Have You Ever Forced Yourself To Reel Opposite Hand? 2024

ghost reply : 

All my reels are for left handed reeling. A few years ago, I bought and tried a right handed BPS Crappie bait cast reel. I tried to get used to reeling with my right hand, I just could not get the hang of it. Also, trying the work a lure with my left arm felt so weird. I'm a left handed reeler through and through . I returned it, a right handed reel wasn't for me.

I know some of you guys are ambidextrous , at times I wish I was, so I could own some bait cast reels that are only in a right hand configuration . 

You guys ever tried switching when you are dominant in one way of reeling, casting and working a lure?

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basham1988 reply : 

I just got into baitcasters this year and knew from just toying around in the store with a couple combos that I was going to be most comfortable with a left hand retrieve. It just feels more natural that way. I think I even seen an old Shimano left hand bantam ad that stated something like "the true right handed reel" or something like that..

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WIGuide reply : 

Switched from spinning to baitcasting as a little kid. Handles were on opposite side, and all mine still are. With practice and persistence, the clumsiness goes away and you get proficient with it.  

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crypt reply : 

am left handed all the way.but had injury to left forearm,detached tendon,had to have surgery. waiting for surgery wasn't going to stop me,so used a spinning rod opposite hand. funniest thing to watch me cast at first. got a little better as time went on. thank god surgery was a success !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Ohio Archer reply : 

All my spinning reels were left hand retrieve. When I got my first baitcaster it was right hand (won in a raffle). Could not get used to it.  Bought left hand models and still do. 

Also, no one who I fish with can use them. ;-)

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Scott F reply : 

I used right handed baitcasters, cranked with my right hand, for years. I cranked my spinning reels with my left hand. By mistake, I ordered a left handed Curado a few years ago. I decided to keep it and had zero issues cranking that reel with my left hand. Not much different than cranking the spinning reel.  I found out a long time ago, I can't use a lefty spinning reel at all.

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Gavin.Ange reply : 

Its weird, I use a lefty spinning reel and a righty baitcaster... I think it may just have something to do with the way we were taught or first started

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Bass_Fishing_Socal reply : 

I also right hand on casting and left hand on spinning. Recently I just got a left hand baitcaster to try out for a small jig or top water action which work just fine.

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bigfruits reply : 

I am right handed. I used to have all right handed baitcasters several yrs ago. I tried a left handed reel for 3 or 4 hours and replaced all of my reels with lefties shortly after.

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rippin-lips reply : 

Everything I own is lh but I can use both hands if need be. I started with a rh casting reel. Since 95% of the reels I'd buy come in both I don't have a reason to buy rh reels. 

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MassYak85 reply : 

Nope, right handed and have all right handed baitcasters and spinning reels. Don't feel a need to switch. And I made sure that when I learned to pitch I started off learning to do it with my left hand so I wouldn't have to switch hands when the lure hit the water. 

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jsh32 reply : 

I switched my spinning reel over to left just to give it a shot and its not too bad but I don't see myself ever switching my baitcasting reels over to leftie. I am however experimenting with teaching myself to cast and flip leftie which is kinda annoying

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Steveo-1969 reply : 

These threads are always interesting.  I reel a spinning reel with my left hand and a baitcast reel with my right hand.  I injured my right arm in 2015 and couldn't hold a rod in my right hand. I tried holding a spinning rod in my left and reeling with my right and absolutely couldn't do it.

So until my right arm healed I used a baitcaster, holding it in my left and reeling with my right.  Exactly what I COULDN'T do with a spinning rod.  Weird.......

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fishnkamp reply : 

All  of my spinning rods I have the standard handle on the left. I regularly use 12 different baitcasters. All of the reels mounted on rods that I use for crank and wind baits have right handed reels on them. All of my rods that I cast and hop, jump, drag or impart action to, I use lefties on. So carolina rigs ,jigs, jerkbaits, pitchin, frogging etc have lefties on it. I do it this way for several reasons. I am right handed so if I throw a crankbait out it does not matter if I take a moment, change hands and then start my retrieve. When I pitch a jig that jig is "fishing the minute it starts falling and since I am not changing hands I am ready to strike as I follow the line down.  If I am fishing a swimbait or jerkbait my dominate hand holds the rod and I am more comfortable with that when I need to set a hook.  I have been a mechanic for over 3 decades. In that time my hands have taken a beating, so if I use one hand for too long it can cramp up.  Changing baits and techniques means changing hands and that helps me feel better throughout the day.

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J Francho reply : 

  On 12/15/2016 at 5:16 AM, fishnkamp said:

All  of my spinning rods I have the standard handle on the left. I regularly use 12 different baitcasters. All of the reels mounted on rods that I use for crank and wind baits have right handed reels on them. All of my rods that I cast and hop, jump, drag or impart action to, I use lefties on. So carolina rigs ,jigs, jerkbaits, pitchin, frogging etc have lefties on it. I do it this way for several reasons. I am right handed so if I throw a crankbait out it does not matter if I take a moment, change hands and then start my retrieve. When I pitch a jig that jig is "fishing the minute it starts falling and since I am not changing hands I am ready to strike as I follow the line down.  If I am fishing a swimbait or jerkbait my dominate hand holds the rod and I am more comfortable with that when I need to set a hook.  I have been a mechanic for over 3 decades. In that time my hands have taken a beating, so if I use one hand for too long it can cramp up.  Changing baits and techniques means changing hands and that helps me feel better throughout the day.

Pretty much the same here, too.  I always use a right handed on top, two handed cast.  My left hand is on the palm plate, right on the handle before the bait touches down.  It's neither inefficient, or slow, as many suggest.  Anyone that has fished with me knows I'm like a machine gun caster. 

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Jeff H reply : 

About every 5 years I buy a left handed reel and give it a go.  It's not which side the handle is on that bugs me, it's which hand my rod is in.  I have a lefty Tatula CT right now that I was pitching with last summer.  I'll use it again next year and see how it goes.  So, this will be a first, never used the lefty 2 yrs in a row before.

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Spankey reply : 

I left hand spinning reesl and right hand a baitcaster. Don't have issues doing that. I've been kicking around picking up a LH baitcaster and see how I take to it. I don't think it would be too big of a deal.

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OCdockskipper reply : 

I actually did that last Saturday.  My right wrist was a little sore, so I removed the handle from one of my spinning reels & switched it to the other side.  I still casted it with my right hand, but like a baitcaster, I then switched the rod to the left hand and reeled with the right.  Did it for about 20 minutes, it felt a little awkward, but it was doable.

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Jar11591 reply : 

Tried it for 5 minutes, not happening. Ever.

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Raul reply : 

Cranked the handle of a lefty reel like 10 times, so unless for whatever reason I lose my right hand it ain't gonna happen.

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Columbia Craw reply : 

I tried to go both ways a few years ago and bought two leftys for my pitchin sticks.  I gave it one season. It just doesn't work for me.  I'm right handed dominate. I can pitch left handed.  Like, JFranco, I cast and actually transition hands before the lure hits the water. I reel spinning with my left.  Too many years and too much muscle memory.   

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lo n slo reply : 

  On 12/15/2016 at 2:03 AM, WIGuide said:

Switched from spinning to baitcasting as a little kid. Handles were on opposite side, and all mine still are. With practice and persistence, the clumsiness goes away and you get proficient with it.  

this is me

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Darren. reply : 

As of now, I'm left for spinning, right for casting gear
and I'm no worse for wear  

Have an awful time using a spinning reel with right
hand reeling, and casting with left. Just the way it is
for me. No big deal. Live and move on  

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clh121787 reply : 

Nope.

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wdp reply : 

I use righty for baitcasters & lefty for spinning. I've always done it this way & it feels natural. I've never tried a lefty baitcaster, but something tells me I wouldn't like it. 

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Cyacnba reply : 

I normally use left handed reels, but there was one time when I injured my right hand's pinky and couldn't really have a good hold of the rod. I bought a right handed reel and used it for like 2 months. I had no issues with it when fishing with jigs or pitching, but I just couldn't fish with frogs at all. I couldn't walk the bait, but thankfully, my finger is healed, and I'm back to the lefties. Setting a good hookset was tough at first.

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edfitzvb reply : 

Like many others here my spinning setups reel with the left hand and bait casters with the right. I started out on an old Zebco 202 as a kid and then graduated to spinning tackle. When I bought my first bait casting setup it was a right handed reel. My oldest son is left handed and fishes left reeling spinning and left bait casting. Whatever you accustom yourself to, it's all muscle memory. I tried LH bait casters for buzz baits and ended up giving the reel to my son which made both of us happy.

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YUT18 reply : 

I prefer left handed reels.  Even though I am right handed  it feels more natural for me to cast with my right and reel with my left.  I tried using a right handed reel a few years ago and did not like having to switch hands after casting.  Prefer to have the rod ready to rip lips versus transitioning after the cast.

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fishballer06 reply : 

I use left handed casting reels, but last winter I bought two right handed reels to experiment with. I practiced pitching in my basement and felt like I was pretty decent with it. Once I got on the water to actually fish with a right handed reel, I couldn't do it. I was fine if I just straight reeled something in, but if it came to doing anything that required working the rod and reeling (jerkbait, poppers, spooks, etc) I just didn't have the strength/control that I have whenever I use my left handed reels. So I'm back to all lefty reels. 

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KDW96 reply : 

  On 12/15/2016 at 5:16 AM, fishnkamp said:

All  of my spinning rods I have the standard handle on the left. I regularly use 12 different baitcasters. All of the reels mounted on rods that I use for crank and wind baits have right handed reels on them. All of my rods that I cast and hop, jump, drag or impart action to, I use lefties on. So carolina rigs ,jigs, jerkbaits, pitchin, frogging etc have lefties on it. I do it this way for several reasons. I am right handed so if I throw a crankbait out it does not matter if I take a moment, change hands and then start my retrieve. When I pitch a jig that jig is "fishing the minute it starts falling and since I am not changing hands I am ready to strike as I follow the line down.  If I am fishing a swimbait or jerkbait my dominate hand holds the rod and I am more comfortable with that when I need to set a hook.  I have been a mechanic for over 3 decades. In that time my hands have taken a beating, so if I use one hand for too long it can cramp up.  Changing baits and techniques means changing hands and that helps me feel better throughout the day.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

This is the reason i own both rh and lh

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roadwarrior reply : 

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Turtle135 reply : 

I am a lefty and use a right handed baitcasting reel. It is perfect as the rod never leaves my left hand.

Back when I started with spinning reels the handle was on the left. In the old days they were not commonly reversible as they are today. I have tried for years to switch to using the handle on the right but apparently this old dog can not learn that new trick! 

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N Florida Mike reply : 

I mostly do left hand spinning and right hand casting I don't understand why,but it feels normal that way. I am most comfortable with fighting the fish with my right and reeling left.

Reeling feels natural for me either way,but I am somewhat less comfortable fighting a fish with  my left.

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new2BC4bass reply : 

This subject comes up a lot.  Force myself?  No.  Want to?  Yes.  Grew up with spinning reels and reeling left hand.  Stayed that way when I tried a baitcast reel.  An Alphas ito Ai came up for sale at a decent price.  Unfortunately it was right hand.  Figured I better take advantage of the deal while I could rather than wait for a left hand version.  I've come to enjoy using both hands to reel.  This not only allows me to use reels that only come in right hand retrieve, but also to take advantage of any sweet deals that come up.  Almost half my reels are right hand retrieve.

Reeling with either hand is not a problem.  Casting with either hand can be.  Far as I can tell the rod doesn't care which side the reel handle is on.  I use a roll cast pretty much all the time.  Even use a small roll in an overhead cast.  This is where casting with the off arm (left in my case) gets a little tricky.  Side arm, no problem.  Overhead, not so easy.  If accuracy is required, I cast overhead with the right arm regardless of where the handle is.  I am a little better working the lure with the dominate arm.

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pondbassin101 reply : 

My spinning and baitcasting reel are both LH. I simply cannot fish with RH retrieve, way to awkward.

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Further North reply : 

Tried it.

 

Don't like.

 

Still cannot come up with a single good reason why it's a good idea to switch hands before I start reeling...

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Bluebasser86 reply : 

I tried for a good while to make myself reel left handed with a baitcaster, can't do it. I switch hands during the cast without even thinking anyways. Right handed with a spinning reel is about impossible too. 

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BradGinKC reply : 

  On 12/15/2016 at 4:20 AM, MassYak85 said:

And I made sure that when I learned to pitch I started off learning to do it with my left hand so I wouldn't have to switch hands when the lure hit the water. 

Good advice. I wish I would've learned how to pitch with my left hand years ago when I was first learning. This is one of my top priorities before the 2017 season gets going. I spend a lot of time pitching and most of the time switching hands isn't a big deal, but there were several times this past year where the fish were hitting the bait the instant it touched the water. I tried making a few pitches keeping the reel in my left hand. It was really bad. I'm sure I looked drunk.

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livin2fish reply : 

For me, spinning reel handles are switched left to right when right hand/arm gets tired of casting.  for bait casting, have tried left hand reeling, but balance of the reel feels awkward.  Also, palming the reel in the right hand doesn't come natural.  Casting a bait caster works with either hand.  This type of thread is always fun.  All kinds of ways to present the bait.

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AC870 reply : 

I've tried lately. But I've got a touch of arthritis in my right wrist. Something about holding that rod straight just kills it.   No problem reeling with that hand but can't hold rod with it.  

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Blake Burns reply : 

I fish completely right hand besides flipping. I flip with a left handed reel. It's awkward at fish but if you just hold the rod and practice reeling a little bit sitting at home it makes it a lot easier to adjust to on the water. 

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Spartyon2k reply : 

  On 12/15/2016 at 7:56 AM, OCdockskipper said:

I actually did that last Saturday.  My right wrist was a little sore, so I removed the handle from one of my spinning reels & switched it to the other side.  I still casted it with my right hand, but like a baitcaster, I then switched the rod to the left hand and reeled with the right.  Did it for about 20 minutes, it felt a little awkward, but it was doable.

I'm in the same predicament.....I have to have hand surgery on my right hand - had a very childish moment 3 years ago (1 punch = 3 specialists/lots of cortisone/multiple MRI's)...... STUPID! Anyway, I have a a LH arsenal of Revo SX & STX's. In lieu of taping my right hand over splints (like back in my fighting days) just to slash jerkbaits, walk Spooks, effectively run frogs and other rod action lures.....and albeit I could cast fine, I couldn't even write my name after docking the boat. And come Monday, being a landscape designer, I couldn't draw a thing. I found the Lew's combo with the MBS Tournament combo for my 12 year old in RH at a steal, I procured one as well (and knowing the manager a Curado for cost, as well) - just to see if I could, and ultimately allow me to work the rod effectively as well (and forego the pre-fight prep and pain). I found it awkward at first, but think it will be the way to go......as well as swapping spinning reel side to RH. I cut down an old rod so I can practice switching hands and reeling. Time will tell if the 6 Revo go up for sale...

 

New to the group and am already learning some cool info. Thanks all!

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