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"

Now it all makes sense!!!!!!

I have heard this explanation before.  It's so far the least crazy explanation.

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.

I would like to believe it is because I enjoy using a RH Baitcaster as much as the guy who uses a LH Baitcaster......

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.

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 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.

_{thats a good find. makes a lot of sence.}

I cant reel RH to save my life

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 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.

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.

I use and will always use RH baitcasters, besides, all the reel models are available for righty but not for lefty.

There's lefties you can't get in righty, Raul......

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.

LH retrieve is far superior. There is no need to be switching hands every cast.

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.

 

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.

LH retrieve is far superior. There is no need to be switching hands every cast.

 

I wouldn´t put my money on that bet.

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?

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.  

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.

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.

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.