lefty or righty

fish1000000000 · 02-21-2004, 09:49 PM

as a right hander, should my reel handle be in my right hand as I reel or in my left hand.I just ordered two right handed casting reels because I am right handed, my fishing pardner says I should have bought left handed reels so I can hold my pole in right hand and reel left handed. I am changing from spinning to casting gear and have always held my pole in right hand and reeled left handed.Both ways feels fine.

Danderson · 02-21-2004, 09:59 PM

Others May be able to add to the debate but I switched last year to all left hand reels and have found them much more enjoyable to use for me. All my power and corridnation is in my right hand and arm so I use it to hold my pole and reel with my left now. IMHO of course :smile:

PS took me a few trips to get used to the Left after reeling with my right for so many years.

Jettin' Fool · 02-21-2004, 10:05 PM

I'm right handed and swing a bat from the left side. I had all right hand retrieves on my reels and when I started drift fishing I noticed that I preferred the crank on the left side. Ive have since traded all my reels over to left hand and find it much more comfortable.

Jfool

Jooky · 02-21-2004, 10:26 PM

I too traded over to left handed reels a few years back. Much better to cast with, well that is better after you get used to it.
No more switching the pole from right to left and back again to cast and reel.

Fast Water · 02-21-2004, 10:34 PM

Switching from spinning gear you will find it a natural to have a left hand retrieve reel.

No point in switching your fork and knife to cut your meat.

crabbait · 02-21-2004, 11:43 PM

I have been running a casting reel for a lotta years and am not about to switch to lefties now! Anyone who tries can easily learn to cast with either hand on the reel so there is really no need to switch hands.

The trick for me is that my left thumb is the one that knows how much pressure to apply to assist the drag when fighting fish.

Freighter Bait · 02-22-2004, 06:09 AM

I'm left-handed and all my reels are right :grin: Just seems natural

Grandpa Lynn · 02-22-2004, 06:17 AM

I'm right handed and have used left handed reels for years. I really like not having to switch hands in the rod. My right hand stays in the same place from the cast, throught the drift, to the hookup..

Grandpa

big john · 02-22-2004, 06:24 AM

for those who troll and use their left hand for tiller steering, a left hand wind eliminates shifting the rod from hand to hand when you need to make steering or throttle adjustments.

02-22-2004, 06:42 AM

I use both but for steelhead I prefer a lefthand reel, for trolling I prefer the right hand. No real reason, it's just what feels right for me.

luguando · 02-22-2004, 06:48 AM

I agree with Keta. I grew up fishing with right handed bait cast reels so it feels good to me. I've bought a couple left hand crank bait cast reels and I love them for drift fishing or when I'm doing a lot of casting. On the boat, it really doesn't matter to me. I use a Penn 965 for salmon fishing and I wouldn't trade that reel for any left handed reel on the market.

ampersat · 02-22-2004, 07:37 AM

You owe it to yourself to at least try a lefty reel. Some folks love 'em. I got a low profile lefty reel at BiMart last year on sale for $20. Come to find out my bum right shoulder gets irritated if I ask it to manage a rod all day when drift fishing. Turns out I'm just a righty at heart too; couldn't get used to the lefty when reeling. Righty is what I've fished with for baitcasters all my life and it just works better for me.

The funny thing is that I tried switching the spinning reel on my jig rod to righty and couldn't stand it.

Corkie Monster · 02-22-2004, 08:04 AM

Left is Right and Right is Left :grin: If you like to hold your rod with your right than a left hand reel is what you want or vise versa.

B.J. Lilly Hunter · 02-22-2004, 08:37 AM

Isn't it funny how alot of us N.W. area steelheaders prefer left handed reels, but the rest of the country (who mostly fish for bass) use right. It also seems like when you see those same guys with spinning rods though they are reeling left handed. Must be a technique thing or something. :whazzup:

bob'r down · 02-22-2004, 09:16 AM

Ya...what Corkie Monster said! If you cast with your right hand, why would you want to switch hands to reel???? A left hand reel is actually a right hander's reel!!!

Just my $0.02.

Bob

greenbuttskunk · 02-22-2004, 02:00 PM

I'm left handed (a minority), but that works out well as most reels tend to have the handle on the right side. Like most, the dominate hand should be the hand to cast with, so the right hand just does the cranking. IMO, if your right-handed, use a reel with a left hand retrieve.

blacktail519 · 02-22-2004, 03:08 PM

Personnal preference my friend::: There is no law as to wich to use dude..... [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img] Use what ever feels more comfortable :grin:

steelheadslayer · 02-22-2004, 04:56 PM

I couldn't say it any better than Blacktail, whatever feels good, do it.

I have used right handers for years, bought a couple left handed cranks in years past and sold em, couldn't get used to it. This past fall I bought a couple left handed reels after using my neighbors for a day. I am used to it now and wouldn't go back to right for driftfishing. Out of the boat is another story. With tennis elbow I just can't stand to hold a heavier rod fighting heavier fish with my right arm. Plus when I'm trolling it's easier to change depth with cranking the reel with my right hand.

Again, agreeing with Blacktail you just gotta hold to the old saying, "different strokes for different folks."

1pump · 02-22-2004, 04:58 PM

Another right-hander voting for left-handed reels. RH reels are just plain awkward for me.

Jignfloat · 02-22-2004, 05:01 PM

Another right hander who casts with his right and reels with his left.....never made sence to swap hands after the cast....

Russ

fish1000000000 · 02-22-2004, 06:58 PM

Thanks for the info. good fishing to ya.

byteme · 02-22-2004, 09:09 PM

Right handed, reel left.
I was watching a Bass show and the host was saying how you had to keep in touch with your lure at all times, meanwhile he makes a cast and is out of touch with his lure while he switches his rod from his right hand to his left to start reeling. :whazzup:

Beefcake · 02-22-2004, 09:42 PM

All of my reels are lefty's. I am somewhat new to fishing, but I learned quickly that I can't control a big fish with my left hand on the rod. I am still a little clumsy reeling with my left hand, but at least I don't have to worry about dropping the rod. I have also noticed that several of the guides I know only have left handed reels for their clients.