Hope I get use to reeling left handed! 2024

boatcaptain reply :

I've read that some like to fish left handed baitcasters if their right handed because it keeps the rod in the same hand the whole time in case of a strike. I bought a left handed citica to try it out, sure does feel weird. I reel my spinning reels with my left, I don't know why a baitcaster feels so different. I guess it has to grow on you.

Dan-K reply :

I was reluctant to make the switch at first also, but having the rod in my strong hand and not switching hands after a cast was worth making myself get used to it.

kikstand454 reply :

i esp. love it when fishing bottom lures or lures that constantly get hit on the fall. t-rig, c-rig, senko. my spinning rig is left handed too of course and so drop shotting and shaky heading also.

really... i throw cast and retrieve lures -spinnerbaits,topwaters,cranks- right handed out of habit. at this point its just to give my left hand a break.

Goose52 reply :

I tried to make the switch. I bought an old Shimano left-handed reel on eBay and played with it for a while and gave up. As you said, we crank left-handed with spinning gear so why is it hard to crank lefty on a BC reel?

Anyway, I gave up and still crank right-handed on my BC reels. Plus, since I have 7 right-handed BC reels, I've got that equipment investment to think of ...

RussBert reply :

I'm right handed, but a few years back I busted my right wrist, and now there's a plate screwed into it...what I find is that my wrist starts to bother me while cranking a reel. My solution was to buy left-handed baitcast reels.

Works for me 8-)

Grant Williams reply :

really comes in handy when flippin an pitchin, dont have ta swap hands back a fourth pitch after pitch. do ever thang else righty!

dave reply :

Quote
really comes in handy when flippin an pitchin, dont have ta swap hands back a fourth pitch after pitch. do ever thang else righty!

dodgeguy reply :

i could not get used to it.the spinning reel has the handle down low and turns in a bigger circle where the baitcaster is up high and turns in a smaller circle.your hand is trained to the spinning rod which is why it feels odd.to me it's easier to switch hands when baitcasting.i never understood what the big deal is about switching hands.

jamarkwe reply :

Reeling with the right or left hand is the same to me. I went with Left hand reels because it just felt weird having the rod in my left hand...I felt like I was upside down trying to set the hook or hopping a jig with my left...

I.rar reply :

i dont even think i could set a hook with my left hand. just thinking about it is..... mind boggling.

SWMIBASSER reply :

Quote
i could not get used to it.the spinning reel has the handle down low and turns in a bigger circle where the baitcaster is up high and turns in a smaller circle.your hand is trained to the spinning rod which is why it feels odd.to me it's easier to switch hands when baitcasting.i never understood what the big deal is about switching hands.

Unless all the pro's who make their living fishing are left handed, it must not matter.

The only ones I can say for sure, KVD, S/R, Ike all switch hands after the cast. I would guess others do too.

KVD is the model of efficiency. If he has the time to switch so do I.

central.PA.bass reply :

its all about comfort... if you don't feel comfortable using your left hand don't... I feel totally in control cranking my spinning and baitcasting reels with my left so that is what I do... I have used some friends RH stuff at times and it just feels weird..

so do what you are comfortable with and don't change anything if you don't have to..

grimlin reply :

Been thinking and still thinking of buying one left hand reel for Flipping.It does make sense.

Everything else i still make the switch-a-roo.Doesn't bother me one bit.I have yet to miss a bite because of switching.

K_Mac reply :

It just feels right correct to me to hold the rod in my power hand. I have better control of the rod and the fish. It didn't hurt that the first baitcaster I ever used was an old LH Shimano. Having learned that way, when I use a RH reel it feels awkward to me. I don't think it makes much difference though; use what works for you. If that LH reel doesn't work out, send it do me and I'll put it to good use for you.

flippin and pitchin reply :

Here's a thought. Teach yourself to pitch with your left hand so your reels are all righties. It's not that hard. I am very right hand dominated, can't even eat with my left but I learned to pitch left handed. You have 2 1/2 months left to practice. Try it.

NorCalFishinguru reply :

Maybe ill get shot but here goes. I reel baitcasters and spinning reels with my right hand. Always have, probably always will. Why is it traditional to retrieve a spinning reel with the left hand and baitcaster with the right? I always manually trip the bail on my spinning reel after a cast and my right thumb has gotten pretty good at finding its way into the bottom lip of those bass ;D Should i even bother to switch to lefty on my spinning reels?

Goose52 reply :

Quote
Why is it traditional to retrieve a spinning reel with the left hand and baitcaster with the right?

Because a ways back, just about all (or perhaps all) spinning reels had cranks on the left side - there were no reversable handle reels - I think that probably started in the late 70s or so. Same with baitcasters, I don't recall a whole lot of BC reels with cranks on the left way back when - they were just about all "right handed" (right cranking) reels. So, that's where the "tradition" comes from ...

Hammer 4 reply :

Here's my take on this..If your a righty, and cast with your right hand, why make the switch to your left to crank..? For me, it's So much easier to cast, the with my left reach for the reel to crank instead of changing hands.. Plus, I have more motor skills in my right, so I'm able to work my rod mush better.

BTW, I tried a right handed baitcaster...needless to say..I was Lost! ;D

To each his own..

Dan: reply :

Quote
It just feels right correct to me to hold the rod in my power hand. I have better control of the rod and the fish. It didn't hurt that the first baitcaster I ever used was an old LH Shimano. Having learned that way, when I use a RH reel it feels awkward to me. I don't think it makes much difference though; use what works for you. If that LH reel doesn't work out, send it do me and I'll put it to good use for you.

x2. It's not about time as much as it is about having the rod in your dominant hand for better hooksets. That's why I use left hand retrieves.

ChiCityBasser reply :

When I purchased my first baitcaster it was a right handed model and it felt awkward using it when all my spinning reels I use I reel in left handed and hold the rod in my right. I sold it and now all my Baitcasters are left handed. It works for me just fine and I guess starting to fish as more left handed models come onto the market is a good thing.

Primus reply :

This is one topic where there may not be an absolute answer, I'll stick out by saying I use both. I'm righthanded and I prefer lefthanded reels for soft plastics and jig fishing, I like my stronger and more coordinated hand on the rod when utilizing these techniques. I use RH reels for spinners & cranks, for whatever reason this system works for me but I imagine it would seem awkward to some.

rubba bubba reply :

Get proficient in both; use the side you end up preferring and switch it up for a while if you ever become fatigued.

angler1 reply :

I am right handed and can only use a left handed bait caster. Years ago when I bought my first baitcaster it was right handed and totally uncomfortable. I was never able to adjust. Thank goodness for the left handed caster. I wish companies would make all their models in a left handed version b/c it does limit your choices. I exclusively use Abu Garcia Revolution S baitcasters in left handed, they are great.

wackyworm66 reply :

Learn to cast left handed. Much cheaper and has other advantages too!

piscivorous Pike reply :

It definately is a time and effort saver to crank with the opposite casting arm and adds up to more time in the strike zone by the days end. Less movement is ergonomic.

I think I read that casting reels having originally been made by watch makers in the early 1800s were cast one hand and the reel flipped over and cranked with the opposite hand. They did not have braking or ratchets.

You can do it. I have been using left handed Casting Reels since the '70s just to pick up that little bit of efficiency, Abu Garcia XLT and XLT Plus and 6500 all lefties.

dodgeguy reply :

Quote
It definately is a time and effort saver to crank with the opposite casting arm and adds up to more time in the strike zone by the days end. Less movement is ergonomic.
I think I read that casting reels having originally been made by watch makers in the early 1800s were cast one hand and the reel flipped over and cranked with the opposite hand. They did not have braking or ratchets.

You can do it. I have been using left handed Casting Reels since the '70s just to pick up that little bit of efficiency, Abu Garcia XLT and XLT Plus and 6500 all lefties.

there is no time lost switching hands.the switch is made before the bait hits the water.

LAO162 reply :

I grew up with spinning gear. When I tried a baitcaster at the age of 40+ I almost gave up. The next year I tried a LH retrieve and had not any problems (other than not enough time to practice and educate my right thumb ) I know if KVD does it switching hands must not be deter from performance, but somehow it just seems to be inefficient to me :-? Everyone has their own preferences

piscivorous Pike reply :

Quote
there is no time lost switching hands.the switch is made before the bait hits the water.

I thought about this and realized that upon casting I use my casting arm to guide and control the flight of the cast. Also I turned to the tv to watch a few casts. The majority of people do not switch while the lure is in the air. I also wondered what you do about your thumb, the one that controls the spool to prevent back lashes that surely occur if you are handing the rod off between hands before the cast ends.

It looks like you have your own technique, something you developed to keep the rythmn up. I would say most people do not make that switch the few moments the cast is moving, peeling out and putting torque on the rod. That has to be tiring to get that movement done each time during the dwell time of the cast for most people.

From the oberservations the switch seems to be made about the moment the cast ends and the lure is hitting the water for the majority of people I watched cast. Most cast and hold the rod, some add a a little control to the cast, like me, through the rod during the cast. During that time many thumb the spool. Watching the cast, they move switching just as it ends.

Adding any unnecessary movement to a mechanical motion in engineering mechanical systems clearly is not the best way to do things. In biological systems, (behavioral biology, down my alley) nature has eliminated unnecessary movements, you won't see it. My limited reading on the subject suggests that we adapted to the method of switching hands as that was the best way to use the reels available at the start of the industry and sport, early 1800's. Then tradition set the path.

I found the subject interesting quite a while ago. I caught one of the TV anglers during a show that was mentioning a number of pro's were switching to LH reels to increase the number of casts per day, as I mentioned.

Now that is not to say the way you fish is inefficient. Likely not switching hands for you is so unnatural that it in itself causes wasted energy and is ineffiecient, hence you move in a way that works for you.

It boils down to what you like. I appreciate your comment because as I mentioned I find the subject on these types of preferences very interesting and I learned something because of the difference in your personal method.

Ojurb reply :

im right handed with spinning i cast with my right hand and retrive with my left, but just got a BC set up and i find it easier to cast with my left hand and retrive with my right

SimonDM17 reply :

I learned to cast a BC with a RH reel. Bought two, but I started really disliking the feel of it, and I felt that I was losing a lot of fish to hooksets because I couldn't set the hook on either side using my left hand. For example, if I'm holding the rod with my right hand, and the fish picks up a jig and moves left, I set back and to the right, and if the fish goes right, I set back and to the left.

I kept screwing up with the RH baitcasters...if the fish went left, I'd set right, but if the fish went right, I'd still set right.

Then I was up in Vermont fishing for smallies, and a day of casting a Super Spook aggravated a wrist injury. It was so bad I *almost* stopped fishing, and when I got back the first thing I did was buy some lefty reels.

I noticed a substantial decrease in fish lost immediately following a hookset, which I attribute to the switch.

andamtoft reply :

Am i the only one that has to do both spinning and baitcasting right handed, my frinds make fun of me because i fish my spinning gear like a lefty would. My left hand is just the most un-coordinated thing ever. with that being said I went through the whole left handed reel thing and i just could not do it, however i really liked the idea of keeping in contact with my reel at all times... so cheaper more simple solution, learn to work the rod with your left hand so your right hand is always ready to reel.

jamarkwe reply :

Quote
Learn to cast left handed. Much cheaper and has other advantages too!

What advantage would you have casting left handed vs. casting right handed?

jamarkwe reply :

Quote
Learn to cast left handed. Much cheaper and has other advantages too!

What advantage would you have casting left handed vs. casting right handed?

dodgeguy reply :

Quote

Quote
there is no time lost switching hands.the switch is made before the bait hits the water.

I thought about this and realized that upon casting I use my casting arm to guide and control the flight of the cast. Also I turned to the tv to watch a few casts. The majority of people do not switch while the lure is in the air. I also wondered what you do about your thumb, the one that controls the spool to prevent back lashes that surely occur if you are handing the rod off between hands before the cast ends.

It looks like you have your own technique, something you developed to keep the rythmn up. I would say most people do not make that switch the few moments the cast is moving, peeling out and putting torque on the rod. That has to be tiring to get that movement done each time during the dwell time of the cast for most people.

From the oberservations the switch seems to be made about the moment the cast ends and the lure is hitting the water for the majority of people I watched cast. Most cast and hold the rod, some add a a little control to the cast, like me, through the rod during the cast. During that time many thumb the spool. Watching the cast, they move switching just as it ends.

Adding any unnecessary movement to a mechanical motion in engineering mechanical systems clearly is not the best way to do things. In biological systems, (behavioral biology, down my alley) nature has eliminated unnecessary movements, you won't see it. My limited reading on the subject suggests that we adapted to the method of switching hands as that was the best way to use the reels available at the start of the industry and sport, early 1800's. Then tradition set the path.

I found the subject interesting quite a while ago. I caught one of the TV anglers during a show that was mentioning a number of pro's were switching to LH reels to increase the number of casts per day, as I mentioned.

Now that is not to say the way you fish is inefficient. Likely not switching hands for you is so unnatural that it in itself causes wasted energy and is ineffiecient, hence you move in a way that works for you.

It boils down to what you like. I appreciate your comment because as I mentioned I find the subject on these types of preferences very interesting and I learned something because of the difference in your personal method.

i use a pflueger patriarch which is nearly backlash free.i cast with the handlle up and pass it instantly to my right hand palming position.it slides right from the left to the right and the thumb never goes out of position.all i have to do is thumb it before it hits the water and i have no problem doing that and then i engage the crank with the reel already being palmed.i sometimes even thumb it left handed.

piscivorous Pike reply :

I am looking for new reels, now after Christmas. I will have to look at that. My older technology reels are supposed to do that but they don't. That is a neat trick. Thank you.

dodgeguy reply :

u r welcome.i do think u would be happy with a patriarch or patriarch st.both are top of the line reels.they are built on the same frame as the revo reels but i feel they have superior braking systems.also the titanium depostion finish is close to indestructable.it is now available in a 7-1 lefthanded narrow spool.

piscivorous Pike reply :

I prefer LH reel and was lucky when I decided years ago to expand my collection.

I had an Abu Garcia XLT Plus LH. Those were life time warranty and had bayonet side plates and spare spools. They were costing too much to maintain and make for AG so they discontinued them. For someone who fishes a lot of different situations the spool change was great, good for me.

I found them, even LH, on Ebay but had to fight for them. I ended up with two more new in the box condition, all three are made in different years but ony have slight variations. I now have a choice of 6 spools too. But for many situations there is not enough line and I prefer the round AG styles for that, so far. Have been eyeing the C4 5601 for my new trigger HMG, 7 foot for 8-20 # test.

I usually fish with 11 rods, different 11 depending on the area and species, so I got a bunch of tackle. Too much in the boat, it takes the space of a second person!

bweave09 reply :

Quote
i dont even think i could set a hook with my left hand. just thinking about it is..... mind boggling.

x2...i used a buddy's and i felt so weak

3260

Hope I get use to reeling left handed! 2024

related Fishing Rods Reels Line Knots topic

previous topic

next topic

most viewed Fishing Rods Reels Line Knots topic