Switching To Lefty 2024
clayton86 reply :
I tried going lefty recently and man does it feel awkward. It felt fine in the house but throwing a bait and bringing in fish was a whole nother ball game. I felt like I shoulda had a drool bucket to go with the way I felt and looked using the thing. I forgot how to set the hook it seemed or it was just to different. I did manage 4 bass using my LH Revo but I missed about 10. How long did it take you guys that switched to get into that groove with lefty models. I would like to use my LH reels for flipping and pitching or other techniques where the bite can come fast so there is no delay from switching hands.
Michael DiNardo reply :
It didn't take too long, maybe the second or third trip and it felt like I was always casting lefty. Like when I switched from a compound to a longbow, don't try to do both. Leave the righty's at home solely use the lefty. You will get it, don't give up. My next goal is to cast my righty reels with my left hand and reeling with my right, so I don't have to switch hands with the righty's.
Good Luck,
Mike
BASSclary reply :
I can only use lefty reels for flipping and pitching, everything else, it just feels WAY to un-natural.
slonezp reply :
Why bother? Let me guess. You bought the less expensive reels, didn't you? 
BassAssassin726 reply :
I never got the switching hands thing. I'm a righty. Started fishing with a spinning reel with the handle on the left and just stayed with it when I went to baitcasters. Id rather have the rod in my dominant hand for feel. I can reel just fine with my left hand. Its just spinning a handle in a circle. Lol
shimmy reply :
left retrieve is better all around. It is the right thing to do. Stay with it. Don't stop till you get it. You know you will get it. You will start catching bigger bass as well. Been proven by science. Get the net.
deep reply :
I never tried a RH baitcaster, but I have tried reeling righty with a Symetre (spinning reel).
Once.
It felt so awkward that I switched the handle back to the left side after that one retrieve.
smallfry419 reply :
i started with a lefty reel and i cant use a righty reel to save my life. i just like having that expensive fishing equipment in my dominant hand just in case i get the fish of my life on the other end. i'd really hate to lose my grip and have it all go in the lake lol. the only thing i regret is the new reels for the most part only come in RH models to begin with then the LH models start coming out months after its released.
clayton86 reply :
On 8/10/2012 at 10:29 AM, slonezp said:Why bother? Let me guess. You bought the less expensive reels, didn't you?
I got 2 Revo S's off the flea market that are Lh
Next time I'll leave my sx home and just use my southpaw reels to get usued to it. All my spinning reels are Lh but it feels weired setting the hook with my casting gear set up Lh.
BASSclary reply :
On 8/10/2012 at 2:34 PM, clayton86 said:I got 2 Revo S's off the flea market that are Lh
Next time I'll leave my sx home and just use my southpaw reels to get usued to it. All my spinning reels are Lh but it feels weired setting the hook with my casting gear set up Lh.
If your a side-hooksetter, I found it helped me to set the hook with the rod turned to handle up ( for lefty reels.) and then turn it 45 degrees back to reel the fish in. That made it alot more comfortable for me, maybe it'll help for you.
clayton86 reply :
On 8/10/2012 at 3:13 PM, BASSclary said:If your a side-hooksetter, I found it helped me to set the hook with the rod turned to handle up ( for lefty reels.) and then turn it 45 degrees back to reel the fish in. That made it alot more comfortable for me, maybe it'll help for you.
thanks i'll try it out that way. Another thing I noticed I do with it is I hold it differently my RH reels i palm it putting the trigger between my ring and pinky finger with my pointer finger under the level wind letting the line run over my finger. With the LH reel I found my self holding it low some times not even with my finger wrapped around the trigger or just my pointer finger.
new2BC4bass reply :
When I switched from spinning gear to baitcasting gear, I stayed with LH, but had the chance to get an Alphas ito..... RH. Cranking didn't bother me much, but it did seem uncomfortable at first. I had no problem cranking with the RH, it just seemed a bit weird at first. Didn't take long at all to get use to it. Now half the time I don't realize which hand reel I picked up...until I need to reel that lure in. LOL. Still cast right arm, but have tried left. Think that will only be a matter of getting some practice. Then a lot more practice to get accurate.
J Francho reply :
I honestly don't notice. It never really was an issue. I still use both for just about anything, though lefty is the most efficient for pitching and flipping.
MarkH024 reply :
I reel with my right hand on both BC and Spinning. I flip/pitch with it in my right hand and switch over quickly. Doesn't affect my fishing at all. Lefty is too awkward for me, not so much for reeling but setting the hook and just rod handling in generally. I have a guy at work that said I should switch because you can get more casts off with LH reels. I fished with him a few times and squashed that theory in a matter of 10 minutes. Not that quantity of casts matter but quality of your casts do...either way, more control, more action, more efficiency as a RH'er. Stick with what you're comfortable with, don't let someone try to tell you differently.
BASSHUNTER1961 reply :
I recently switched from right hand retrieve to left, and will never go back. It did feel awkward at first, but after a few weeks it seems like I've always done it this way. Keep at it, it will get better.
webertime reply :
I'm being 100% serious, give this a shot and you'd be pretty amazed at how fast you can adapt. Just do everything you do with your right hand normally, with your left (brushing teeth, fork and knife, "wipe", open doors, use keys, computer mouse, etc.) for 2-3 weeks. It takes no time or real effort and if nothing else you are creating new pathways and connections in your brain, which is good to do anyway.
Surveyor reply :
Have always used a bait caster. Since before they were called bait casters and had those thing-a-ma-jigs that help prevent backlashes. Personally cant stand a spinning reel. My dad taught me to cast with the left hand reel with the right. Reason being that you don't have to swap hands. Believe me here now not really bragging but the way I fish I often "throw it in their mouth" and swapping hands just wont work 
.
elhoward622 reply :
I started fishing a lefty spinning reel and noticed I was getting much more solid hook sets with my dominant arm. Plus, I am have some sort of ligament/tendon inflamation issue that comes and goes in my left hand so I just made the switch and love it. The funny thing is that I can't do anything else with my left hand.
clayton86 reply :
I can shoot and write left handed but I'm right handed my spinning reels are all lefty. I'm hoping maybe get out tonight and just bringing one set up and mastering jigging a little more and the lefty reel
guitarkid reply :
not long, I used to be a spinning only guy. but I did pick up a righty reel for christmas and I know what you mean with the drool bucket. It felt weird.
-gk
clayton86 reply :
I used my lefty reel the whole time today for the most part other then on my spinning set up but that's lefty also. It went much smoother then last time but like many of you said having the rod in your dominant arm you have more power to set the hook I definitely noticed that today haha.
Big-O reply :
Myself being Dominate left, I handle the rod with my left hand regardless of casting, flipping/pitching etc and I only reel with my right. For me Power, coordination, sensitivity etc. is probably best served for handling the rod in my left hand instead of ONLY turning a handle with it. It makes sense IMO and seems NORMAL to do so. When using Spinning gear, I switch the handle over accordingly.
I think that dominate right handers would be better served to do just the opposite...
NOW for the FUN STUFF 
With all of this said, I'm FIRMLY convinced that what are referred to in todays market as "Right Handed Reels" were originally designed BY and FOR "Dominate Left Fishermen" 
And maybe the Dominate Lefty Designer figured that Dominate Righty fishermen would have enough common sense to know the difference
Or possibly there wasn't enough room on the box to include "IF YOU'RE A DOMINATE RIGHTY... DON'T BUY THIS... BUY THE OTHER ONE!!! THIS REEL IS FOR DOMINATE LEFTY'S ONLY WHO WANT TO CAST, PITCH, FLIP, TWITCH, JUMP, FIGHT AND CONTROL FISH WITH THEIR DOMINATE LEFT HAND AND ONLY TURN A HANDLE WITH THEIR WIMPY RIGHT HAND".
LOL... I love these types of discussions
Diggy reply :
My friend just bought a promax combo in RH as his first baitcaster for freshwater fishing. He was using it yesterday to snakehead fish with me. He had trouble walking the frog because of coordination, he had to use two hands. He tried my lh reel then said it felt weird and he would stick with rh.
Later in the day he was complaining about the rh coordination again. I let him try my reel one more time but told him to try palming the reel. That was it, he was able to reel properly with the LH and control the frog as he wanted. He is returning the RH setup and will be getting another reel and rod in LH based on my recommendation. He caught a few snakehead on his RH setup and complained of fumbling with the reel and rod and lack of control from his dominant arm.
I had RH setups as previously mentioned and took a gamble on a clearance 201e citica and it felt much more natural for me to use as a rh'ded person
deep reply :
I wonder how come I've never seen an LH spincast reel...
Diggy reply :
On 8/12/2012 at 10:16 PM, deep said:I wonder how come I've never seen an LH spincast reel...
Abu Garcia Abumatic Spin Cast Reels
zebco 11T Triggerspin Spin Cast Reels
these spincast reels are like spinning where you can pick left or right
BassAssassin726 reply :
On 8/11/2012 at 6:04 AM, webertime said:I'm being 100% serious, give this a shot and you'd be pretty amazed at how fast you can adapt. Just do everything you do with your right hand normally, with your left (brushing teeth, fork and knife, "wipe", open doors, use keys, computer mouse, etc.) for 2-3 weeks. It takes no time or real effort and if nothing else you are creating new pathways and connections in your brain, which is good to do anyway.
X2 Excellent advice. It may sound silly but it works. I did it when i was younger and started playing guitar and drums. My left hand might as well have been dead. Did that for a month and now its the same as my right. Stil do it to this day.
bigt89 reply :
Leftys is all I can use I'm left handed its more natural for me I can throw right but hurts my wrist unless I hold the reel or a rod with a 2nd grip above reel now my off shore gear I can do right handed for marlin tuna etc. I just hate how lefty are hard to come by in my area. Leftys are easy to get used to just feels weird at first but so much more comfortable for me
rockchalk06 reply :
I feel stupid for asking this, but why are people switching?
Arv reply :
I learned baitcasters with both. It really wasnt that bad. I prefer a lefty reel because I started with left handed spinning reels, so it feels a little more comfortable. But after forcing myself to use right handed reels it really doesnt make a difference any more. Also, I hate to pass up a good deal on a nice reel just because of the dexterity
hooah212002 reply :
On 8/13/2012 at 6:58 AM, rockchalk06 said:I feel stupid for asking this, but why are people switching?
Say you cast right-handed, but also reel right handed (for your baitcaster). There is that split second it takes to swap hands when your bait hits the water. If you get a hit as your bait hits the water or as it's falling, you could miss some fish.
clayton86 reply :
On 8/13/2012 at 7:01 AM, Arv said:Also, I hate to pass up a good deal on a nice reel just because of the dexterity
Exactly why I have 2 lefty reels
rockchalk06 reply :
On 8/13/2012 at 8:46 AM, hooah212002 said:Say you cast right-handed, but also reel right handed (for your baitcaster). There is that split second it takes to swap hands when your bait hits the water. If you get a hit as your bait hits the water or as it's falling, you could miss some fish.
I see. I have never had that happen. I tried messing with one the other day and it felt so awkward that I put it back.
johnnytoxin reply :
You could learn to switch hands before the bait hits the water which a lot of us do. There is no advantage/disadvantage to what hand you reel with. Just do what feels good!
MarkH024 reply :
On 8/14/2012 at 12:47 AM, johnnytoxin said:You could learn to switch hands before the bait hits the water which a lot of us do. There is no advantage/disadvantage to what hand you reel with. Just do what feels good!
x2
Sherlock 60 reply :
"My next goal is to cast my righty reels with my left hand and reeling with my right, so I don't have to switch hands with the righty's."
I have been doing this for 2 years now and the left feels just as natural as the right. It is much more efficient, and, depending on which direction I am casting, I probably cast left-handed about 60% of the time.
clayton86 reply :
After my last trip the RH reels feel like the odd ones now but just for a second I'm now proficient with both it didn't take to long.
new2BC4bass reply :
On 8/13/2012 at 9:26 AM, clayton86 said:Exactly why I have 2 lefty reels
And why about half my reels are right hand.
On 8/14/2012 at 12:47 AM, johnnytoxin said:You could learn to switch hands before the bait hits the water which a lot of us do.
I thought the whole idea was to maintain control of the spool throughout the cast?
On 8/13/2012 at 3:44 PM, rockchalk06 said:I see. I have never had that happen. I tried messing with one the other day and it felt so awkward that I put it back.
In reference to having a fish hit the lure just as it hits the water, I have had it happen several times, and I don't fish anywhere near as often as the rest of you lucky guys.
johnnytoxin reply :
@new2bc4bass: when I switch hands in mid cast my left thumb takes over controlling the spool. Its all personal preference/comfort brotha.
unionman reply :
On 8/10/2012 at 10:44 AM, BassAssassin726 said:I never got the switching hands thing. I'm a righty. Started fishing with a spinning reel with the handle on the left and just stayed with it when I went to baitcasters. Id rather have the rod in my dominant hand for feel. I can reel just fine with my left hand. Its just spinning a handle in a circle. Lol
Exactly.
loodkop reply :
Every time this subject comes up ( about once in 6 weeks) I wonder how much money KVD could have made if he didn't have to switch hands after casting? Just do what feels right and don't be bothered by what others do.
jignfule reply :
Glad I switched to lefty many many years ago. Feels much more natural to me.
retiredbosn reply :
I always fished left handed when using spinning tackle, I think most ppl do, but when I started using baitcasting reels I had to use a RH reel don't really know why. I tried to stay with the handle on the left hand side but in the end my left hand would stay stationary and my right hand would move the rod and reel around it!! Crazy I know, I think it has to do with the fact that in spinning gear your left hand is lower than your right, in B/C of course they are on the same plane. If you can figure it out let me know.
TNBassin' reply :
I've never understood how right handed people like myself, crank with their right hand. All of my gear is lefty retrieve. just seems more natural to me to fight the fish with my strong hand/arm, and retrieve with my left hand.
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