33 replies to this topic

[TomB]

My first baitcaster.  I am right handed and use my left hand to reel in my fly fishing line.  Found lots of RH baitcaster reels but far fewer LH reels for sale.
Am i missing something?  Do most guys reel in with the RH?
Thanks!
Looking at Abu pro max, academy h2o, etc.

[SoCalFisher]

For right handed you will have to switch hands after casting. For some people switching hands is a problem but for me I like it better because it is what I have always used and switching hands doesn't take that long. So really what you start with will probably be what you get used to and will like more.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

I dont switch hands throw left reel right any type reel. I see people switch and think waste of energy but then its not me so what does it really matter what/how they cast. As long as a person is fishing & comfortable doing it oh well.

[Tom D.]

Your best bet is to go to a shop and try out L and R of the same reel and figure what works for you. Their should be an instant choice on what's more comfortable.

[islandbass]

TomB, on February 03 2012 - 10:31 PM, said:

My first baitcaster.  I am right handed and use my left hand to reel in my fly fishing line.  Found lots of RH baitcaster reels but far fewer LH reels for sale.
Am i missing something?  Do most guys reel in with the RH?
Thanks!
Looking at Abu pro max, academy h2o, etc.

Even if most guys ise RH reels doesn't mean you have to.  I would highly recommend that you choose a bc reel with the crank on the same side you are already accustomed.  I would be a floating Rapala minnow that you would be most comfortable with that. The chance of you preferring a rh over a lh reel is highly unlikely but possible, so see which feels most comfortable before you buy.

There may very be some plausibility to the lack of sales of lh reels, but it might be more of a function of them selling out before we see them.  I have also seen sites where righties are on sale and lefties aren't. I just chuckle. It means they lost my business or I was too late to the party. lol.

[guitarkid]

Join the dark side, go left handed.


-gk

[bassinbrian]

Im right handed and reel with my left hand. To me it just made sense because holding the pole is the hardest part and I want to use my strongest arm for that, reeling is easy Plus no switching of hands

[TRYTOFISH]

I use both.If your throwing all day long, its nice to be able to change hands.

[grampa1114]

I switch hands after casting because my right thumb is much better suited to controling the cast than my left......well  worth shifting hands to keep the backlashes to a minimum.

[Red]

i use left handed reels too and am right handed.  For me, I want the rod in my "good hand" I work the bait and set the hook with my rod, those are pretty important aspects of fishing, so I want the comfort and power I get from using my dominant side.

Cliff

[roadwarrior]

This question comes up a lot and probably boils down to personal preference or what works best for you.
However, I have always found this post by George Welcome interesting:

Posted August 22 2007 - 10:37 AM

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.

George Welcome Sebastian Florida

[TomB]

Thanks to everyone!  I will try and then decide.  Switching hands seems like a pain.  Just seems interesting that the sale reels are offerings are RH.
Thanks roadwarrier for the technical referral.  In fly fishing your free hand pulls in the fish, with spinning the rod pulls it in, and with baitcasting the winch-reel pulls in the fish.  
I will try in a shop and then get one version and keep an open mind to try the opposite.  Buying more than one reel eventually will stimulate the economy right?

[DaveT63]

I'm with Red above.  Right handed, but I cast right, reel left.  It's the way I fished growing up with my old Mitchell 300 spinning reel, and I'm comfortable with that.  I tried right handed reels but just can't make the switch.

Try both and see which you prefer.  It won't take long to figure it out.  You've probably got friends who use RH and others who use LH.  Ask if you can try one of theirs.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

TomB, on February 04 2012 - 08:46 AM, said:

Just seems interesting that the sale reels are offerings are RH.

Well when local DicksSG had sale on curados I went but all they had were LH models figure just getting rid of leftover stock.

[j.bruno]

Im right handed but been cranking with my left hand my hold life.  So i use LH bait casters also