How Hard Is It To Learn How To Use Left Hand Retrieve If You Use Right? 2024

Catch and Grease reply :

I found a good deal on these baitcasting reels but they just sold out of the right hand retrieves, how hard is it to learn to use a left hand retrieve baitcaster if you use right? I use all my spinning rods with the handle on the left side so I don't think it would be that hard...

Delaware Valley Tackle reply :

My thought exactly. If you're like me you'll wonder what took you so long.

einscodek reply :

Practice

I like left hand reeling right hand casting.. in the beginning it felt alil awkward as im right handed but as with all things practice

Josh Smith reply :

Dad (65 in June) found it almost impossible. He has used right-hand retrieve baitcasters and left-hand retrieve spinning since since at least 1975.

Josh

Kyle46N reply :

Shouldn't take too long. If you think about the high number of casts/retrieves you make in a day of fishing, it would probably be only a few trips before it starts becoming muscle memory.

Raul reply :

If your spinning rigs got the handle on the wrong side you are ready for purchasing bait casters with the handle on the wrong side.

Mike L reply :

I couldn't do it...I really tried but couldn't.

Why?, I don't know it just didn't feel right.

It felt too ackward, and I also reel spinning with the left.

Gotta do what comes naturally I guess regardless of the extra step.

Mike

doublest reply :

Should be a piece of cake for a person with normal physical attributes. I have had 4 strokes that have left me pretty badly impaired on my left side. After a layoff from fishing of a few years, I was lucky enough to get a second chance. I don't get to fish much,but in the few times that I have been able to get out, I found it preferable to cast right handed and crank left handed. The strength in my left arm was so diminished, that I found it difficult to hold the rod in position to allow myself to crank right handed. After losing one heck of a nice outfit overboard due to my weakened grip. I decided it was time to make the switch. It didn't feel that awkward as I had been used to cranking spinning reels since they were introduced in the 1950's. After 2 or 3 outings, it should come pretty easy if you just hang in there and don't give up.

fishinphilly reply :

i tried using my friends reel who is right handed and i use left handed and after about 10 minutes i gave up because it just felt so weird lol so i could help

SenkoGuru reply :

I broke my neck on the oil rig 8 years ago, after that I had sever weakness in my left arm and hand. I tried to switch to a left handed reel so I could set the hook with my right arm, went out and bought a bunch of left handed reels too. I couldn't do it, I kept some for flipping but I can't use a left handed reel it was just way to weird and I had a lot of trouble with it. I wound up going through a year of rehab and getting my left arm better.

Catch and Grease reply :

Hmmm, maybe I'll buy one and see if I can do it. I think the only thing that would be weird is hooksets with things like thick wire jigs or something....

Kyle46N reply :

On 5/25/2015 at 5:55 AM, Catch and Grease said:
Hmmm, maybe I'll buy one and see if I can do it. I think the only thing that would be weird is hooksets with things like thick wire jigs or something....

Are you right handed? If so, don't worry about the hooksets. Your right arm is stronger, and even though it may feel a little weird, before you know it your hook sets will take less effort becuse they will be with your dominant/stronger arm.

bass1980 reply :

The human brain is amazing, if you let it be. It can adjust to almost anything, if you let it.............

It took me 2 outings and never looked back.

FishTank reply :

I am right handed and used spinning gear for years. I was casting with my right rand and cranking the handle with my left. I bought my first bait caster about 9 years ago and it was right handed. I couldn't get the hang of it. I was handed a left handed green curado and most of my problems were solved. I have been using left handed bait casters ever since. Bottomline, it just felt natural to use left handed bait casters. I would venture a guess you would have no issues.

A-Jay reply :

Use the TW Demo program - for 20 bucks you can try one for a week or so.

That's short money & plenty of time to know if it's something you want to commit to.

btw - I tried it and I can do it - but I always feel like an impaired Gumby.

Good Luck

A-Jay

bassr95 reply :

It took me a day or two to get comfortable with LH retrieve and I love it now. I'll never switch hands while pitching again!

new2BC4bass reply :

Shouldn't be hard for you since you are use to reeling spinning reels with the left hand. That was me 6 years ago. My first baitcast reels were left hand. A 103ai ito came up for sale like new at a good price. Right hand. Figured I'd better grab it if I wanted one. That was about 5 years ago. I'm 67. Now almost half my baitcast reels are right hand. Cranking with either hand is no problem. Learning to cast with either hand takes a little more time. At least it did for me. Overhand casts left handed still aren't that great, but left hand roll casts are close to as good as with the right hand, Obviously you can cast on only one side regardless of which side the handle is on. I just enjoy switching around on occasion.

EDIT: Another benefit of being able to use either hand is you don't have to pass up a good deal if it isn't the correct hand (if you can only use one side). Also there are plenty of excellent reels out there that only come in right hand. Why limit yourself?

kingmotorboat reply :

I wondered this same thing as I am probably looking at the same reel

Diggy reply :

I started with RH reels and it never felt right to me trying to walk the dog with my left hand being right handed. Bought a LH reel on clearance and haven't gone back.

livemusic reply :

Since I started back fishing this year, I have bought all left hand retrieve reels and I am right-handed, accustomed to reeling with right hand. It makes sense to throw it with my right hand and NOT have to switch hands to retrieve. I also saw some pro videos where the pros recommended this. So far, it's working pretty good, not totally used to it but I essentially went right to it. I also have used a spinning reel, left-handed retrieve a little bit over the years. I have a mixture, because all of my baitcasters of the past have been right-hand reeling reels. Starting to have some arthritis issues, so, mixing it up seems like it should help.

masterbass reply :

My first casters were right handed and I used them for a few months then I bought my first lefty and stuck with them. It shouldn't take more than a few outings. I'm really glad I switched because it is so much more efficient IMO.

CRANKENSTIEN reply :

I'm right handed. But use both. Price can be my determining factor sometimes. I would rather pitch with a left reel. I would rather cast square bills with a left. It is faster and I can get a better rythym with a left reel. All things equal I would now choose left.

WPCfishing reply :

I use a lefty reel.. I throw right and reel left.

I've always done it that way.. It make sense too!

BASSPATROL247 reply :

When i first started using a baitcaster it felt weird having used left handed spinning gear. After a while though i got used to it and it feels natural to me me now. I do use left handed baitcasters when im crankin,carolina riggin and with a jig because for me i have way better feeling with my right hand vs my left....

Jrob78 reply :

I tried a few years ago. I've been casting right handed baitcasters since I was 10 years old. That was too much muscle memory for me to overcome. Left handed reels balance different and finding comfortable, natural hand placement after the cast was difficult. I can switch hands faster than I can get settled in with a lefty reel. After some trial and error I sold the lefty baitcaster. I'm sure I could have done it if I had to but it wasn't worth the learning curve for me.

OroBass reply :

I fish both with no problems whatsoever

John G reply :

Reeling with my left hand would not be a problem but casting with my right arm would be.

Kevin Beachy reply :

It doesn't take long at all to learn!

I used a lefty for a while after using a righty for most of my fishing life, and it was perty easy!

~Kevin

retiredbosn reply :

I did it, made the switch. Due to a neck injury, I found that I needed to switch. So I sold my RH reels bought a couple lefties and it took about a month to get used to, I fished probably twice a week. I think the key to success was due to the injury I couldn't fish for about a year, after recovery it was spring time, so when I started fishing again after a long absence I started back fishing left handed. I was going to have a learning curve either way. I had lost about 90% of grip strength, right hand had 95psi, lh 10lb, so obviously I could no longer hold the rod in my left. Now after rehab and everything I like lh reels better.

Todd2 reply :

I made the switch over 10 years ago. It took one full day on the water. The same day, my buddy with me tried the same thing. He gave up an hour or so into and still fishes right handed. I'm glad I stuck it out.

flyfisher reply :

No clue as i never used a RH retrieve reel of any type and yes, I am right handed. I do know that using a RH retrieve baitcaster feels strange to me but i can make it work

lectricbassman reply :

C and G, you're still young and have a lifetime of fishing ahead of you, learn to do both!

Bluebasser86 reply :

I gave left handed baitcasters a solid try, couldn't do it. I didn't have a real reason to switch, just got a good deal on a nice baitcaster. Ended up trading it for a right handed one and won't be trying lefties again.

stkbassn reply :

Went something like this..."Hey Dave, you ever par the back nine with a 7 iron?" "Hell Cup, I never even thought to try."

I'm right handed..cast right, reel right..casting and spinning..no issues in 35 years yet. Just wait for the reel you want to come in as you want it to be. Sounds like the baitmonkey is leaning on you pretty hard. LOL

WPCfishing reply :

On 5/25/2015 at 1:34 AM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:
My thought exactly. If you're like me you'll wonder what took you so long.

I'm right handed so naturally I cast right handed and reel with my left hand. Make sense to me and I feel more natural working the rod and bait with my strong side.

I never could make sense of guys casting right then switching hands so they could reel with the right hand. I supposed I'm wired differently. It must be me.

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How Hard Is It To Learn How To Use Left Hand Retrieve If You Use Right? 2024

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