How Many Rightys Fish Lefty? 2024

fstr385 reply :

All my childhood I used spinners, rod in right, reel left. When I just began bass fishing again doing research seen baitcasters were a popular reel for bass fishing, so I got one. I felt a few at the store and never felt comfortable using a right hand rod, even though Im right handed. Having been used to always holding the rod in my right hand and reeling with the left I got a lefty reel, and just got my 4th one tonight since fall of last year lol. Just made me wonder how many others do that, since I never see it on tv or hear about it because they arent around often as I would think because o situations like this outside of regularly left handed people.

gripnrip reply :

My spinning reels are lefty. I have 2 flipping reels that are lefty. All the rest are right. The flipping reels are lefty because it just feels weird to even try using my left to pitch and flip.

Southfork reply :

My handles always have and always will be on the left side, no matter what kind of reel.

I'm just not comfortable with anything else.

BassinB reply :

Spinning reels- handle on the left

Casting reels- handle on the right

georgeyew reply :

Both my spinning and casting reels have the handles on the left. I like to keep things simple and standardized.

Jig Meister reply :

Learned on lefties, still use them today. I am right handed.

I like having my dominate hand work the bait with the rod, plus, I am faster with my dominate hand when it comes to setting a hook once I feel the bite. I think it is more important to have you dominate hand on the rod, but I also learned this way. I think I am in the minority with that mindset, it probably doesnt matter anyway

fstr385 reply :

Yea makes sense. I dont know how some of you guys do both, but Im sure it has some advantage. I cant underhand roll to my right well.. only straight to left. Im sure having the ability to do both has some advantage, but its like writing or hitting a baseball to me trying to cast or thumb a right hand caster. At least its not as uncommon as I thought.

moguy1973 reply :

I cast right reel left. Always felt more natural for me like that. Makes it so I don't have to swap hands after I cast too.

SudburyBasser reply :

I was kind of thinking about this the other day now that I bought a few right-handed baitcasters. I cast and reel with my right hand...which means I'll have to cast, thumb and then move the reel to my left hand so that I can start reeling in with my right. I see plenty of people do it but I almost wish I had bought left-handed reels.

Of course, I do that with spinning gear now so....

Felix77 reply :

Another rightey using all lefty reels. I also golf, and throw lefty. Go figure!

prjavelin reply :

its a mess in my opinion. I set up my spinning tackle to be righty my baitcaster is the usual right handed hence my desire to change my spinning reels. I learned to use lefties since I was a kid. Im trying to switch completely to using the rod on my left and the handles on my right. It sucks because I cant cast very well with my left hand. I sometimes do the cast right switch rod from hand to hand.

Bluebasser86 reply :

I cast right handed with everything except close quarters with casting gear, then I'll cast left handed. I reel left handed with spinning gear and right handed with casting gear and can not interchange the two.

Tkramer22 reply :

Thats the way I am. I have to throw it out there with my right hand or it just feels awkward. I'm right handed so I think it makes more since to cast right handed than to reel right handed.

TiNuts reply :

Fortunately for me, I'm ambidextrous, which is "both handed" for anyone who doesn't know. I naturally want to cast left handed and crank right handed. Works out well for me fishing. Not so much for baseball though.

rippin-lips reply :

Cast right - reel left 90% of the time. I can cast left when needed. Like everyone said learning like that with spinning gear it just feels right to me. Also as someone mention with dominant hand. Why wouldn't you want the hand you're used to using for everything working the bait. To me it makes sense. It however cuts down on some reel choices I make. No team Lews in LH

Tuckahoe Joe reply :

Im weird. I cast and reel both with my right hand. So I cast right, switch my rod to my left hand, and then reel right. Ive tried casting/reeling with my left to eliminate the need to switch hands but it just feels weird. Can't get used to it.

islandbass reply :

Just remember that a right-handed reel is not designated to mean it is for a right-handed person, or more accurately, a person with right hand dominance.

In actuality, rightly and accurately so, reel makers designate them right-handed reels because, regardless of the angler's hand dominance, when the reel is in use, the angler's right hand is going to be on the handle. So unless you turn your a baitcast with its handle on the right side of the reel, your right hand is going to turn the handle... unless of course, you turn you rig upside down, lol.

I can relate as I initially thought the same thing. My first baitcaster as a result was a right hand model and it sure felt awkward.

When given the option, I strongly prefer LH retrieve for both spinning and casting, but I have since programmed myself to fish either way. I will not buy another RH reel unless it's too good of a deal to pass up.

Ima Bass Ninja reply :

I'm left handed and both spinning and bait casting I reel from the right side. Luckily for me when I got into bait casting I didn't know about left retrieve and the right just felt more natural. Plus I like having control of the rod with my dominate hand regardless of outfit type.

roadwarrior reply :

George Welcome:

Let's get technical, as there are in fact reasons, not just some lame holdover from days past that put the handles where they are.

What will move the fish during retrieval is placed to the strong hand!

A baitcast is designed to be used as a winch, so it is the reel that retrieves the fish. Hence if you are right handed the handle is in your right hand.

A spinning reel is designed to pick up unloaded or loose line, not retrieve the fish. Hence it is the rod that does the retrieval, so it is the rod that is in your strong hand. If you are right handed then the pole goes to the right hand.

Megastink reply :

I always had right retrieve baitcasters, yet my spinning reels were always lefty retrieve. I bough half a dozen new Gen3 STX's this year, and I got all lefty retrieve reels, because I cast with my right hand, and now I dont have to switch hands pre and post cast. I think over the course of a day, I get my bait in the water a few more times

slowpoke274 reply :

im a lefty and fish all right handed reels feel more comfortable controlling rod and bait with left hand and as stated above you dont need to switch hands before and after the cast so you get a few more presentations in during the course of a day

Shane J reply :

I'm right handed, and reel both casting and spinning with my left.

jhoffman reply :

I fish lefty. I remember my first baitcaster before lefties came out and it was a nightmare. Of course, back then I was a whopping 15 years old and had no idea they even had brakes. Did they have brakes 17 years ago? I dont really remember. I bought a good one and then promptly sold it because I couldnt do anything with it. Now, I absolutely love baitcasters. When I bought my first boat they had lefties out and I committed myself to learning how to run it right. Most of my buddies still cant fish them.

Fly fishing I control my rod with my right hand so it came natural there also. When I played hockey, I was a lefty, because you control the stick with your dominate hand.

Oregon Native reply :

From what I understand originally the lefty thing stared mainly on the west coast many years ago. I have been doing this for probably over 30 years back when the selection was not so good. Now I could be wrong on this but when I was working retail for a couple sporting good stores this is what I was told by manufacturers a number of times.

Never made sense to me to switch hands after a cast anyway.

South FLA reply :

Right handed for almost all applications other than pitching and flipping where the rod sweep/set-up needs to be in the "strong hand" immediately, e.g. when the jig is hit immediately on a pitch or flip.

ww2farmer reply :

I cast and hold the rod in my right jand, reel with my left. Both casting and spinning. It feels very very strange to me to use a RH reel. I have been using LH casting reels since my teenage years in the mid/late 80's starting with the Old Shimano B-mag 1001's, and Abu 5501's been doing it too long to switch now.

K_Mac reply :

On 2/12/2013 at 8:21 PM, Shane J said:
I'm right handed, and reel both casting and spinning with my left.

Same here. As RW posted, traditionally baitcasters were made to allow for winching with the dominate hand. For bass fishing I find most of the work is done with the hand holding the rod, and I am far more confident in my ability to set the hook and control the fish using my dominate side. I learned to use a baitcaster using an old LH reel, and a RH one just feels wrong to me. Many use both, and if I had the coordination to do so I would. When fishing for several days straight it would be nice to be able to change up.

This question comes up often. There is no right (or left) answer IMO. Find what works best for you and work to get good using it. I don't think the fish care...good luck.

Doubled Over reply :

Every handle I own is on the left.

retiredbosn reply :

I like many others.was with spinning gear cast right reel left, casting equipment cast right reeled right. New convert to LH models now all reels have the handle on left. Took awhile to get used to, but grew up fishing spinning tackle so it wasn't that big of a deal

jhoffman reply :

On 2/12/2013 at 8:39 PM, South FLA said:
Right handed for almost all applications other than pitching and flipping where the rod sweep/set-up needs to be in the "strong hand" immediately, e.g. when the jig is hit immediately on a pitch or flip.

Maybe thats why it feels right to me in addition to growing up with spinning. My #1 technique is flipn

papajoe222 reply :

I am so right hand dominate that, although I grew up fishing spinning gear and reeling with my left hand, I'm unable to reel a baitcaster with my left hand. I end up cranking the rod and holding the handle whenever I try. something very similalr happens when I attempt to switch reeling a spinning reelwith my right hand.

Did you ever see someone attempt to patt their head and rub their tummy at the same time?? I can only do it one way, If I try it the other way I end up rubbing my head and patting my stomach. There is a name for my condition, but saying it here is forbidden!

J Francho reply :

I use both lefty and righty baitcasters.

Snakehead Whisperer reply :

I am right handed, and prefer left handed baitcasters. I use both though.

thehooligan reply :

On 2/12/2013 at 11:24 AM, Southfork said:

My handles always have and always will be on the left side, no matter what kind of reel.

I'm just not comfortable with anything else.

Same here

fstr385 reply :

Wow, alot of peolple do the same. Im suprized not more Lh retrieve reels are available. Before i began fishing last year, I had no idea there even was one or the other. Even the upside down pushbutton reels like a caster was lh retrieve, right hand cast and button.

thehooligan reply :

On 2/12/2013 at 11:04 PM, fstr385 said:
Wow, alot of peolple do the same. Im suprized not more Lh retrieve reels are available. Before i began fishing last year, I had no idea there even was one or the other. Even the upside down pushbutton reels like a caster was lh retrieve, right hand cast and button.

Im always looking for deals on ebay and it can be so frustrating seeing right hand reels go so cheap. Ill find a really good deal on a calcutta, or daiwa alpha/sol and get ready to hit buy it now and then i see its right handed. Then i grab a beer and continue the search, lol.

fstr385 reply :

TheKingFisher reply :

Although I'm a righty, I started reeling left handed on spinning gear and prefer it. My family has forced me to change over a couple they use to right handed and I can tolerate it. But I've decided to get my first couple of bait casters LH so that I can reel with my left and not have to switch hands after casting. We'll see if that's a good move when the season starts up...

Oldbritguy reply :

I'm right-handed, but prefer to reel with my left hand, casting or spinning. That way my right hand is always holding the rod at all times, no switching over and missed strikes. Never could understand why anyone would want to keep switching hands after casting?

iabass8 reply :

I'm very right handed but it feels so awkward to reel right handed that i've always casted with my right and reeled with my left.

J Francho reply :

I learned on spincasters and knuckle busters. Switching to spinning was a struggle, since I was only used to reeling with my right. I even used a lefty Mitchell spinner - back from when they didn't convert - and switched hands after the cast. I've since learned to use a left hand retrieve with spinning, greatly simplifying. For casting gear, I prefer a righty for moving baits; it's what I grew up with. Since I use a two handed cast, I'm not really switching hands. My hend is on the handle before the bait touches down. For pitching though, I like the lefty reels.

TheKingFisher reply :

I'll add, I bought my second LH baitcaster from a member of the board who is a lefty that fishes righty. We're all mixed up here!

Snakehead Whisperer reply :

On 2/13/2013 at 12:03 AM, TheKingFisher said:
Although I'm a righty, I started reeling left handed on spinning gear and prefer it. My family has forced me to change over a couple they use to right handed and I can tolerate it. But I've decided to get my first couple of bait casters LH so that I can reel with my left and not have to switch hands after casting. We'll see if that's a good move when the season starts up...

A right handed spinning reel has the handle on the left. Baitcasters are the exception.

AFAIK, the reason that baitcasters have the handle on the right side dates back to antiquity. On early baitcasters the handle would spin with the spool when casting, and for right handed people there was less obstruction to the spinning handles when placed on the right. This is also the reason that most baitcasters have 2 handles as opposed to one (the handle needed to be balanced while spinning. Not an issue on modern baitcasters.)

I've also heard that early baitcasters had very little mechanical advantage, so it was preferred to reel with the strongest hand.

I use almost exclusively lefty baitcasters because they build them now, but most of my older reels are right handed. Probably wouldn't buy a righty today though.

There has been virtually no innovation in reel design for many, many years. It's probably one of the most overlooked aspects of fishing gear, in my opinion. Many of the design features of modern reels serve no purpose other than to be familiar to anglers. There are exceptions of course, but they are few and far between.

ColdSVT reply :

righty the reels lefty here

basseditor reply :

As has been mentioned, the right retrieve dates way back. My first reel was an ambassaduer 5000. I've been reeling right handed for about 50 years. I cast right, and then switch the rod to my left hand. I can switch in mid cast many times (on long casts).

I didn't own a spinning reel until my mid 20s. I learned to reel that left handed.

So, now, bait casters reel right; spinning reels, left. But a disability in my right hand makes it nearly impossible to hold a rod very well in my right hand so no spinning rods for me anymore.

bassinbrian reply :

I'm right handed and fish left handed reels

Christian M reply :

I'm a lefty and cast with my left hand, but I reel with my right.

mcipinkie reply :

I'm an old man (66), but I cast with either hand, depending on the angle I need to hit. Always retrieve with the rod in my left hand, turned the crank with my right. There is probably an advantage to strong hand on the rod, but I don't have a problem.

Look at most of the pros. Rod in left hand, reel in right.

I'm a flipper/pitcher so I tried to emulate Brauer and Biffle when I was learning. I'm amazed every time I see Biffle on TV, the way he handles the big stick.

Heck, look at Hank Parker. I can't believe he ever catches a fish the way he holds the rod.

Casting rods only. Spinner never leaves right hand.

I tried a left handed real 20 or so years ago. Liked it, but couldn't afford to scrap all and go that way.

You aren't going to the Classic based on which hand you hold the rod with.

.RM. reply :

Been power hand fishing since the term was coined in the early 80's (30yrs).

My strong side is right hand therefor the rod is placed in the power hand (right hand), and the reel cranks from the left hand side.

Is one of the best techniques for quick hook sets on fast hitting fish if have ever used..

Tight Lines All!

retiredbosn reply :

On 2/12/2013 at 9:52 PM, papajoe222 said:

I am so right hand dominate that, although I grew up fishing spinning gear and reeling with my left hand, I'm unable to reel a baitcaster with my left hand. I end up cranking the rod and holding the handle whenever I try. something very similalr happens when I attempt to switch reeling a spinning reelwith my right hand.

Did you ever see someone attempt to patt their head and rub their tummy at the same time?? I can only do it one way, If I try it the other way I end up rubbing my head and patting my stomach. There is a name for my condition, but saying it here is forbidden!

I was like you, when I first tried to switch to LH casting equipment I found that my left hand remained stationary and I moved the rod around the handle. I injured my neck forcing me to switch, took some getting used to, but I think I've got it now.

jignfule reply :

Everything left, though I'm right handed

Diggy reply :

I prefer lefty reels hands down!

I thought about buying a rh again to give it a go, but yesterday I went inshore fishing and Ive changed my mind. I was using a 200e7 chronarch all day on a 6ft6 carbonlite which my buddy brought especially for me since he knows I bass fish alot. I had tons of fun but when it came to "walking the dog" and twitching jerk baits I know Id have been much more satisfied with a 201e7.

I just have much better control using my right hand to control the rod

2458

How Many Rightys Fish Lefty? 2024

related Fishing Rods Reels Line Knots topic

previous topic

next topic

most viewed Fishing Rods Reels Line Knots topic