger hand/arm to control the fish. and when i cast either one theres no switching hands.
lubina reply :
QuoteDo you use the same retrieve with both types of gear, or change up depending on what you are using?
BC, spinning and fly reels, all leftys.
strick9 reply :
I too am right handed but grew up fishing with nothing but spinning gear and it didn't seem natural to cast and crank with the same hand so I learned to cast with my right hand and crank with my left. When I did finally decide to give baitcasters a try it seemed to me to be a natural choice to go with left hand retrieves so I use left hand retrieve for both.
I see many many fishermen switch hands when casting baitcasting reels and do fine, it just seems way to awkward to me.
Chris at Tech reply :
QuoteI'm right handed also. Spinning reels I reel with my left hand only. Baitcasters, I mainly use right handed retrieve unless I'm flippin and pitchin, then I will switch up to a lefty.
Really? Wow...you have technique-specific cranking preferences? Bey hey man, whatever works for you.
I crank on the left side with all my setups, and I'm a righty.
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