Scientific Study: Righty v. Lefty

[Master Baiter]

I am conducting a survey in the name of fisherman science:

Do you prefer Left or Right handed retrieve reel for:

1) Baitcaster
2) Spinning
3) Fly

This has seems to be an age old debate among all fishing circles so I thought it would be interesting! I will tally up the votes collectively between Jen's and Bob's BB and present the sample statistics on Thursday!

Thank in Advance!

Thomas

[Hawgwash]

Grew up on a Mitchell 300 spin cast reel in the Midwest throwing lures at Northern and Muskies. So of course I'm a left-hand retrieve guy for all three reel types. I'm much more accurate using my stronger right arm.

Doesn't seem to improve my catch ratio out here for salmon and steelhead however!
images/icons/confused.gif

[Big Willie]

Okee dokee

1. Left
2. Left
3. Left

[Steelheadman]

Never have used a baitcaster or fly reel. When I was a kid I used a salmon reel and reeled with my right hand while holding the pole with my left. I used my spinning reel the same way with the reel on top of the pole cast with my right, switch the pole to my left and reel with my right. However my first time out steelhead drifting, my mentor made me change to have the spinning reel on the bottom, cast with my right, and retrieve with my left. I'm right handed and a little ambedextrious. I should try unscrewing the handle and putting it on the other side of the reel and see if I can cast left handed.

[Wog]

MB,
Left for all. Had to go break out the the fly gear to check though, it's been a few years.

[WaterDog]

1) right (7) left (1)
2) right (all)
3) left (1, But I rarely use it)

What did fishin folks do before the backwards left hand retrieve reels were produced? images/icons/rolleyes.gif I learned to cast with my left even tho' I'm right handed. images/icons/grin.gif I too am ambedextrious but I prefer the RH.

[rcl187]

I'm kinda screwy when it comes to which hand. I shoot bows left handed, and all my reels are left handed except my halibut reel which was such a good deal that I figured I could sacrifice personal preference-besides its almost impossible to find huge reels that are left handed. I usually duck hunt right handed (my favorite duck gun is a bolt action and its tough to do with the left hand) and when I write it doesn't matter which hand I use cause both look like crap.

[mudsucker]

Left hand on all three. Thou i have and use right hand bait casting reels as well as left hand retreve.

[Doubletake]

Left hand all three, though I did catch a black marlin with a right hand reel..... The hide still hasn't grown back on those two fingers

Take care

Doubletake

ps No the marlin wasn't on the Snohomish. images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/rolleyes.gif

[Bait O' Eggs]

If the poles not in your right hand at all times you are doing something wrong. images/icons/cool.gif

[Steve]

Been at this for over 40 years
1. Left
2. Right
3. Left
Hup 2, 3, 4

[WheresMyBobber]

Very simple images/icons/tongue.gif

The rod should always be in your "strong" arm. If you're right handed, you should have left retrieve reels. If you're left handed, you should have right hand retrieve reels.

The hand doing the reeling has no work to do. Turning the reel handle is the easy part - the hand holding the rod with the fish on it does all the work.

I've seen right handed people cast with their right arm, then put the rod in their left hand and reel with their right hand - WHAAASSSUUPP WITH THAT? images/icons/confused.gif

Of course, the above is all my opinion, and you know what they say about opinions. images/icons/grin.gif

[Rauly]

I am right handed so
Left
Left
Left

[Salmonator]

left left left

[Wood Shampoo]

Left
Left
Left

It only seems natural to reel with your weaker hand and fight the fish with your stronger hand/arm!

[hustlerrjim]

left- it's very simple when you think about it ,when you cast (if you are right handed)you don't have to switch hands on the rod to reel in ---- now somebody fiqure out how many extra casts you can get in when you dont have to change hands between casts

[ZaQ]

If the fish is on the right side of the boat I like it on the left. And vice versa. Occasionally I will get a fish that swims from one side of the boat to the other. Years ago this was a disaster, I would loose all of these fish. I couldn't seem to get the nack of switching hands. Soooooooooo, I modfied a 5501 for quick change handles. With the simple press of a button I can remove the crank handle and fit it to the other side. Now a design like this took me a couple of trials to get right and many lost fish, but it works perfectly now. I am now happy and certainly no longer mind if a fish goes from one side of the boat or the other. Neither is it a problem for the fish to go upstream or downstream, just switch the handle and your off.

[Fishin Magician]

L
L
L

[WaterDog]

Hey Bait,

And which one of us was doin'the catchin' on Saturday on them sturgeon? I wasn't doing anything wrong as far as I could tell. images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/tongue.gif

[OneLastCast]

L.
L.
L.

And hey Mudsucker what is this "thou" business?? I hate it when you start talking King James english.

OneLastCast

[Scrambler]

Right hand holds and casts the rod. So the left must do the reeling. Keeps it simple...

[Bait O' Eggs]

Waterdog, I seem to remember getting two to the boat before you got the hook tied on images/icons/wink.gif

Zaq - you hearing colors and seeing sounds again? images/icons/rolleyes.gif

[Jellyhead]

Left for all three! Switching hands after you cast is for the Birds. It's funny, every thing I do outdoors in Left handed. I shoot my bow and guns southpaw and fish too. But I write right handed.

Go figure?!?

Aaron

[fatfish]

Go with the lefty mainly for the baitcaster; however some reels (i.e Bantam 50) only come in the right hand design so I use what best meets the situation.

As for the spinning reels, put them all in the garage sale along side the fly reels.... images/icons/cool.gif images/icons/cool.gif images/icons/cool.gif images/icons/cool.gif images/icons/cool.gif

[Pirate]

Left
Left
Left
FISHING GUIDES TAKE NOTICE
images/icons/wink.gif

[Eddie L]

1) Baitcaster-right
2) Spinning-Left
3) Fly-Left

[Fish Hunter]

1)right images/icons/tongue.gif
2)left
3)left

[HOGTIDE]

Right
Left
Left

I have about a dozen bait casters 50% R and 50%L. I guess I'm actually "ambi" with these. If I grab one , I just use it and don't really notice the difference.

[Mike H]

1) Baitcaster - right
2) Spinning - left
3) Fly - right

[Kwiky]

Lefty on baitcaster and spinning.

I am a left-hander, so I cast with my left and have to switch the pole over to my right to reel. Can't help it - I'm completely useless with a right handed reel.

ZaQ, what in THE heck are you talking about?! images/icons/smile.gif

[Fishhead]

I will have to agree with Wheresmybobber the left handed models are the only way to go. I sure see alot of reels on the market especialy in the Cabelas catalog that are primarily right handed. Are there really that many fisherpersons out there that are left handed or what? I think there has got to be alot more right handed guys out there than left handed. Unless your one of those doe balls who fishes with a right handed reel and switches back and forth all the time. images/icons/rolleyes.gif images/icons/rolleyes.gif images/icons/grin.gif

[MetalHead]

1) 6 Right / 5 Left
2) Left
3) None (old automatic)

images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/grin.gif

[BitBender]

1. Left
2. Left
3. Left

Also, comforting to see the avg. being the same. . . .my fishing buddy is one of those "cast with right, throw pole to his left hand to reel. . . .been trying to tell me that was *normal*?????? But then, he is from Canada. . . .

I am right handed, and do want the rod in my right hand *at all times*. . . . images/icons/cool.gif images/icons/cool.gif images/icons/cool.gif images/icons/cool.gif

[Osprey]

WE never had left hand cranks growin up so pappa learned me ata an early age,to cast with either hand images/icons/smile.gif

Bait caster--Right hand crank
Spinning--Left hand crank
Fly rod--Left hand crank
................Os

[ 04-04-2001: Message edited by: Osprey ]

[blast and cast]

Since I am left handed....

1. Right
2. Right
3. Right

[Sand Shrimp]

Left hand for all three.I'm right handed.

[Pitch Pocket]

I steer my trolling motor with my left, so my rod is in my right hand. Definately left, left, left.

[THE REEL HEY_YALL]

1) Right--but since picking up the left-handed Bantam, I'll give it a shot.

2) Left --it feels more comfortable

3) Left -- same reason

[Scaup]

1. Right
2. Right
3. Right

I'm normally right handed, but I like hold the pole in my left hand and save my right hand for netting all those big fish! images/icons/grin.gif

[OR Coast Range]

I've always wanted to try my left, but I was afraid I'd go blind images/icons/rolleyes.gif

[Grits]

1. Right
2. Left
3. N/A

[Spoons]

Left for all three.

[Tanner]

Left for all except my sturgeon reels.

[Deleted User]

1- Either because I have several old ABU's and they did'nt make a LH right away.
2-Left
3-Left

[Kenia]

I would be a lefty for all three reels.

[myco-mike]

I thought in the "old days" all the bait cast reels were right hand.

Anyways, 1)Left (one Right)
2)Left
3)Left

[Mr. Fisherman]

Left
Left
Left,

For a lot of the same reasons listed above.

I am right handed if it matters,

Lets FISH!

[DanS]

The day I have to worry about getting tired from switching the rod back and forth, is the day I start looking for a good adult-care home. It's not that hard, and it's a quick move. Any fish that hits when I'm switching hands is going to have to take the bait 3 inches under water. images/icons/shocked.gif

Call me a doughball if you need to, but you'd better bring your A-game if you're going to outfish this doughball that switches his rod from hand to hand. images/icons/grin.gif

[Jeffhead]

1) Right
2) Left
3) N/A
Good luck and tight lines, Jeff images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/grin.gif

[Drifty]

All left

[fishbait]

Left, Left, Left,

so much so that I basically gave my best fishing buddy my calcutta 400. Had it for two years, in the boat for at least 15 trips and did not make over 50 casts with it, wrong hand.

[willierower]

Left
Left
and Left.
Why cast then switch hands?
Though some days I find myself holding my rod with my left ahnd when the right gets tired fro fighting too many fish
images/icons/rolleyes.gif
Or from making way too many casts.

[SteelieSteve]

I'm right handed and use left crank reels always for all 3. No changing hands to reel, no missing bites cuz your changing hands, and like Jim said more casts per outing. images/icons/cool.gif

Tightlines

SS

[Joe Schwab]

Prefer lefties all the way but am comfortable with right hand reels. Have 12 reels for clients, 5 left, 7 right. Most of them prefer the right hand reel. Try as I might to convince them otherwise. The customer is always right, or is it left?

[Gizmo Man]

Like others who learned to cast 25 yrs ago with rt hand bait casters you had to learn or use a coffee grinder.

so:

spinning--left

bait...I have many rt and left handers (since they started to make them available.)

ff...left

giz...

[Master Baiter]

OK, those that gave precise answers have been counted! If possible, could I get a little clarification form some of you:

WheresMyBobber,which is your strong arm then?

MetalHead, of your 11 baitcasters, is your most favorite a L or R?

Oregon Fish Chaser, so is that right across the board them? You should use both hands so one does not get lonely, the blind thing is a myth, I have great eyesight images/icons/grin.gif !

DanS, so which is it Doughball images/icons/tongue.gif ?

And of course ZaQ, Just say NO to drugs!

Thanks all for the replies, I will work on the tallies as the rest of the info comes in and then post some results ASAP!

Thomas

[OR Coast Range]

OK. You can count me as follows:

Left.
Right.
NA.

I have a right handled baitcaster, but hate it. The only way I can reel is to tuck the rod into my belly and crank with my right hand because I can't hold the rod with my left. As soon as I can afford a decent reel I'm going to buy a baitcaster with a left handed handle images/icons/smile.gif

[ 04-05-2001: Message edited by: Oregon Fish Chaser ]

[ABL]

A little late, but...

1. Left
2. Left
3. Left

[DanS]

Call me a doughball:

Levelwind: cast right, reel right.
Spin: cast right, reel left.
Fly: cast right, reel left

[Master Baiter]

DanS, you said I could! images/icons/wink.gif

I will try to update as I go along so better late than never ABL.

[DanS]

This isn't good. In one week I've become a doughball AND a plug monkey images/icons/shocked.gif

If this keeps up, I'm not sure if I'll be catching more fish images/icons/frown.gif or less fish images/icons/grin.gif .

I'm sure if I tried the left hand method on my levelwinds, I'd just end up looking like a monkey &*%$-ing a football, so I'll stick with the doughball method of changing hands.

[Thunderstruck]

Left on all three!