Why We Use Rh Baitcasters 2025
aavery2 reply :
I came across an article that had an interesting quote from a book that from what I can tell was written in 1881. What say you?
"Most fishing reels are suspended from the bottom of the rod, since this position requires no wrist strength to overcome gravity while enabling the angler to cast and retrieve without changing hands. The baitcasting reel's unusual mounting position atop the rod is an accident of history. Baitcasting reels were originally designed to be cast when positioned atop the rod, then rotated upside-down in order to operate the crank handle while playing a fish or retrieving line. However, in practice most anglers preferred to keep the reel atop the rod for both cast and retrieve by simply transferring the rod to the left hand for the retrieve, then reverse-winding the crank handle. Because of this preference, mounting the crank handle on the right side of a bait casting reel (with standard clockwise crank handle rotation) has become customary, though models with left-hand retrieve have gained in popularity in recent years thanks to user familiarity with the spinning reel"
adam lancia reply :
Now it all makes sense!!!!!!
J Francho reply :
I have heard this explanation before. It's so far the least crazy explanation.
Slipknot_Fan666 reply :
I use right handed baitcasters and I also swap my spinning g reels to right hand retrieve because it feels more natural and I feel that I have more control and power. Maybe most of you grew up using spinning reels but I grew up using a Zebco 33 so that's what feels normal.
Maico1 reply :
I would like to believe it is because I enjoy using a RH Baitcaster as much as the guy who uses a LH Baitcaster......
Darren. reply :
Nice! I'm a righty for baitcasting. But I do
practice the ambidextrous approach often,
casting lefty and reeling righty as opposed
to swapping hands.
But that'll be something I mess with for sake
of training my casting motion with my left.
aavery2 reply :
I find it interesting that they so much preferred to use their right hands to crank the reel that they transferred hands after the cast, turned the reel upside down from design, and cranked it in reverse.
Slipknot_Fan666 reply :
On 11/24/2014 at 11:38 PM, aavery2 said:I find it interesting that they so much preferred to use their right hands to crank the reel that they transferred hands after the cast, turned the reel upside down from design, and cranked it in reverse.
I've done that with a spinning reel before I knew you could change what side the handle is on.
FunkJishing reply :
thats a good find. makes a lot of sence.
Trey Harpel reply :
I cant reel RH to save my life
Grantman83 reply :
It's funny, I use spinning left handed and casting right handed. I'm trying to learn left handed reels so as not to limit myself but man it feels weird
Tywithay reply :
I'm righty on both as well. I can cast with both hands, but can only reel with my right. Work the rod better with my left anyway.On 11/24/2014 at 11:05 PM, Demonic Forrest said:I use right handed baitcasters and I also swap my spinning g reels to right hand retrieve because it feels more natural and I feel that I have more control and power. Maybe most of you grew up using spinning reels but I grew up using a Zebco 33 so that's what feels normal.
Raul reply :
I use and will always use RH baitcasters, besides, all the reel models are available for righty but not for lefty.
J Francho reply :
There's lefties you can't get in righty, Raul......
Fisher-O-men reply :
On 11/24/2014 at 11:38 PM, aavery2 said:I find it interesting that they so much preferred to use their right hands to crank the reel that they transferred hands after the cast, turned the reel upside down from design, and cranked it in reverse.
So when did they reverse the gearing? Am I reading this right? I have never seen a baitcaster geared to crank forward from the underside of the rod.
MassBass reply :
LH retrieve is far superior. There is no need to be switching hands every cast.
J Francho reply :
Why would you assume righty users switch hands on every cast? Since all my casts, save a pitch cast (I use a lefty reel for this) are two handed, it's pretty natural to move my right from the knobs to the trigger and back - less movement than if I two hand cast a lefty, where I have move my left hand from the knobs to the rear grip.
Oh, you only do one handed casts? Two handed casts are far superior. See what I did there?
Learn both, find an efficient technique that yields both distance and accuracy, and worry little about judging what others do. Chances are, they'll whip you at the weigh in, while your worried about superiority.
EmersonFish reply :
As a right-handed person who uses left-hand retrieve baitcasters exclusively, I find the theories of how the right-hand retrieve casting reel came to be as it is interesting. What I try not to do is get into debates about what retrieve side makes more sense. I might joke around with people now and then, but at the end of the day, whatever works for someone is just fine. I'm just happy that left-hand retrieve reels are popular enough that there are plenty of them available.
Raul reply :
On 11/25/2014 at 3:57 AM, MassBass said:LH retrieve is far superior. There is no need to be switching hands every cast.
I wouldn´t put my money on that bet.
Alonerankin2 reply :
On 11/25/2014 at 3:57 AM, MassBass said:LH retrieve is far superior. There is no need to be switching hands every cast.
No it is not... Everyone has a style, what works for me, may not work for you etc... Is that what you meant to say?
MassBass reply :
On 11/25/2014 at 5:35 AM, Alonerankin2 said:No it is not... Everyone has a style, what works for me, may not work for you etc... Is that what you meant to say?
ok. Ill just leave it at that. I could extrapolate numerous reasons why LH is better hands down for ME. I didn't mean to start an argument.
ABW reply :
On 11/25/2014 at 2:47 AM, Grantman83 said:It's funny, I use spinning left handed and casting right handed. I'm trying to learn left handed reels so as not to limit myself but man it feels weird
I'm the exact same way. I bet if I bought a left handed baitcaster I wouldn't have any problems adjusting to it.
aavery2 reply :
On 11/25/2014 at 3:45 AM, Fisher-O-men said:So when did they reverse the gearing? Am I reading this right? I have never seen a baitcaster geared to crank forward from the underside of the rod.
Your reading it right, the article did not give a date as when they reversed the gearing, it just said that soon after the reels were changed and LH reels started to become more popular. This was written before 1900.
Smokinal reply :
PNWdude reply :
Hmm... I just realized this topic is to fishing as Apple vs Android is to phones, Xbox vs PS4 is to consoles, Mac vs PC is to computers.
Anyways, mark me down for being RH and prefering to us LH reels.
aavery2 reply :
On 11/25/2014 at 1:44 PM, PNWdude said:Hmm... I just realized this topic is to fishing as Apple vs Android is to phones, Xbox vs PS4 is to consoles, Mac vs PC is to computers.
Anyways, mark me down for being RH and prefering to us LH reels.
You may want to go back and read the opening post. The direction it is heading is the standard LH -vs- RH threads, but that was not the way it was started.
PNWdude reply :
On 11/25/2014 at 1:46 PM, aavery2 said:You may want to go back and read the opening post. The direction it is heading is the standard LH -vs- RH threads, but that was not the way it was started.
Ahh, yes. I'm sorry. I was more so commenting with regards to how people were getting worked up over their reel preference.
In regards to the original post, that's very interesting. I had no idea that's how it was back then.
aavery2 reply :
On 11/25/2014 at 1:54 PM, PNWdude said:Ahh, yes. I'm sorry. I was more so commenting with regards to how people were getting worked up over their reel preference.
In regards to the original post, that's very interesting. I had no idea that's how it was back then.
I was kind of hoping someone could either add to or debunk the information in the original post. I feel like these LH vs RH threads never really add much productive information.
PNWdude reply :
On 11/25/2014 at 2:36 PM, aavery2 said:I was kind of hoping someone could either add to or debunk the information in the original post. I feel like these LH vs RH threads never really add much productive information.
The Wikipedia page on baitcasting reels uses the same quote (2nd paragraph) and is indeed from 1881 according to the reference. A book written by Henshall, J.A. (1881) Book of the Black Bass.
aavery2 reply :
On 11/25/2014 at 2:46 PM, PNWdude said:The Wikipedia page on baitcasting reels uses the same quote (2nd paragraph) and is indeed from 1881 according to the reference. A book written by Henshall, J.A. (1881) Book of the Black Bass.
Thank you, the reference to the book was exactly what I was looking for. I was able to get the ISBN for the book, found it for about 30 dollars. I know what I want in my Christmas stocking now..... Thanks again
PNWdude reply :
On 11/25/2014 at 2:49 PM, aavery2 said:Thank you, the reference to the book was exactly what I was looking for. I was able to get the ISBN for the book, found it for about 30 dollars. I know what I want in my Christmas stocking now..... Thanks again
No problem! Glad I could help out.
deep reply :
I always thought lefty baitcaster reels were a much more recent thing. Learn something new everyday! Thanks for the post.
J Francho reply :
Deep, my second baitcasting reel, a Daiwa, was purchased in the mid 80s, and it was a lefty.
J Francho reply :
On 11/25/2014 at 2:36 PM, aavery2 said:I feel like these LH vs RH threads never really add much productive information.
That's kind of my fault. Sorry about that...
OkobojiEagle reply :
On 11/25/2014 at 2:49 PM, aavery2 said:Thank you, the reference to the book was exactly what I was looking for. I was able to get the ISBN for the book, found it for about 30 dollars. I know what I want in my Christmas stocking now..... Thanks again
Considering our evolution into "text-write" are you certain you can read and understand a book written in 1881?
oe
J Francho reply :
On 11/25/2014 at 10:01 PM, OkobojiEagle said:Considering our evolution into "text-write" are you certain you can read and understand a book written in 1881?
oe
This might help: http://www.talklikeapirate.com/translator.html
SirSnookalot reply :
Can't say where I heard it but I've been led to believe the first baitcaster was invented by a left handed person. By having the rod in his power arm and not having to change hands makes sense to me. True or not, I don't know.
OkobojiEagle reply :
John, you are the master of information... not all of it particularly useful, but the master all the same!
oe
aavery2 reply :
On 11/25/2014 at 9:53 PM, J Francho said:That's kind of my fault. Sorry about that...
On 11/25/2014 at 10:01 PM, OkobojiEagle said:Considering our evolution into "text-write" are you certain you can read and understand a book written in 1881?
oe
Fortunate for me, I am from a long lost tribe of Americans that existed before the advent of texting. I may still be able to comprehend.
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