LH or RH Baitcaster? 2024
Brett's_daddy reply :
Okay, I know this has been done to death but I need a push in a certain direction...lol. I am right handed and hold my spinning rod with my right hand and reel with my left hand so I wanted to try a casting reel the same way and bought a LH Lews Tournament Pro and have been practicing with it last year but haven't really fished it. My Dad swears that if I'm a right handed person i need a RH casting reel as it's just not natural to get a LH if I'm right handed to begin with so i got a couple of RH reels this season figuring I'd give both a shot and see which I preferred. Well, my local tackle shop just had a Shimano pro day and they had some reps there from Shimano and they had a bunch of rods and reels for people to try out. I was talking to one of the reps and he said in his opinion it's however I'm most comfortable but he said that my Dad has probably been fishing a baitcaster for many years and he said most guys who have done that didn't have a choice back when they started as nobody made LH casting reels so even right handed anglers had to adapt if they wanted to use a casting reel but he said nowadays when people are starting off with a casting reel a lot of right handed people choose a LH baitcaster because it feels more natural like a spinning rod plus the rep said think about it, how much effort does reeling take...not much I said and he replied than why would you want your stronger arm doing the reeling and your weaker (left) arm working the rod trying to pull lunkers out? He handed me first a RH rod and reel to try and than a LH setup and asked which felt better and the LH setup did feel more natural plus I didn't have to switch arms after the cast and he said that is also key as sometimes the fish will strike almost as soon as the lure hits the water and if you're busy switching hands you could miss the hookset...especially when pitching under docks. He said in the end it's whatever feels most comfortable. My question is does the make of the reel also play a factor in this? I tried a Shimano Citica/RH and Shimano Curado/LH (actually he even had me try a Shimano Metanium) and I was pretty amazed at how easy it was to cast these reels and neither one backlashed after a dozen or so casts with each. I'm officially torn between a RH and a LH...lol.
NHBull reply :
I was in the same boat as you but had not had the experience of my father.
While I can real with either hand, I can hook set better with the right.
I went with L hand reel
Since then, many of my right cranking friends are reconsidering the change
fishballer06 reply :
He's exactly correct. Do what's more natural feeling to you. For me, I use left handed reels because I can control the rod, lure and the fish much better whenever I hold the rod with my right hand.
I've been using left handed reels since I started using casting reels in the mid 90's. Last spring I bought three right handed reels to try to force myself to learn a right handed reel. Casting, pitching, and switching hands wasn't an issue for me. And reeling with the handle in my right hand wasn't a big issue either. However, the second I used a lure that required rod action from me, I knew I couldn't use a right handed reel. So common lures like jerkbaits, spooks, etc. were completely useless to me. I've now settled on the fact that I'll always be a left handed reel guy.
Interestingly enough, my tournament partner is left handed and he uses right handed casting reels for the exact same reason. He prefers having the rod in his strong arm.
HeavyTwenty reply :
I prefer left handed reels because I can usually work the rod better with my right hand (better dexterity, not really a strength issue), but I do mix in some right handed reels to help reduce wrist/forearm fatigue.
Yudo1 reply :
You already know that lefty reels feel more natural to you so go for it and don't look back. That's what I did.
Brett's_daddy reply :
On 5/8/2017 at 11:33 PM, HeavyTwenty said:I do mix in some right handed reels to help reduce wrist/forearm fatigue.
I don't think this will be a problem for me as I am more a weekend warrior type with maybe 1 - 2 nights per week. I rarely spend more than 3 - 4 hours at a time fishing and don't do any tournaments.
12poundbass reply :
I'm left handed and only use RH reels. I seem to have more control and strength in my left hand which is where all the heavy lifting and coordination is needed.
bma3 reply :
I think just do what feels right. I am somewhat ambidextrous since I write with my right hand but play all sports with my left and I bought a LH retrieve reel because I feel that my right hand if better for fine motor skills so it feels comfortable to make accurate casts and stuff and my left hand is better for power. That's just me!
BassWhole! reply :
This is me posting a picture of a guy flogging a horse with maggots crawling all over it and flies hovering over it...
Brett's_daddy reply :
On 5/9/2017 at 12:40 AM, reason said:This is me posting a picture of a guy flogging a horse with maggots crawling all over it and flies hovering over it...
Yeah, yeah, yeah...I hear ya' 
. I'm just sittin' on the fence and need a push in one direction...lol.
Fishin' Fool reply :
I have all RH casting reels but am considering switching to a LH retrieve to work a jerkbait and topwater. It seems more natural for the rod to be in my dominant hand.
Brett's_daddy reply :
Another thing my Dad was telling me is that by using a RH reel it's more natural for you to cup the reel with your left hand and feel the line with a finger on it to tell if you've got a bite or not. I brought this up with the Shimano rep and he said you don't really have to do that anymore or as much since today's rods are MUCH more sensitive than rods were back when my Dad was fishing a lot, even the lower end rods of today are sensitive enough that you don't necessarily need a finger on the line...true?
Yudo1 reply :
I palm the reel and run the line over my index finger.
Steveo-1969 reply :
You need to stop listening to your dad and just go with LH reels. You've tried both and your body and brain are telling you that LH reels feel more natural.
Sorry dad...
Spider reply :
On 5/8/2017 at 10:25 PM, NHBull said:I was in the same boat as you but had not had the experience of my father.
While I can real with either hand, I can hook set better with the right.
I went with L hand reel
Since then, many of my right cranking friends are reconsidering the change
Exactly the same here, but I seem to feel the bites better this way also. Plus you have the advantage of not having to switch the rod back and forth as much.
I just wish they made more Left Hand salt water reels.
Brett's_daddy reply :
On 5/9/2017 at 2:20 AM, Steveo-1969 said:You need to stop listening to your dad and just go with LH reels. You've tried both and your body and brain are telling you that LH reels feel more natural.
Sorry dad...
Yeah, I know but it's hard for a 44 year old to tell his 65 year old Dad thanks for the advice but I'm going against it...lol. In all seriousness I will probably go with the LH reels but I want to throw one a few more times to make sure I'm completely comfortable with it.
Steveo-1969 reply :
On 5/9/2017 at 3:12 AM, Brett's_daddy said:Yeah, I know but it's hard for a 44 year old to tell his 65 year old Dad thanks for the advice but I'm going against it...lol. In all seriousness I will probably go with the LH reels but I want to throw one a few more times to make sure I'm completely comfortable with it.
I hear ya! So I guess telling your dad "I'm using LH reels because they are more comfortable. Now shut up and fish!!!!" is probably way over the line, eh? ha-ha
Just do Brett a favor and when he's trying to decide between RH and LH reels, just tell him whatever is most comfortable for him is the correct choice...
smr913 reply :
I reel spinning reels with left hand and BC with right. I've tried using lefty BC and they don't feel right, just like a RH spinning reel doesn't feel right. Just got to find what works for you.
BaitFinesse reply :
If you can turn the handle without jerking and stoping or fumbling around trying to grasp the knobs and can position your hand from casting to palming without droping the reel/rod then use a LH reel. I'm right handed and can't to it.
TX-Deluxe reply :
OP
I had the same logic.
Bought a LH
Bonus is you don't have to switch it in your hand.
Negative is less gearing options.
5fishlimit reply :
On 5/9/2017 at 1:29 AM, Brett's_daddy said:Another thing my Dad was telling me is that by using a RH reel it's more natural for you to cup the reel with your left hand and feel the line with a finger on it to tell if you've got a bite or not.
This is beginning to sound like your dad is coming up with every poor excuse in the book because if you go to LH he won't be able to use the LH reels himself. lol!
On 5/9/2017 at 3:12 AM, Brett's_daddy said:Yeah, I know but it's hard for a 44 year old to tell his 65 year old Dad thanks for the advice but I'm going against it...lol.
It's really not that hard to do at all. I have similar conversations with my father constantly. Sometimes I might have to go back and say he was correct after all, but most of the times I don't.
Team9nine reply :
On 5/8/2017 at 10:19 PM, Brett's_daddy said:He handed me first a RH rod and reel to try and than a LH setup and asked which felt better and the LH setup did feel more natural plus I didn't have to switch arms after the cast and he said that is also key as sometimes the fish will strike almost as soon as the lure hits the water and if you're busy switching hands you could miss the hookset...especially when pitching under docks. He said in the end it's whatever feels most comfortable.
You already answered the question 
Any other argument for or against is unconvincing.
-T9
Brett's_daddy reply :
On 5/9/2017 at 3:55 AM, 5fishlimit said:This is beginning to sound like your dad is coming up with every poor excuse in the book because if you go to LH he won't be able to use the LH reels himself. lol!
Nah, unfortunately due to health reasons he can no longer get out to fish :(. Also, I live in Vermont and he lives in Pennsylvania so we couldn't share our tackle even if we wanted too...lol.
fishnkamp reply :
I am right handed. I reel with my left on spinning reels. I use a mix of right and left handed baitcasters. If I am fishing a bait that I just cast, reel, and cast again( like a spinnerbait, crankbait etc), then I like a right handed reel. If I am fishing a bait that I use the rod to give the bait action, then I prefer a left hand reel instead. I have better control that way.
So if I am worm fishing, jig fishing,, fishing a jerkbait or using a carolina rig, I would be using a left handed reel. I also like to change hands while fishing as it reduces the cramping I can in my hands.
Raul reply :
Yada-yada-yada
1.- you can cast with both hands
2.- you can get used to right reel or right
why do I choose RH ?
1.- back the old days there were only RH reels BC and spincast, I learned to fish that way
2.- it ain't broke don't fix it
3.- you ain't gonna beat me with all that logic I can cast, flip, pitch, skip faster and more accurately than you for a good reason, unless you are my age or older I've been doing it for a lot more time than you.
more questions ?
Brett's_daddy reply :
On 5/9/2017 at 7:36 AM, Raul said:3.- you ain't gonna beat me with all that logic I can cast, flip, pitch, skip faster and more accurately than you for a good reason, unless you are my age or older I've been doing it for a lot more time than you.
more questions ?
Just one more question...who turned this into a competition?
MassYak85 reply :
I'm right handed and reel spinning and casting with my right hand. It's purely personal preference so do whatever feels natural to you, if you can try out one of each. I always chuckle to myself when I hear the "use your stronger arm to hold/work the rod". I don't know about you, but one of my arms isn't strong and the other a twig. The thing that makes an arm or hand "dominant" is not strength, but fine motor skills.
Brett's_daddy reply :
On 5/9/2017 at 7:52 AM, MassYak85 said:The thing that makes an arm or hand "dominant" is not strength, but fine motor skills.
Well, that would definitely be my right hand...I can't do much fine motor skills with my left arm/hand...writing is terrible, throwing is awful. Now obviously it isn't completely useless and I can lift, grab things etc. but ask me to hammer a nail with my left and I would spend most of the time in the ER with a broken right thumb...lol.
MassYak85 reply :
On 5/9/2017 at 7:58 AM, Brett's_daddy said:Well, that would definitely be my right hand...I can't do much fine motor skills with my left arm/hand...writing is terrible, throwing is awful. Now obviously it isn't completely useless and I can lift, grab things etc. but ask me to hammer a nail with my left and I would spend most of the time in the ER with a broken right thumb...lol.
Haha same with me. Now you can argue working the rod is fine motor skills as well so again it's all down to preference. Me personally I can twitch and work a rod with both hands it doesn't matter to me, but the small wrist circles you do to reel, I can't for the life of me do them with my left hand, so I use righty reels.
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
You pretty much answered your own question. The LH feels better and more natural ho for it.
CTBassin860 reply :
Its a comfort thing man.Im a righty and reel LH with spinning but prefer RH casters.
CTBassin860 reply :
On 5/9/2017 at 7:36 AM, Raul said:Yada-yada-yada
1.- you can cast with both hands
2.- you can get used to right reel or right
why do I choose RH ?
1.- back the old days there were only RH reels BC and spincast, I learned to fish that way
2.- it ain't broke don't fix it
3.- you ain't gonna beat me with all that logic I can cast, flip, pitch, skip faster and more accurately than you for a good reason, unless you are my age or older I've been doing it for a lot more time than you.
more questions ?
Have you ever seen him cast,flip,pitch or skip?? How do you know this oracle??What does how long you've been doing it,translate to being better at anything?? For instance Brett Favre played football longer than Tom Brady....We all know how this example plays out.
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