Right Hand & Left Hand Reels 2025

bigbill reply : 

Being an Ex-auto mechanic and working under dash boards with either hand I'm as good with both hands pretty much equally when it comes to the cranking of the baitcasting reels. I'm not so equally talented with the cranking of the spinning reels. With the availability of the right and left hand baitcasting reels I been wondering which one is more desired????

Baitcasting Reel. Right hand? Or Left Hand?

Or it doesn't matter you can use both. I do notice some fishermen casting with there right hand only then crank with there left hand on TV.

I can crank baitcasters with either hand but I cast with my right hand. With spinning reels I crank with my left hand and cast with my right hand.

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flyfisher reply : 

Whichever you want.  You will have more options for a RH retrieve reel in baitcasters but the LH are becoming more available.  I am in the cast with the right and reel with the left for all of my reels which includes BC, spinning and fly reels.

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new2BC4bass reply : 

Spinning reels get used same as you.  Baitcast reels I cast and reel with either hand.

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K_Mac reply : 

This similar to asking which one: Ginger or Mary Ann?  9mm or .45? Ford or Chevy?

 

My answers are: Mary Ann, 9mm, Dodge, and Left Hand reels.

 

There are many who use both LH and RH reels for different techniques. Use what you like-it's all good. 

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kingkong85 reply : 

It all comes down to preference. I started out using a rh retreive reel. Now using a lh retreive reel. I can use both but I prefer left hand reels now. Just my preference and since I'm right handed. Some companies do offer more options (different gear ratios) in rh than lh. Lew's offer most if not all options in lh and rh.

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jignfule reply : 

I'm right-handed. Changed over to left-handed baitcasters years ago and was one of the best decisions I've made. It is much more natural for me.

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KyakR reply : 

  On 9/26/2013 at 5:54 AM, jignfule said:

I'm right-handed. Changed over to left-handed baitcasters years ago and was one of the best decisions I've made. It is much more natural for me.

Amen!

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Rhody reply : 

Left handed bait casters for me also, just felt so much more natural

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Ojurb reply : 

I am Right handed, Spinning reels I cast with my right hand and reel with left, Baitcaster i cast left Handed and reel right, just makes more sense to me to keep the rod in the casting hand. plus for some reason i can cast farther and more accurately with fewer blacklashes with my left hand.

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jaybird71 reply : 

Interesting topic...spinning gear- cast right handed, reel left. Bait caster- cast right hand, reel right handed (which requires me to switch hands). Exception...pitching bait caster- left hand pitch, right hand retrieve (no switching). I started pitching w/ my right & switching hands but pre-fishing my first ever tournament years ago my buddy suggested I learn to pitch w/ my left so I didn't switch rod hands & maybe miss an early strike. Glad I took that advice, next day as soon as my tube hit the water in a little pocket a bass hit. I never would've hooked that fish if I switched hands. That was fish #1 of 2 I weighed in that day. And what a great day indeed!

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wngan9447 reply : 

I cast right and reel right with both spinning and casting. I definitely like using my left hand for finesse actions. I throw and write with my right hand. Play hockey and shoot pool lefty. Weird combo.

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Hattrick7 reply : 

Maybe I came from a spinning reel which was LH retrieve it just made more sense to me to get a LH baitcaster. My RH is the dominant hand anyways so when I set the hook and fight it's more natural to be using my dominant hand. The exception would be in saltwater trying to land a shark or something huge.

I don't know how you guys cast right then switch to crank. Doesn't that get annoying and cumbersome at some point?

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wngan9447 reply : 

I think I'm just use to it. I don't notice the switch at all.

On spinning setups I keep my hands fairly close. Probably 2-3 inches from the bottom of my right hand to my left index finger. My right hand closes the bail after the cast and lands right on the handle.

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Ojurb reply : 

I would like to know if anyone that does ambidextrous casting also plays an instrument? I play various Stringed instruments (right handed) with a pick, and I think that may have influenced my casting style with baitcaster and spinning reels.

 

My right arm is much more rhythmic and my wrist control is better, also is used to pointing down, allowing me to precisely whip a spinning set up (with the reel weight bellow the rod) accurately, Works great for the weightless plastics I throw with my spinner rig.

 

My left harm however is used to moving with my body, its used to pointing up, and the increased finger dexterity and stamina in my left hand makes it easier to feather the spool, and grip/palm/stabilize the reel with the upward weight of the reel, and allows me to use my better timed hand to crank.

 

Maybe it just in my head, but the more I fish and Play the more I see the connection.

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Todd2 reply : 

Same as many of the others, I'm RH, switched to LH reels many years ago. It took a full day to get used to it but it was worth it.

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BigMoneyGrip reply : 

I use both. It helps to spread out the work so that one arm doesn't wear out. However, I've had days where I use one more than the other.

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J Francho reply : 

  Quote

 

I can crank baitcasters with either hand but I cast with my right hand. With spinning reels I crank with my left hand and cast with my right hand.

 

Same boat.  I prefer left retrieve baitcast for contact baits, and right for moving.  One exception is spooks, jerkbaits, and other twitch baits: I'll use either.  In fact, I carry both in the boat, and change up when one hand gets tired.

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curtis9 reply : 

Those of you that made the switch from right to left hand retrieve on a casting reel..  Did you try it out first on a cheap reel, or how did you make the switch?

 

I currently cast right, and reel right, but would like to try lefty so I don't have to switch hands.  I just don't want to spend a bunch of money on a reel I may not use, but I'm worried if I buy a cheap reel I'll get frustrated with the reel and not use it. 

 

I wish Academy would make a LH mettle to experiment with.

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jignfule reply : 

  On 9/27/2013 at 3:18 AM, curtis9 said:

Those of you that made the switch from right to left hand retrieve on a casting reel..  Did you try it out first on a cheap reel, or how did you make the switch?

 

I currently cast right, and reel right, but would like to try lefty so I don't have to switch hands.  I just don't want to spend a bunch of money on a reel I may not use, but I'm worried if I buy a cheap reel I'll get frustrated with the reel and not use it. 

 

I wish Academy would make a LH mettle to experiment with.

A LH will probably feel a little akward to begin with, especially if you a use to a RH. It would be nice if you could borrow a LH to try for a few trips, but I bet eventually you'll love the LH if you're right handed.

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Amarley reply : 

I taught myself on RH and wished I would've learned LH, just feels awkward when I try it. For flipping and pitching its good if you can do LH. That way you don't have to switch hands after the cast/pitch/flip. I notice a lot of pros do this. On fast strikes this is a big benefit and you can work an area faster.

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roadwarrior reply : 

George Welcome

 

Posted August 22 2007 - 11:37 AM

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K_Mac reply : 

George and RW are right that baitcast reels were designed to winch in heavier fish, esp in saltwater. If you're cranking in a 30 lb amberack from 200' of water, cranking the reel with your dominate hand makes sense. If you're strapped into a fighting chair working in a big bill fish, same thing. For bass fishing I am far more comfortable with the rod in my dominate hand to set the hook and control the fish. Based on the number of LH reels now available to bass fishermen, I think the market shows many others would agree. 

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olegs reply : 

  On 9/26/2013 at 7:18 PM, Todd2 said:

Same as many of the others, I'm RH, switched to LH reels many years ago. It took a full day to get used to it but it was worth it.

X2

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new2BC4bass reply : 

  On 9/27/2013 at 9:00 PM, K_Mac said:

George and RW are right that baitcast reels were designed to winch in heavier fish, esp in saltwater. If you're cranking in a 30 lb amberack from 200' of water, cranking the reel with your dominate hand makes sense. If you're strapped into a fighting chair working in a big bill fish, same thing. For bass fishing I am far more comfortable with the rod in my dominate hand to set the hook and control the fish. Based on the number of LH reels now available to bass fishermen, I think the market shows many others would agree. 

 

Agree.  Only wish I could catch a bass big enough to require my dominate arm to bring in!  Mine look like this.    

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.RM. reply : 

  On 9/27/2013 at 9:00 PM, K_Mac said:

George and RW are right that baitcast reels were designed to winch in heavier fish, esp in saltwater. If you're cranking in a 30 lb amberack from 200' of water, cranking the reel with your dominate hand makes sense. If you're strapped into a fighting chair working in a big bill fish, same thing. For bass fishing I am far more comfortable with the rod in my dominate hand to set the hook and control the fish. Based on the number of LH reels now available to bass fishermen, I think the market shows many others would agree. 

X2 Power Hand Casting.... I also use my dominate hand (RH) to hookset, fight, and land.

LH to crank, no wasted time on system passover to the other hand.

I also agree that the market does show many do agree. But that doen't mean they use Power Hand Casting.

 

Tight Lines! 

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SPEEDBEAD. reply : 

I don't agree with the GW statement at all. (In bass fishing anyway)

 

I'd rather have the rod in my power hand, especially when fishing a single hook bait, to drive the hook home. Cranking in a bass isn't hard at all.

 

 

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