When I started with baitcasting after a life time of using spinning gear I decided to go with LH retreive baitcasting reels.  It just seemed so natural after years of spinning.  I like working the rod with my dominant (right) hand and cranking with my left. Also not having to switch hands after casting was a bonus.

But it seems most anglers who use baitcasters crank with their right hands and work the rod with their left. They cast, then switch hands. 

So I was wondering what everyone here does.  How may go the opposite, like I do and how many crank baitcasters the normal way with thier dominant hand and hold the rod in the other?  It seems to be the most popular method so there must be advantages.  What are they?

For me rod in dominant hand while opposite hand cranks for spinning or casting. 

 

However, I made the mistake of buying my first BC a RH. It felt so awkward. 

 

I can fish either way now, but preference is left. 

 

The reason you see so many anglers fish the opposite way was because way back when, pretty much casting reels had cranks on the right side. It's as ingrained to them as left is to you and me. 

 

I think the inventor of the baitcast reel was most likely left hand dominant. 

This topic comes up a lot. It's all purely preference. I prefer left retrieve and I'm right handed too.

He's just looking for a tally not an explanation but you're right  that it comes up a lot  ?

 

So far:

lefties - 3 

righties - 0

 

but that's probably going to change quickly 

Cast with my right, switch hands, & crank with my right!

1 minute ago, Catt said:

Cast with my right, switch hands, & crank with my right!

I do that too, even with my spinning gear. I've learned how to pitch ok with my spinning gear too doing it that way. Still goutta work on accuracy but I'm getting there.

Lefties 3

Righties 2

 

?

1 hour ago, Catt said:

Cast with my right, switch hands, & crank with my right!

Interesting ..... I do the same.....must be something in the air....

I reel left handed with spinning, right handed with baitcasting, and I CANNOT interchange the two. Trying to reel a spinning reel right handed or a baitcaster left handed feels completely foreign to me. I tried a lefty baitcaster once, even setting the hook felt all wrong. I went back and have no plans to change again. I switch hands mid cast and I'm ready to reel or set the hook as soon as my bait hits the water anyways. 

Lefties 3

Righties 3

Ambies (Switch-hitters) 1

 

@Bluebasser86: I listed you as a switch-hitter since you can bat both ways. ?

Same as blue here, but I can also cast with my left hand in normal operating position, right hand in the end cap of the rod, and cast kinda backhanded off my right shoulder, it's a work in progress. But I seen Gerald swindle do it and figured I'd try it. Not sure what the benefits of it are, but it gives me something new to try

Same as other who start baitcaster in early year. I am right handed so reel right hand on baitcaster and reel left on spinning. I can use left hand baitcaster no problem but prefer not, actually I sold my left hand reel just recently.

Right handed all the way, I can fish both ways but if rather right. If I backlash with a LH I find it to awkward to hold tension on the line with my right hand and reel with my left, but with a right hand I can do whatever. 

6 hours ago, Catt said:

Cast with my right, switch hands, & crank with my right!

 

5 hours ago, Raul said:

Interesting ..... I do the same.....must be something in the air....

 

4 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I reel left handed with spinning, right handed with baitcasting, and I CANNOT interchange the two. Trying to reel a spinning reel right handed or a baitcaster left handed feels completely foreign to me. I tried a lefty baitcaster once, even setting the hook felt all wrong. I went back and have no plans to change again. I switch hands mid cast and I'm ready to reel or set the hook as soon as my bait hits the water anyways. 

 

Ditto x3

Leftie.

I'm left handed. I cast with my left and reel with my right. 

 

My daughter is right handed. she cast right and reels left.

I am a righty a use a left handed retrieve on both spinning and casting.

8 hours ago, Catt said:

Cast with my right, switch hands, & crank with my right!

Same here.

Cast with right and retrieve with right

Cast with my left, retrieve with my right.

 

Tom

Cast with either hand...except when needing utmost accuracy...reel with either hand, work rod with either hand.  Prefer left to cast, but will never go left only.  Don't know where that puts me in the tally. 

I'm left hand dominant and use RH reels and my wife is Right hand dominate and uses RH reels.

Cast right, reel right, spinning and casting 

I, myself am left handed,  and always rod my lefty hand,  crank with right.   

10 hours ago, Catt said:

Cast with my right, switch hands, & crank with my right!

Same here. It becomes second nature after awhile. I do it without thinking, sort of like breathing.