Edward6967

Greets to All, I'm just getting back into fishing as a hobby/enthusiast. I've been away from it for 25+ years. Recently a friend took me to a local county lake and I don't know what happened but the next thing I know I'm spending a few hours a day several days a week "at the lake". It all started out innocently enough with bank fisihng for cats. I rummaged up some a few poles and some reels and started to try and actually understand the art of fishing. I've been tied to a few forums now for a couple of weeks, needless to say YouTube is my hangout spot. I'm like a kid in a candy store. I live in NE Alabama (Madison County) and plan on taking up fishing on a more serious level. I've graduated to bait casting and am dedicating alot of time to just learning to cast and pitch. I'm using an old Abu Garcia Ambasseduer Black Max. I'm not sure this model is even made anymore? It seems to be working out pretty good for learning. Last weekend a fellow let me cast his Boyd Duckett Crankin' Stick with Lews low profile SS1 reel. Good lord it's night and day! So needless to say I'm eyeballing new rods and reels. I think first though I need to practice my mechanics and set a few hooks before dropping hundreds on equipment...even if they are almost pieces art! Stay tuned more to come Cheers, Ed

Keep us posted. I'd like to know how it turns out for you. Also let me know what you think of the Lews. I'm looking at similar model with 6.4:1 ratio. I think that'll work for both worms and cranks until I can afford to get little better arsenal

I've been researching the same topic myself. I like what I'm reading here in respect to do what feels right. I'm a right handed caster currently using a right handed reel. I want to switch to a left handed reel. For me it just makes sense, since I use a left handed spinning reel. Because I'm right handed not only is my arm stronger, but my right hand is far more sensitive than the left. When I palm the reel I can "feel" more of what's happening with the bait as well as my line return. Another part of my decision is based on mechanics. Keeping the reel close to my body at all times. Keeping non essential movements to a minimum, and maximizing the rode action. When switching hands the rod and reel have to extend forward enough to allow the butt of the rod to to pass from the right to the left side before it returns to a holding position. While this only takes most casters a half second, and some are very fluid in this transition, it adds an unneeded step.In reality however this may all be a simple matter of "over-thinking it". Like a lot of responses stated, and I tend to agree, you should work whatever feels comfortable for you. For me, the right way will be to cast right-handed and reel left-handed.