Rt Hand, Left hand, Do it now

fishbait · 01-26-2002, 10:36 AM

For those of you that only fish right handed or only fish left handed, learn from my mistakes, take my advice and learn how to fish with the other hand. And start now... For many years I have only fished right handed using left hand crank reels. Too stubborn to do it any other way. Midway into one of the best fishing years in the last two decades, my right elbow started to hurt when I was fighting the last of the Columbia Springers. Just ignored it. Then after a day or two in Astoria, my right elbow would ache for a few days. Just fighured this was my "badge of courage" for catching so many fish, again, couple of advill and lets make another trip. Well when it came time to move back to Bonneville for upriver brights, with thought of fall chinook just around the corner, I cut my trips by 80% to rest my now 24/7 hurting elbow. In fear of not being able to bobber fish fall chinook, I quickly borrowed a right hand reel and made the conversion. Well I tell you what, that was interesting and cost me a few fish. Well, three doctor visits, $200 in accupuncture treatments and about 5 months of mild pain I am finally starting to heal. In the mean time, I have traded 5 or 6 of my left hand reels for right hand crank. Last trip down the Wilson I fished a right hand crank all day and even made a few decent casts throwing right handed. Actually started feeling comfortable insted of very foreign. My current plan on multiple day trips is to fish one day right handed and the next day left handed to spread the load. In addition on all day backbouncing or pulling large divers trips, I will take two rods, 1 of each. If you are not fishing "both ways" and you fish lots, listen to what I have to say. If your'e a young stud, you can probably ignore my advice for 10 or 15 years, but if you can't remember the last time you were carded, and you fish lots or plan to fish lots, learn from my mistakes, take my advice and learn to fish "both ways". Oh, and you can skip the ************ jokes, I have heard them all over the last few months.........FB

Wannabe · 01-26-2002, 10:47 AM

Fishbait
I know what you mean. I nursed my right hand all summer due to the fact when I used heavy tackle I would almost loose my rod when setting the hook with my right. In December I had my wrist worked on. The doc removed some cartlidge and did some other work and still told me I had some Ligiment damage....sheesh tough to get old (er). After a month I made one left hand trip for steelies and hooked a runback with my left hand. It was entertaining to say the least...good thing he really took it as my reaction was really pittifull. Going to try some more fishin this week but it will be all lefty with some right hand casting. Good luck to ya.
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Snapshot · 01-26-2002, 12:12 PM

Fishbait, I've had shoulder problems and switched to left handed reels about two years ago. If you happen to have a left handed Curado left, I'd swap my right handed one for a left handed one. Wannabe is right, it's tough getting old and the aches and pain tend to mount no matter what we do. I just wish my aches and paines were caused by catching to many fish. Mine are from doing normal boring things. I just don't fish enough, now that's a rip...
Send me an email if you are interested is a reel swap.

*Fish only bite wet hooks*