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.

Question about baitcasting reels

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Solved by FloridaFishinFool

Monday at 07:37 PM1 day

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8 hours ago8 hr

The only negative that i could think of being right handed and casting with the right hand is that the handle side of a reel isn't always as good to cast as the palming side. On the 09 Conquest DC 100 for example, there's that thumb screw that will rub against your index finger on every cast, which is more annoying than what i want my reels to be.

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8 hours ago8 hr

Super User

How many left handed people use a right hand reel so they can cast with their left hand and then switch hands to turn the crank? Probably none. That tells you something.

I made the switch 30 years ago to left hand reels and I’m glad I did. I think it makes me a better fisherman because I use my dominant hand to detect bites and impart action on the lure. That said, I’ve never won a Bassmaster Classic and most of the people who have are hand switchers.

I should also mention that I do use right handed reels for crankbaits. I can crank better with my dominant hand and all I do with the other hand is hold the rod.

I envy those who can cast with ether hand. If I tried to cast with my left hand I would probably throw the rod in the water.

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7 hours ago7 hr

Super User

22 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:
I envy those who can cast with ether hand. If I tried to cast with my left hand I would probably throw the rod in the water.

This comment reminds me of how I got my Omen Black. The gentleman was a one-handed caster. Didn't like the rod. I tried a one-handed cast with it...once. Once was enough. Thought for sure I was going to lose the rod. lol

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6 hours ago6 hr

Super User

I have 7 baitcasters and 4 are RH and 3 are LH.

The main reason I adapted to both sides is a fellow gifted me a Shimano Bantam many years ago LH.

I don't cast with the reel seated in the palm anyways so there's that minor adjustment either hand.

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4 hours ago4 hr

I am a righty and fish with left handed baitcasters because that is normal to me. I hate switching hands and want my dominant arm fighting the fish. It makes zero sense to me for it to be the other way and no one will ever change my mind. A right handed baitcaster should have the handle on the left. The industry is backwards.

That said I can easily fish with both right and left baitcasters.

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Question about baitcasting reels

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