Why is the reel handle on the right hand side? 2024

Doug_Jefferson reply :

Hi there,

I have a question. When I started fishing, about 30 years ago, I was taught to hold the rod with my strong arm and to wind with my weaker one. So why is that when I came to the US that all I see is people fishing the other way round? Any ideas???

Thanks

guest reply :

WELCOME ABOARD!

I wondered this myself, when i made the switch from spinning to baitcasting reels. I even bought a couple of baitcasters with the handle for right hand retrieve. I found out for some reason it is more comfortable for the reel to have the handels on the other side and to switch up hands after the cast, DON"T KNOW WHY!

Catt reply :

Early reels were often operated by inverting the reel in order to retrieve line by back-winding, and the reel crank handle was positioned on the right side of the reel for this reason. As a result, the right-hand crank position for bait casting reels has become customary over the years.

senile1 reply :

I'm right-handed but my left arm is slightly stronger than my right arm due to a past injury. So I'm casting with my weaker right arm and I'm reeling with it as well, but I'm setting the hook with my strong arm. Go figure.

Red reply :

yeah i tried baitcasting with RH reels, couldnt get it, so now i only buy baitcast reels with LH retrieve...they are out there, some make em some dont, from my experience anyway...i know abu makes alot of them, thats one reason why i started using them, it was the only reel in my price range in gander mountain that had LH...now i only use abu reels, baitcast and spinning

Cliff

Catt reply :

Shimano makes LH in every model they sell

James Heddon reply :

I'm left-handed, and I swear the person who invented the thing was left-handed too! I find it kind of comical to watch the pros on TV cast, then switch hands! I think this is one instance where the right handed world is struggling to do something that comes natural to a lefty! ;D

guest reply :

The use of RH retrieve baitcasters is something that never made sense to me. I certainly don't want to work a lure, set a hook, and fight a fish with my weaker, less dexterous arm. It's kind of like a baseball player wearing a glove on his throwing hand. I'm right-handed and every baitcaster I've owned since I was 12 years old has been left-hand retrieve. A lot of pros are finally starting to make the switch to left-handers for alot of presentations, and it's about time.

Probably the only logical reason I can think to reel with your "power hand" is if that's just the way you learned and don't want to make the switch. That's understandable, but it still doesn't explain why the same guys who use RH baitcasters will crank their spinning reel with their left hand. I guess we all have our own little habits that don't make sense to anyone else!

grimlin reply :

I can't crank a spinning reel with my left hand in all my years of fishing...i haven't even tried a baitcaster.I'm one of those idiots switching around. I figured if i had a hard time with spinning reel no sense in trying with a baitcaster.

armesjr reply :

All my baitcasters are RH retrieve, and all my spinning rods are LH retrieve. I have tried switching my spinning rods to RH retrieve and it just feels weird. Does anyone else retrieve one stlye right handed and the other style left handed.

Taliesin reply :

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All my baitcasters are RH retrieve, and all my spinning rods are LH retrieve. I have tried switching my spinning rods to RH retrieve and it just feels weird. Does anyone else retrieve one stlye right handed and the other style left handed.

I do it too.

There is one thing I do sometimes on long casts with a baitcaster that will confuse people.

I cast with my right, but during the cast I will change hands and thumb the reel with the left.

Then I am ready to retrieve as soon as the lure hits the water (just like a spinning reel with the handle on the left).

I've thought about trying left-handed baitcasters, but I got to thinking about it. The reason I would change is so that my right hand could stay in one place all the time (like I do with spinning gear). However, during the cast my right hand is behind the reel and during the retrieve I hold it right at the reel so i would be changing hand positions anyway.

I used to spend a lot of time sword fighting (Society for Creative Anachronism) and got used to using my off-hand a lot anyway. My right arm may be stronger, but not by much.

David P reply :

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All my baitcasters are RH retrieve, and all my spinning rods are LH retrieve. I have tried switching my spinning rods to RH retrieve and it just feels weird. Does anyone else retrieve one stlye right handed and the other style left handed.

Yah, I use LH on Spinning, and my first BC I got I got a LH retrieve but for some reason it felt weird.. So I use RH for BC now.

Raul reply :

Back then in the age of the dinosaurs you could choose between RH baitcaster and .... RH baitcaster, that was it, why they were RH only is something I don 't know but I do know that if you wanted to fish with a bc you had to learn to switch hands to reel in with the right, it may not make sense to you but it don 't matter, you had to do what you had to do and manufacturers didn 't care if it made sense to you, you wanted a bc you could choose a righty or a righty.

It don 't make sense to me that in many countries around the world the steering wheel of vehicles is on the right side, if the vehicle is auto no problem, but if it 's manual transmission that would be a chore shifting gears with your less dextrous hand, shifting gears requires much more dexterity and coordination than I can ask out of my left hand which is only good for holding things ( like a fishing rod ) or scratching my rear end.

guest reply :

SCRATCHING YOUR REAR END ARE YOUR ARMS LONG ENOUGH FOR THAT

SPEEDBEAD. reply :

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Shimano makes LH in every model they sell

Yet they still cant' make one with a brake you can adjust w/o taking off the sideplate, hmmm....

I prefer to use a left handed reel for things like spinnerbaits and buzzbaits, due to the fact that I begin reeling the second they hit the water. Everything else, I have learned to use a right hand retrieve for the simple fact of them being easier to find.

Wayne

George Welcome reply :

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.

Cephkiller reply :

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Yet they still cant' make one with a brake you can adjust w/o taking off the sideplate, hmmm....

I never seem to have this problem with my Shimano brakes. If I need to increase the brakes I press my thumb on the spool harder. If I need less brake I reduce the pressure on my thumb. It works every time

It's similar to cars. Anti-lock brakes, traction control, etc. are great if you need them, but you wouldn't want them on a race car if you know how to handle it. Shimanos are race cars. Mag brakes reels are pedestrian. Simple.

Alright, everybody commence bashing me!

guest reply :

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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.

So you think turning a handle requires more strength than setting a hook or horsing a bass out of cover? When I hook a bass with baitcasting gear I don't just point the rod at the fish and winch him in with the reel. I slam him with the rod and use it's leverage to pull him out, and it makes more sense to use my stronger arm for that. But that's just me!

SimonSays reply :

Quote

Quote
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.

So you think turning a handle requires more strength than setting a hook or horsing a bass out of cover? When I hook a bass with baitcasting gear I don't just point the rod at the fish and winch him in with the reel. I slam him with the rod and use it's leverage to pull him out, and it makes more sense to use my stronger arm for that. But that's just me!

I agree, I don't know about anyone else ... but I use my rod alot for leverage also on my baitcasting set up, all my rods are lefties, I think switching is kinda silly when 90% or so of the hits that I experience on jigs and soft plastics (which I mainly fish) are on the initial fall, if you're switching when there's a hit you lose out on that time to set the hook. Also my right arm is alot stronger than my left for those strong hooksets.

Catt reply :

Quote

Quote
Shimano makes LH in every model they sell

Yet they still cant' make one with a brake you can adjust w/o taking off the sideplate, hmmm....

I prefer to use a left handed reel for things like spinnerbaits and buzzbaits, due to the fact that I begin reeling the second they hit the water. Everything else, I have learned to use a right hand retrieve for the simple fact of them being easier to find.

Wayne

Most all Shimano low profiles have your little side release to access the brakes; I however prefer Calcutta's because I don't want anything that can come apart that easy.

fish-fighting-illini reply :

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Shimano makes LH in every model they sell

No big deal anyway but looks like Shimano makes a lot more LH's than most anyone but at least on the Bass Pro shops they don't have 100% LH and RH. They do have "A" left hand option or several options in a series it looks like. IE "Curado", "Citica"

Point being lefty's have less choices in the US

Or depending on what hand an individual thinks they should reel with lefties have many more models to choose from? Now I've done it here goes the proper LH or RH argument all over again!

I've confused myself in the process !!! lol

Tpayneful reply :

I fish with LH baitcast reels. I started fishing with spinning reels and found it more comfortable to use a LH when I started using baitcasters. Bass Pro Shops reels have almost all of their reels in both RH and LH but other manufacturers limit the options for LH baitcasters. They have them but not an equal offering of each.

George Welcome reply :

"So you think turning a handle requires more strength than setting a hook or horsing a bass out of cover? When I hook a bass with baitcasting gear I don't just point the rod at the fish and winch him in with the reel. I slam him with the rod and use it's leverage to pull him out, and it makes more sense to use my stronger arm for that. But that's just me!""

I didn't say that I think anything - I gave you the technical reasoning for the way the handles are placed on the reels.

roadwarrior reply :

The question was, "Why is the reel handle on the right side?"; not "Which side do you prefer..."

I have seen George Welcome's response before, it's cut and dry and that's the "why."

rawr215 reply :

Here is my explaination because I have carpal tunnel syndrome

My friend bought me a abu garcia revo s and i selected to have a left hand reel because all my spinning oufits were left handed. I haven't been fishing for a while, but when i got this reel, i tried my hardest to learn how to cast a bait casting with a 6.5 ft rod. Believe me, it'll get tiring and the pain on my arm sucks :T

Last weekend when i went to BPS, i bought a BPS baitcasting combo because i just wanted the rod, but the reel was really cheap. It only came with right hand reels, so.. what ever. I tested it out any way and i felt more comfortable using my left hand. Instead of casting and holding the reel/rod with my right hand, i am allowed to swap over and let my casting arm relax.

So in my opinion, they made it retrieve right hand is so that you can save your energy and reduce fatigue in your right hand so you don't have to cast and hold on to the big rod

I can be completely wrong.... but, take it from a person who have trouble typing and playing tennis due to pain on the right arm...

guest reply :

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Hi there,
I have a question. When I started fishing, about 30 years ago, I was taught to hold the rod with my strong arm and to wind with my weaker one. So why is that when I came to the US that all I see is people fishing the other way round? Any ideas???

Thanks

The question was in fact "why are people fishing the other way around" not "why is the handle on the right side". I gave a reason why people might fish that way-- because that's what they're used to. I also gave several reasons why this it isn't a good idea. The OP sounded like he wanted to know the "right" way to do it. Just trying to help. tight lines

edit--I see now the title of the post was about which side the handle is on, while the question in the post was different. I guess we were answering two different questions.

Catt reply :

The question was in fact "why are people fishing the other way around", the answer is because the man who invented (can't remember his name) the reel was left handed; he would cast with his left hand and retrieve with his right. So in reality what we Americans call right handed reels are actually left handed reels.

lubina reply :

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The question was in fact "why are people fishing the other way around", the answer is because the man who invented (can't remember his name) the reel was left handed; he would cast with his left hand and retrieve with his right. So in reality what we Americans call right handed reels are actually left handed reels.

I'll buy that!!!!!!

ABC123 reply :

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It don 't make sense to me that in many countries around the world the steering wheel of vehicles is on the right side, if the vehicle is auto no problem, but if it 's manual transmission that would be a chore shifting gears with your less dextrous hand, shifting gears requires much more dexterity and coordination than I can ask out of my left hand which is only good for holding things ( like a fishing rod ) or scratching my rear end.

Drivers used to be on the right side, in America. Drivers got moved to the left side for one basic reason. Becouse womans dresses were getting dirty from being splashed by mud and water from oncoming traffic. To fix the problem, they just rearranged the occupants. It would have been a whole different world if they would have installed doors and windows instead....

.dsaavedra. reply :

im with Muddy on this one. when i started w/ baitcasters, i was like I don't understand why is the handle on the right side, but now after using them, i couldnt imagine doing it differently. the fact that i have to switch hands feels comfortoble to me, everything about baitcasters is comfortable. now if i use a spinning reel, handle MUST be on the left, i cant for the life of me fish one where the handles on the right. just something you get used to and accept.

FishTank reply :

I did a little surfing and found this....

http://www.antiquefishingreels.info/FAQgeneral.htm

Check out question #4. Not much of an answer but it's just a little food for thought.

Fishin Phil reply :

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Shimano makes LH in every model they sell

Not the Core!!!! :'(

Can't afford one yet anyway!!

koko36265 reply :

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All my baitcasters are RH retrieve, and all my spinning rods are LH retrieve. I have tried switching my spinning rods to RH retrieve and it just feels weird. Does anyone else retrieve one stlye right handed and the other style left handed.

I have the same set-up.... Most of the time I use my spinning reels for my slower presentations.....Mainly because I am what you would call a power fisherman.... I can't stand throwing a senko or something out and letting it sit, or even working it slow.... I want to get it out there and get it back to the boat as fast as I can......If I use spinning for this application for some reason it makes me work it slow.... I know it sounds weird but that is how I do it....Other than jigs I use LH spinning for all my slower applications, and RH bait casting for all my others

joe bag o donuts reply :

Some of you may have heard of Lefty Kreh. He is a respected authority on flyfishing. Anyway he holds workshops and one thing he does is have somene who is used to reeling in a spinning reel with their left hand come up and reel in an amount of line with first his left hand and then his right hand on a fly reel. He times him both times and it seems without fail that person will reel faster with his right hand.

Why? Because that person is right handed! On a spinning reel the circles you make when reeling in are fairly large and require little to no coordination. However the small circles you make on a fly or baitcasting reel require more much more coordination. That's why a righty will find it easier to reel quickly with a handle on the right side.

Hope that helps...

Now me personally I don't feel comfortable working a rod with my left hand so I prefer left hand reels. I'd rather use my strong hand to control the rod than a little crank.

Jeff_NHBA reply :

How about this:

As a right-handed person is flipping, the baitcaster is in the right hand and the line is in the left hand. As the line is let go during the flipping cast, the line stays clear of the reel handle since it is on the right side and the line comes in from the left. I say this because I'm left-handed and I use RH baitcasters. If I don't position the handle crank properly (in line with the rod), or turn my left wrist inward a bit, the line will get tangled in the handle. For regular casting, I find myself at an advantage since I don't have to switch hands after a cast. This is no doubt shear luck as most items are designed for left-minded (right-handed) people. (left-handed people are in their right mind) ;D

Fendercaster reply :

posted by James_Heddon:

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I'm left-handed, and I swear the person who invented the thing was left-handed too! I find it kind of comical to watch the pros on TV cast, then switch hands! I think this is one instance where the right handed world is struggling to do something that comes natural to a lefty!

I've got to agree with this, a right hand retrieve feels perfectly natural to me, for both spinning and baitcasters.

I do play guitar right handed, though.

brgbassmaster reply :

i use left handed pflueger and abu

smokyjoe reply :

I am right handed and use left handed bait cast reels. I did not start out that way but my late Uncle John who was a great surface lure fisherman for years convinced me that this was the thing to do. He told me that when you are laying a lure up close to the bank or any structure you had better be ready for a strike and not be changing hands. He fished almost every day at Lake Norfork for about 20 years, handmade his own surface lures and had calendars marked daily where he recorded his catch. I looked thru these calendars and was convinced that whatever Uncle John said was the thing to do. I believe he caught thousands of bass on these lures......and he was right handed and used left handed reels!

smokyjoe reply :

As I posted before I am right handed and use left handed baitcast reels. I also found that at the end of the season/year sometimes you can get some really great deals on left handed reels in sales! They seem to make more of them than they can sell and some nice reels can be gotten at a discount! I once bought 3 ABU Garcia Ambassaduer's that way for about 2/3 or less of the regular price.

roadwarrior reply :

Hmm...

I guess I got lucky.

I was born with two hands and learned to use them both. :

skillet reply :

WELCOME to the forums!!! I have almost always used baitcasters (RH) and when I finally broke down and bought a decent spinning outfit and I left it LH, can't say why but it works for me!!!

As Ever,

skillet

Zeta reply :

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I'm left-handed,
and I swear the person who invented the thing was left-handed too! I find it kind of comical

to watch the pros on TV cast, then switch hands! I think this is one instance where the right

handed world is struggling to do something that comes natural to a lefty! ;D

Yup yup - from another lefty!

Rivera_Red reply :

My first baitcast was a lefty I bought by mistake about eight years ago. I have to say that was a mistake I repeat to this day.

MonarkMcfaster reply :

I am right handed and also prefer a LH in both types of reels, I don't like making the cast and then being caught off gaurd by a sudden strike while the rod is between both hands....just my 2cents worth.

islandbass reply :

If you ask me, it leads me to think the baitcast reel was invented by a left hand dominant person as others have said.

Bottom line, use the reel with the handle on the side most comfortable to use for you and if you have the time, learn to fish the opposite way. It takes a little reprogramming, but it can be done.

guest reply :

I have been reading this thread for days and really my mother, who never fished in her life had the right answer for this question:

BECAUSE IT IS, NOW GO OUT AND PLAY

NOW THATS THE END OF THAT

roadwarrior reply :

Nope, we have a new thread running today... :

FishTank reply :

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I have been reading this thread for days and really my mother, who never fished in her life had the right answer for this question:
BECAUSE IT IS, NOW GO OUT AND PLAY

NOW THATS THE END OF THAT

Thanks, I need that.....

moby bass reply :

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BECAUSE IT IS, NOW GO OUT AND PLAY

That's why they're Moms.. Ya gotta love 'em

d.hark reply :

Quote
Some of you may have heard of Lefty Kreh. He is a respected authority on flyfishing. Anyway he holds workshops and one thing he does is have somene who is used to reeling in a spinning reel with their left hand come up and reel in an amount of line with first his left hand and then his right hand on a fly reel. He times him both times and it seems without fail that person will reel faster with his right hand.
Why? Because that person is right handed! On a spinning reel the circles you make when reeling in are fairly large and require little to no coordination. However the small circles you make on a fly or baitcasting reel require more much more coordination. That's why a righty will find it easier to reel quickly with a handle on the right side.

Hope that helps...

Now me personally I don't feel comfortable working a rod with my left hand so I prefer left hand reels. I'd rather use my strong hand to control the rod than a little crank.

I think this just about sums it up for me. I am for the most part righty but can do just about everything lefty just as well (some things I actually do do lefty). But I would say righty is my power side. The long circle retrieve on a spinning reel feels best for me on the left side and the rod in my right (power hand). Now like this example says on a baitcaster where the retrieve circle is smaller it feels better in my right hand and the pole in my left. But after seeing this example maybe its more of the length of the retreive circle. It seems like when bringing in a fish with spinning gear you really want your power hand on the pole as I feel this is how you are actually pulling that fish in. Now on a baitcaster for me anyways when bringing in a fish your hands are almost together so your are using both, so you have more leverage, so this is where you want your power hand on the reel. This is how I see it and again after reading about this experiment it makes obvious sense to me. Theres no right or wrong just what feels most comfortable to you.

Lobster Monster reply :

Maybe I'm just retarded but I grew up on push button reels with the handle on the right side. I then tried spinning reels with the handle on the left side and it felt perfectly right. When I finally started using baitcaster, it felt great using it as I did the pushbutton.

If I'm right handed, I should reel in right handed. If the reel is flipped over, I'll reel with the other hand.

RoLo reply :

It's really simple, if you're left-handed you're good to go.

If you're right-handed, ALWAYS order a "left-hand" casting reel.

If any company doesn't offer a left-hand reel, they lost my business.

Roger

Raul reply :

Uhhh, there must be something in the air that has been resurrecting 2,3,4 YEARS OLD threads lately.

dodgeguy reply :

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The use of RH retrieve baitcasters is something that never made sense to me. I certainly don't want to work a lure, set a hook, and fight a fish with my weaker, less dexterous arm. It's kind of like a baseball player wearing a glove on his throwing hand. I'm right-handed and every baitcaster I've owned since I was 12 years old has been left-hand retrieve. A lot of pros are finally starting to make the switch to left-handers for alot of presentations, and it's about time.
it's very simple.i started fishing with spinning rods with left hand cranks.i am right handed.a spinning reel has the handle below the rod and it goes in a bigger circle than a baitcaster handle because it's bigger.when i went to choose a baitcaster i thought it would be good to get a lefty.turns out it stunk.the reason is the reel is on top of the rod and the crank males smaller circles.the end result is my left hasnd was traing to reel a spinning reel and could not reel a baitcaster smoothly.i wound up buying right handed reels and could now reel properly.switching hands comes easy and is no issue and happens before the bait ever touchs the water.

Probably the only logical reason I can think to reel with your "power hand" is if that's just the way you learned and don't want to make the switch. That's understandable, but it still doesn't explain why the same guys who use RH baitcasters will crank their spinning reel with their left hand. I guess we all have our own little habits that don't make sense to anyone else!

Steve A. reply :

I am RH. I cast with my right arm and reel with my left hand. Never have to switch. Switching never made sense. Never loose contact with the bait.

Koop reply :

closest I could find to a graveyard

Fishing Rhino reply :

Cranking the reel isn't the awkward part for me.

In fact, when I got my first spinning reel, cranking left handed was awkward. Could never figure out any logical reason as to why regular reels were cranked with the right, and spinning with the left.

The thing that "bugs" me with a baitcaster is working the bait. I do most of my fishing with a spinning reel, so I'm used to twitching, dragging, flicking, jerking and imparting any other "input" with my right hand.

When I use a baitcaster, imparting action to the bait feels very awkward. Ditto for casting. I cast using the same hand for either, but with the baitcaster, I then have to switch grips to reel.

I've been using the baitcaster a bit more and am developing a feel for working the bait with my left hand/arm.

Now, if I took the time to learn to cast left handed, I'd be good to go.

I've heard all manner of explanations as to why the difference, but none of them make any sense or logic to me.

rubba bubba reply :

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Uhhh, there must be something in the air that has been resurrecting 2,3,4 YEARS OLD threads lately.

People appear to be using the search function; isn't it marvelous?

ShawnCorreia reply :

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I'm left-handed, and I swear the person who invented the thing was left-handed too! I find it kind of comical to watch the pros on TV cast, then switch hands! I think this is one instance where the right handed world is struggling to do something that comes natural to a lefty! ;D

I only use rh retrieve baitcasters because my coordination is better with my right giving my retrieve a smoother ride. This is the most important factor in successfully fishing a spinnerbait. If you notice the pro's that you are laughing at on tv are starting to learn how to cast /pitch /flip left handed so they won't have to switch hands. Denny Brauer is a great example of this.

Garry2Rs reply :

I realize that this thread is several years old, but I thought you might like to have the real reason Right Handed reels have the crank on the right side.

Before the 1950's there were almost no reels made with a free-spool function. Therefore the reel handle spun backwards during the cast.

It therefore made sense to place the crank handle on the right side of the frame, for right handed casters. In this position it was away from the body, during the cast, and less likely to be fouled by sleeves etc.

VAfishin4me reply :

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I realize that this thread is several years old, but I thought you might like to have the real reason Right Handed reels have the crank on the right side.
Before the 1950's there were almost no reels made with a free-spool function. Therefore the reel handle spun backwards during the cast.

It therefore made sense to place the crank handle on the right side of the frame, for right handed casters. In this position it was away from the body, during the cast, and less likely to be fouled by sleeves etc.

you really dug this thread up. interesting theory though.

Delaware Valley Tackle reply :

Quote
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.

x2 You took the words right out of my mouth.

workhurts reply :

A quick search out on the internets reveals... no factual data. Many sources speculate, but none have documentation to back it up. It seems the reel was invented so long ago that no documentation survived if it existed. The crank on the right to avoid clothing seems logical. They were also used for trolling so, when sitting in a rod holder the "winch handle" on the right would make sense. Most fishing gear was designed for commercial use first. I use the right handed reel so I could switch hands to defer some fatigue. FWIW.

Dan: reply :

Quote

Quote
I realize that this thread is several years old, but I thought you might like to have the real reason Right Handed reels have the crank on the right side.
Before the 1950's there were almost no reels made with a free-spool function. Therefore the reel handle spun backwards during the cast.

It therefore made sense to place the crank handle on the right side of the frame, for right handed casters. In this position it was away from the body, during the cast, and less likely to be fouled by sleeves etc.

you really dug this thread up. interesting theory though.

I really hope that's true. It makes WAAAAY more sense than the "winch" idea to me.

rodnreel11 reply :

I'm one of the few lucky ones it seems . I am naturally left handed, but my strong arm is my right. So I am able to cast with my strong arm and reel with my left, without any switching hands. I have noticed a huge difference in performance this adds when flipping/pitching. As soon as that bait hits the water I am ready for a strike! I guess there are advantages of being an odd ball... ;D

express86 reply :

im left handed and it is so hard to find a left handed pole

firefightn15 reply :

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im left handed and it is so hard to find a left handed pole

Without a doubt, they are rare.

RoLo reply :

The first baitcasting reel was named after its inventor, Herman R. Baitcaster...he was a southpaw ;D

Roger

Bassn Blvd reply :

The handles that spun backawards when cast were referred to as "knuckle busters." And yes, it hurt like a %#W^%$#@%#^% when you got hit.

bigfruits reply :

i cant wait to meet a bass that my left hand cant "winch" in.

bottom line - if it feels comfortable, its on the correct side

NBR reply :

I am right handed. I bait cast right handed but I palm the reel in my left hand during the retrieve so I must switch anyway. I cast spinning gear right handed and retrieve lefty. I believe I am more accurate casting right handed.

DWG1984 reply :

All my zebcos were righty as a kid. It contiunued to feel natural for me to use righty reels, i even switch my spinning reels to right hand retrive.

2150

Why is the reel handle on the right hand side? 2024

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