Coming from only owning spinning reels - I'm right handed and have my spinning reels setup with the handle on the left. But I notice when watching videos it seems most people use baitcasting reels with the handle on the right, causing them to cast and then switch hands to retrieve.

Is that normal for a right handed person? It seems you would want your handle on the left so you don't have to switch after every cast. I realize it's ultimately down to preference, but I have to admit I'm a little stumped at seeing this all the time on baitcasters.

I'm one of the 'weird' ones. I'm mostly ambidextrous, leaning to right-handed. Handles on the right on all my reels - cast with my left. No switching involved.

I guess what I'm asking (I can't edit my posts yet it seems) is if I decide to get a baitcaster, would I want to get one with the handle on the left? Or is there some reason I'm seeing right handed people use reels with a handle on the right?

I heard a stat that 75% of all anglers operate this way: spinning with handle on the left, bait casting with handle on the right.

It's what I do. No idea why but since I've been doing it for 25 years now, I ain't switching.

I come from really old school, with fly rod and baitcaster in left arm, and spinning rod in right arm.

With spinning cast, wrist snap is rewarded with extra distance.

With fly rod, wrist snap is tailing loop wind knot, and with baitcast, wrist snap is start-up backlash.

If you have any degree of ambidextrous, try casting bait with your other arm.

I'm really old school. When I first started using a baitcaster ( a Johnson something... ) they did not make them with the handle on the left.

38 minutes ago, BahnzoBass said:

Coming from only owning spinning reels - I'm right handed and have my spinning reels setup with the handle on the left. But I notice when watching videos it seems most people use baitcasting reels with the handle on the right, causing them to cast and then switch hands to retrieve.

Is that normal for a right handed person? It seems you would want your handle on the left so you don't have to switch after every cast. I realize it's ultimately down to preference, but I have to admit I'm a little stumped at seeing this all the time on baitcasters.

Is this normal? In one sense yes, in another no.

In the one sense of natural progression of reel technology evolution, then yes. But in the sense of what may be most efficient, then no.

What I am about to say is my opinion. Just an opinion and nothing else.

I think this came from how reel evolved over time. First we humans had conventional with all handles on the right side. This went on for decades. Then spinning reels came into it with option to move handles to left side while nearly all or most conventional reels were still with handles on right side only.

After all that came baitcast reels with handles on the left side. By then the pattern of fishing had already been established.

I also grew up in that era and when I was younger I was one of those who switch hands after casting but it always bugged me. I prefer to only cast with my right hand, so I now want all reel handles on left side only. My preference winning out over programmed behavior from reel evolution.

Today when I see a professional fisherman mindlessly cast with right hand and then switch the combo over to his left hand to retrieve is something I now consider a technical mistake. I now view it as something that should not be happening any longer since we can now get reels as we prefer them.

The technical mistake comes in the form of timing. Myself and some fishermen have said that in the time it takes to switch a combo to the other hand that a fish can be lost during the switch.

They cast and lure lands and they are switching hands when a fish strikes while fisherman may not be able to set the hook during the right hand to left hand switch.

I have seen some really good fishermen who have gotten around this timing issue by casting with their right hand and before the lure hits the water they are switching hands so as the lure is landing on the water the rod is now already in the left hand.

For those who can do that, they are eliminating that technical mistake in the air.

I consider it a technical mistake because it is an extra unnecessary step that can be avoided. It is extra physical work that can be avoided if one chooses to do so.

So as I said, its normal because of how reels evolved that kind of programmed humanity to be this way, while today its not normal in the sense that we can choose to not do it with ease.

I'm right hand dominant / semi dextrous with the left. I grew up casting my spinning rod with my right hand and reeling with my left hand. My baitcasters when starting out were all right hand reel so I casted and switched hands as you describe.

I bought a Curado E in left hand reel when they were closing them out. I don't think I'll ever go back to a right handed reel. It just doesn't feel right.

However to @bulldog1935 's point about being ambidextrous.... it would be good to be able to cast with either arm cause there will be times when a left handed cast would be the better presentation.

All my baitcasters have the handle on the left, it feels more comfortable and I feel more “ at the ready” when setting the hook. For when you get that bite right when it hits the water or when pitching in the heavy stuff.

I'm a Lefty righty (left handed caster, I fish with a right handed bait caster) like MN Fisher. No rod switching hands on the cast.

FM

last year there were a couple kids fishing from the dock and having some challenges. The kid had a cheapie plastic baitcaster on a broken rod missing the top 8". I wasn't in a hurry so I help him set it up a little better, helped him pick our a lure that would actually load what rod tip he had, etc. Got it casting out to 30 yards or so which was a win. But man it was really weird having to reel back in with my left hand. For nearly 40 years I have cast with my right hand, switched, and reeled with my right hand. It is so engrained in my muscle memory that anything else is just weird.

I tried casting with my left hand and even both hands more than a few times this year when I was going down with the bank on the starboard and I needed to get around cover that was there. What a mess that was. I accept my limitations will continue to be a hand switcher.

Reel handles have been on the right side of all my casting setups for as long as I can remember.

I cast with both hands most of the time.

I can cast from both the left and the right side.

But I'm still reeling in the bait & the fish are on the right side.

Spinning reels: all handles are on the left, and the same deal applies as above.

Tried the left-handed casting reels a little while after they were introduced.

Just felt completely unnatural, and I saw zero advantage in forcing myself to learn it.

I'm pretty sure the bass can't tell which way I'm doing it, so I should be OK moving forward.

This is what it looks like.

😎

A-Jay

As previously stated, originally right hand was all you could buy. I came from reeling left handed spinning reels for 61 years. Started that way when getting into baitcast reels. Came across a used reel I wanted but it was right hand. Bought it. Reeling with either hand is a no brainer. Did have to teach myself to cast with the left. Still more accurate with the right arm. Spinning handles stay on the left but I almost never use one anymore.

Use whatever feels best for you but I suggest trying to learn casting and reeling on both sides if you can. First it allows you to buy any reel you want. I've got at least one model purchased new after getting into baitcast reels in 2009 that was only available in right hand. Love the reel! Second, some baits can tire you out. Being able to switch hands is a big benefit for me.

2 hours ago, BahnzoBass said:

Is that normal for a right handed person?

It's normal to me. Try both if you can and stick with what's most comfortable.

I am right-handed and strongly prefer left-hand retrieve reels.

I had some nerve trouble bout ten years ago and swapped to RH reels for a bit. It was terrible and I went back to LH soon as I could.

Use what you're comfy with, everything else is fluff and not important. I am righty, and use a right hand retrieve reels only, which makes me swap hands, which is something i've never even thought of being bothersome until i saw some people saying how you're losing time switching hands. Ridiculous, unless chunking large heavy baits, i usually swap hands while the lure is still in the air, so there's no time wasted on anything.

I just flat out don't care and am right handed with right handed reels. Switching hands hasn't cost me anything, and I don't over worry while being a rec angler. Years of steelheading had me using both left and right retrieve, but not in bass fishing. Seems making things to fuss about just for the sake of it is common place these days. Good grief...sounds like paranoia.

There is no right or wrong here. I’m right handed and use lefty bait casters for the most part. I like having the rod in my dominant hand. I still have few right hand reels that I use too. At the end of the day whatever you’re most comfortable with is fine.

The first Mitchell spinning reels came only with left hand retrieve. The first baitcasters came with only right hand retrieve. Now spinning reel handles can be switched, and baitcasters come both right and left retrieve. Try both and decide what you like. When I got my first spinning reel I held it upside down and reeled backwards. After much ridicule from fellow anglers I caved to peer pressure and forced myself to learn to reel with my left hand. Now I'm too old to change my ways. If I were not so old and stubborn, I would reel both types with my left hand. Fly and spinning reels I can reel either way, equally well, but put a reel on the top of the rod, and I just can't do it with my left hand.

First off, I'm right handed.... Many years ago when I bought my first baitcaster, it was right hand retrieve and I totally couldn't cast it. I tried for months but had no luck. I was able to return it to BPS and the sales guy said try a left handed one. My problem was, for the most, instantly solved. I have been using them ever since. It just seemed more natural to have my stronger hand holding the rod on a hook set and casting.

As the years have gone by, I can use both but when it comes to flipping and pitching, there is no way I could do it and switch hands. I know guys do it but the control, speed and strength in the whole process of having the rod and reel in my right is key for my style of jig fishing.

3 hours ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

There is no right or wrong here. I’m right handed and use lefty bait casters for the most part. I like having the rod in my dominant hand. I still have few right hand reels that I use too. At the end of the day whatever you’re most comfortable with is fine.

Thanks! I wasn't sure if there was a reason why I was seeing people use baitcasters this way, and I didn't understand, or if it simply boiled down to preference.

Being that using a baitcaster is new to you, start with a left handed model. I personally have fifty years of reeling right handed. There were no lefties until the Shimano Bantam 201 came out around 1984. My grandsons both prefer casting right, reeling left. It’s natural for them so that would be my recommendation.

All of my baitcasters are right hand retrieve, left hand on the spinning rigs.

I tried a left hand baitcaster, and just could not get the hang of it - I had about as graceful of movement as a newborn giraffe.