baitcaster right or left retrieve 2025
cookieman reply :
Went to Bass Pro to look at baitcasters and the old guy suggests to everyone he talks to get a left retrieve reel. I currently use right and use left on a spinning reel. Whats your guys opinion or what do you use
Russ E reply :
It all depends o what is comfortable for you.
I am a lefty.
I use right handed baitcasting and spinning reels. when I started fishing there were very few left handed reels , so I did not have a choice.
After 40 years of fishing, I can not use a left hand reel. It feels backwards to me.
punch reply :
It's 100% personal preference! Use whatever feels good to you.
The fact that a BPS employee in the fishing department is suggesting to people which hand they should use for a reel is kind of troubling.
MIbassyaker reply :
I'm right-handed. I grew up using a spinning reel for everything, hold right, crank left. When I started looking into baitcasters for the first time a number of years ago, I was surprised to discover "right handed" did not mean the handle was on the left.
It took about 10 minutes of handling in the store to realize I had no interest in using a baitcaster if it meant I would have to fish with right-handed reel.
So I spent some time researching whether there was anything inherently advantageous about using a right-handed caster. I found nothing remotely convincing. So I bought a left-handed reel as my first caster, and never looked back.
When you ask for testimonials about this, you will hear every possible combination of preferences for left vs. right-handed anglers, using left vs. right-handled reels, for spinning vs. casting.... that should clue us in to an understanding that nobody can tell you exactly what you're going to be most comfortable with, or what you're going to prefer, before you try it yourself.
BTW, Chris Zaldain and David Walker are right-handed pros who use left-handed casting reels. Denny Brauer is a left-hander who uses right-handed reels.
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
Did I fall asleep and wake up in February?
MN Fisher reply :
I also grew up with cast-right/retrieve left spinners. A couple years ago I started (finally) upgrading my rigs, and purchased right-hand retrieve baitcasters, and swapped the handles on my new spinners to be right-retrieve...and I'm fine.
Do what's comfortable for you...ignore advice from someone else.
FishTank reply :
Guilty of using left handed retrieve on a spinning reels and going to left hand bait casters. I tried right handed bait casters at first and it just wasn't working for me. I picked up a left hander and it was like magic. I have tried using a right hander a few times since then and it just feels weird now.
WRB reply :
Watch the James Niggemeyer video exploring unfamilair water posted in the General fishing forum currently. James cast right handed and retreives right handed like most of use right handed bait casting angers do. If you are new angler try both left and right hand reel types before you train your eye hand coordination one way or the other.
Tom
Hammer 4 reply :
O.K..Said this before. If you cast with your right hand, and are in fact right handed, why on earth would you want to switch hands to retrieve..? If I'm right hand dominate, I want to work the rod with that hand, the reeling part is easy compared to working your rod..is it not.?
I've had bass breach to get to a lure, if I have to switch hands, I little to no chance to get the fish hooked.
Bass_Fishing_Socal reply :
Mostly right hand person would cast right. It get more control and more accuracy unless, they train to cast left hand. Now reeling is up to each individual, some might think reeling with left should be normal but a lot that came from using conventional reel would prefer right. Bass fishing you don’t really need winching hand so it doesn’t matter much reeling with left or right.
I’m right hand and reeling/casting with right hand. I trained myself to cast with left hand for when I get tired with my right, but accuracy and distance still far behind. I also train myself to reel left on bait caster when I need to use my right hand to control the rod for some technique like shaky head and jigging.
BaitFinesse reply :
On 11/21/2019 at 2:20 PM, Hammer 4 said:O.K..Said this before. If you cast with your right hand, and are in fact right handed, why on earth would you want to switch hands to retrieve..? If I'm right hand dominate, I want to work the rod with that hand, the reeling part is easy compared to working your rod..is it not.?
I've had bass breach to get to a lure, if I have to switch hands, I little to no chance to get the fish hooked.
Because you have to switch between casting the rod and then palming the reel. You switch up hand positions anyways when transitioning from casting to palming so whether or not the reel switches hands in the process is of no consequence.
Reeling as actually a much more demanding task than working the rod for most. Reeling requires the use of fine motor skills and the working the rod uses gross motor skills. Fine motor skills are more developed in the dominant hand while gross motor skills are roughly equal in both arms.
Baitcasters in particular are even more dependent on fine motor skills than spinning reels. They are mounted on top of the rod pressing the users elbow into their side and rely heavily on the use of the wrist and a grip made by thumb and index finger to operate. Spinning reels are suspended below the rod and can be reeled using mix of fine and gross motor skills making them more friendly to non dominant hand operation.
"Motor skills are movements and actions of the bone structures.[1] Typically, they are categorised into two groups: gross motor skills and fine motor skills. Gross motor skills are involved in movement and coordination of the arms, legs, and other large body parts. They involve actions such as running, crawling and swimming. Fine motor skills are involved in smaller movements that occur in the wrists, hands, fingers, feet and toes. They involve smaller actions such as picking up objects between the thumb and finger, writing carefully, and even blinking. These two motor skills work together to provide coordination"
Run2jeepn reply :
On 11/21/2019 at 10:59 AM, MIbassyaker said:I'm right-handed. I grew up using a spinning reel for everything, hold right, crank left. When I started looking into baitcasters for the first time a number of years ago, I was surprised to discover "right handed" did not mean the handle was on the left.
It took about 10 minutes of handling in the store to realize I had no interest in using a baitcaster if it meant I would have to fish with right-handed reel.
So I spent some time researching whether there was anything inherently advantageous about using a right-handed caster. I found nothing remotely convincing. So I bought a left-handed reel as my first caster, and never looked back.
This is exactly what I did as well for the same reason.
dodgeguy reply :
On 11/21/2019 at 3:25 PM, BaitFinesse said:Because you have to switch between casting the rod and then palming the reel. You switch up hand positions anyways when transitioning from casting to palming so whether or not the reel switches hands in the process is of no consequence.
Reeling as actually a much more demanding task than working the rod for most. Reeling requires the use of fine motor skills and the working the rod uses gross motor skills. Fine motor skills are more developed in the dominant hand while gross motor skills are roughly equal in both arms.
Baitcasters in particular are even more dependent on fine motor skills than spinning reels. They are mounted on top of the rod pressing the users elbow into their side and rely heavily on the use of the wrist and a grip made by thumb and index finger to operate. Spinning reels are suspended below the rod and can be reeled using mix of fine and gross motor skills making them to non dominant hand operation.
"Motor skills are movements and actions of the bone structures.[1] Typically, they are categorised into two groups: gross motor skills and fine motor skills. Gross motor skills are involved in movement and coordination of the arms, legs, and other large body parts. They involve actions such as running, crawling and swimming. Fine motor skills are involved in smaller movements that occur in the wrists, hands, fingers, feet and toes. They involve smaller actions such as picking up objects between the thumb and finger, writing carefully, and even blinking. These two motor skills work together to provide coordination"
Best explanation I've ever heard.
TBAG reply :
LH all day for me, but it's all personal preference.
I'm right handed but grew up fishing with a spinning reel, obviously LH retrieve so when I starting buying BC reels the LH was the way to go for me.
813basstard reply :
It’s not what hand you reel with that’s weird.
It’s manipulation of the bait with the off hand/arm.
With that being said, if I’m setting the hook (jig, worm, frog)left handed. Setting the hook with right arm.
Casting/winding other way.
Getting to the point no where it don’t matter. I’ll pick one up and be equally ineffective.
QUAKEnSHAKE reply :
On 11/21/2019 at 3:25 PM, BaitFinesse said:Because you have to switch between casting the rod and then palming the reel. You switch up hand positions anyways when transitioning from casting to palming so whether or not the reel switches hands in the process is of no consequence.
Reeling as actually a much more demanding task than working the rod for most. Reeling requires the use of fine motor skills and the working the rod uses gross motor skills. Fine motor skills are more developed in the dominant hand while gross motor skills are roughly equal in both arms.
Baitcasters in particular are even more dependent on fine motor skills than spinning reels. They are mounted on top of the rod pressing the users elbow into their side and rely heavily on the use of the wrist and a grip made by thumb and index finger to operate. Spinning reels are suspended below the rod and can be reeled using mix of fine and gross motor skills making them to non dominant hand operation.
"Motor skills are movements and actions of the bone structures.[1] Typically, they are categorised into two groups: gross motor skills and fine motor skills. Gross motor skills are involved in movement and coordination of the arms, legs, and other large body parts. They involve actions such as running, crawling and swimming. Fine motor skills are involved in smaller movements that occur in the wrists, hands, fingers, feet and toes. They involve smaller actions such as picking up objects between the thumb and finger, writing carefully, and even blinking. These two motor skills work together to provide coordination"
You are assuming every person palms a reel but you are wrong. Palming a reel to me isnt as ergonomic a position as holding the rod in the reelseat area. I cast and continue to reel in same position.
Your fine/gross explanation is flawed cause you rationalize it to fit your narrative. I can rationalize it the other way. Twitching a rod can use fine motor skills as well like having tight line and just squeezing fingertips to twitch the rod/line slightly or slight wrist movements to move shake line and not just your whole arm in making a cast. Id say most of my rod movement during a retrieve is made starting at the wrist area while the forearm remains relatively still.
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I realize there isnt a one size fits all but it is a little annoying watching fishing videos and seeing the fisherman switching hands constantly all that wasted effort just glad thats not my style. To that person though its natural and they dont think twice about it.
Jaderose reply :
Do what feels natural to you. No right or wrong.
new2BC4bass reply :
I've said this before...............learn to use both hands. It is definitely advantageous. First...and very important to me...is I don't have to pass on any great deals just because the handle is on the wrong side. In fact I picked up a very nice reel that had the handle on the wrong side. Right hand for me. Then learned to use it.
Secondly, there has been a time or two when my rod arm got tired and switching to another rod with the reel on the other side was a big plus for me.
EDIT: Also there are still reels that only come in right hand. If you want to use one (and reel left handed), then you have no choice but to learn the other hand.
FrankN209 reply :
I'm sorta odd. I'm right handed when it comes to writing, eating, but play sports left handed. I can reel either hand, but I prefer left hand retrieve.
BaitFinesse reply :
On 11/21/2019 at 9:48 PM, QUAKEnSHAKE said:You are assuming every person palms a reel but you are wrong. Palming a reel to me isnt as ergonomic a position as holding the rod in the reelseat area. I cast and continue to reel in same position.
Your fine/gross explanation is flawed cause you rationalize it to fit your narrative. I can rationalize it the other way. Twitching a rod can use fine motor skills as well like having tight line and just squeezing fingertips to twitch the rod/line slightly or slight wrist movements to move shake line and not just your whole arm in making a cast. Id say most of my rod movement during a retrieve is made starting at the wrist area while the forearm remains relatively still.
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I realize there isnt a one size fits all but it is a little annoying watching fishing videos and seeing the fisherman switching hands constantly all that wasted effort just glad thats not my style. To that person though its natural and they dont think twice about it.
The turning of the reel's handle is still more demanding of fine motor skills than anything we so with the rod. Fine motor skills of the hand pertain particularly to grasping objects between the thumb and index finger and movements of the wrist. While it is true you use your wrist while working the rod, reeling relies on the small rapid and sustained circles made with the hand by rotating at the wrist while grasping the knob between the thumb and index finger.
I can turn a door knob and open a door left handed about as well as I can right handed but can't write left handed without writing very slowly and quickly suffering from fatigue. Why is that? Because writing is more dependent on fine motor skills than opening a door. The same applies to reeling a baitcast reel.
I have a left handed reel just to train myself. I can only turn the handle a fraction as quickly as I can a right hand reel and I quickly succumb to fatigue in my left hand. It is EXACTLY the same experience as when I try to write left handed. Both can be learned but it is natural for right handed people to be able to reel right handed with more ease and fluidity. I own my left hand reel just to drain myself and develop the fine motor skills in my left handed needed to reel a left handed reel. I really want one of those left handed TD-Z pitching reels someday.
It is good advice for those looking to purchase their 1st baitcast reel to try before you buy to see if left had operation is an option. This is a pet peeve thing, but when trying out a baitcast reel make sure to turn the handle by rotating at the wrist with your elbow at your side. Sometimes I see right hand dominant, left hand reelers sticking their elbow out and doing the chicken wing when reeling. I do this to make left hand spinning reels work for me because I am right hand dominant but it just looks goofy as heck when using a baitcaster.
BassNJake reply :
A few years ago I had a pretty bad case of casting/tennis elbow
I had to switch to using a right hand retrieve baitcaster as I normally reel lefty
I got so good now I can blow up a reel with either hand!!
dodgeguy reply :
On 11/21/2019 at 9:48 PM, QUAKEnSHAKE said:You are assuming every person palms a reel but you are wrong. Palming a reel to me isnt as ergonomic a position as holding the rod in the reelseat area. I cast and continue to reel in same position.
Your fine/gross explanation is flawed cause you rationalize it to fit your narrative. I can rationalize it the other way. Twitching a rod can use fine motor skills as well like having tight line and just squeezing fingertips to twitch the rod/line slightly or slight wrist movements to move shake line and not just your whole arm in making a cast. Id say most of my rod movement during a retrieve is made starting at the wrist area while the forearm remains relatively still.
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I realize there isnt a one size fits all but it is a little annoying watching fishing videos and seeing the fisherman switching hands constantly all that wasted effort just glad thats not my style. To that person though its natural and they dont think twice about it.
probably 99 percent of us palm the reel.
WRB reply :
I am in the 1% that doesn't hold the reel. Have you ever palmed a 400 size Calcutta using 8' swimbait rod? Try a 500W on a tuna rod!
20 years ago high quality left hand reels were special order items because generations of angler prior to that time period used right hand baitcasting reels.it wasn't until low profile bait casters became well established, round right hand reels were the norm.
I cast right handed and retrieve left handed using spinning tackle because that was the norm when I started using spinning tackle for trout fishing in the early 60's. My introduction to bait casting reels was in the mid 50's before free spool casting reels became available.
Tom
Bass_Fishing_Socal reply :
On 11/21/2019 at 9:48 PM, QUAKEnSHAKE said:You are assuming every person palms a reel but you are wrong. Palming a reel to me isnt as ergonomic a position as holding the rod in the reelseat area. I cast and continue to reel in same position.
I looked back to my videos when using left hand reel, and I palm my reel but I cast the way I palm it so no need to make any adjustment(except pitching). Same as when using right hand reel and cast with left, hardly make any adjustment just cast and reel.
I have seen many bass anglers using both right and left hand reels effectively, why limited yourself try both and see which fit you the best. I’ve never had problem reeling left on spinning, with baitcaster after some practice and longer handle now it become more natural.
And as @new2BC4bassmentioned you can switch when you get tired.
bwjay reply :
I'm right handed and I started using left hand retrieve spinning reels. It feels natural to reel with the left and work the bait with the right. My right hand is more sensitive than my left and my body is used to compensating for hooksets on the right side of my body, with regard to balance. I have much more dexterity in my right wrist for imparting action on baits, working the rod, all that. I see no reason why a hand that turns a knob should be the hand that your body has invested all sorts of specialization into. Yes, it might help you start/stop more precisely, it MIGHT help you turn at a uniform rate (so you don't reel in a jerky motion), but so far I haven't had any issues. I really prefer to use my dominant hand and arm to control the rod, the bait, and the fish. My untrained left hand/wrist/arm just needs to worry about turning a handle at the right rate. 
Ultimately it's a personal thing, but I'd tell anyone just starting out to use their dominant arm to hold the rod and use their non-dominant arm to turn the handle. If you decide that it doesn't feel right, awesome, but I think most people will find that their dexterous hand/arm is the one best used for the work that actually requires dexterity (everything but turning a handle).
QUAKEnSHAKE reply :
There are also people that use their fingers to rotate the handle with the star drag while at same time holding the rod to take up slight amounts of line fine motor skills at use and doing this is easier with dominant hand.
Tizi reply :
I learned on a baitcaster (Abu Garcia 5500C) back in the 70s. It was a right handed reel. I have been using right handed baitcasters ever since. Spinning, I use as a lefty.
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