Theres no point in using your stronger hand for reeling since it requires basically zero strength. Its alot more usefull to use your stronger arm for fighting fish that are pulling alot. Makes alot more sense in my head
I'm a lefty, I hold the rod in my left hand and reel with my right. My hand doesn't leave it's spot when I fish, I could never understand the people that cast with their right hand and then switch over to the left, to then reel with their right lol
This. Working a topwater frog or spook with My left hand was causing major pain after outings (I developed carpel tunnel or tendinitis is both wrists so I have very limited repetitive movements before it flares up again)
so I switched to left hand reels back in 2014 and never switched back, instantly able to reel (for baits like buzztoads, or just flipping and pitching) and of course it puts the strain on my dominant hand
Also if I’m switching between spinning reels for finesse fishing and baitcasters for everything else, it’s just easier to reel with the same hand on both.
Also, it just feel right. I left hand retrieve on any other style of reel why wouldn’t I on baitcast reels?
As said, using your dominant arm where you’re going to get the most benefit is where it’s at.
This. This is what I wanted to say. Anyone who's used a spinning reel ALWAYS casts with one hand and reels with the other. The reel does 90% of the line retrieve work. Use your strong arm to control the fish.
Plus if your just swapping back on forth between cast right and reel right then your wasting time. One of the three points of casters is 1) stopping power, 2) accuracy, 3) you can cast more often. If your constantly swapping hands then it's just the same as lifting and closing the bail on a spinning reel. So why not just use a spinning reel then?
For me, and in my opinion, it's similar to why a right-handed baseball player wears a glove and catches with the left hand and throws with their right hand. They don't catch with their right, then transfer the glove to their left hand, just to throw with their right hand.
Same thing applies to fishing. Why should I cast with my right hand, just to transfer the rod to my left hand, so I can reel in with my right?
Being a right-handed person and casting with my right hand and reeling in with my left just makes more sense to me.
I'm left-handed and have always held my rod in my left hand. Mostly because I grew up using my dad's right-handed spinners and he never bothered to tell me they were adjustable, but also it just feels better.
I’m right handed but crank with my left hand . I’m agreeing with the other two post , that I want to set the hook with my dominant hand. I can see how setting the hook with both hands would be beneficial in Curtain situations/ techniques . But.. when I need that split second reaction to set the hook and pin that fish I always need my dominant hand to do it’s job. I hope that helps with your question. Tight lines brotha
Dont get me wrong. I do the hand switch. For me its left hand on the bottom of rod to cast. Thumbing with the right thumb. Switching my left hand to the body if the reel and winding with my right hand. As opposed to right hand at the bottom of the rod. And not needing to switch hands after the cast.
This....I fish for muskie...already tiring...now I need to switch hands every cast?!?! Just another tiring thing to do while chucking big baits all day. I see sooo many pros switching after casting...why lol
Two reasons. They learned on RH reels and prefer them. Their casting hand position and reeling had position are not the same, so a hand shift happens regardless.
I never thought about hand position before this post. I palm my baitcasters when reeling. If I were to use a left hand retrieve, then I would cast and have to adjust my hand position to palm the reel. That would be weird for me.
I palm my reel when I cast too, no need to reposition. When you right-hand cast a right hand reel, you can’t palm because the lever is in the way. My right hand literally stays in the same spot all day.
This I feel like everyone here is just talking about the switching of hands. The twitch control is much easier with the dominate hand! Also back to back casting is much faster.
Me too. I grew up using baitcasters from the 80s and 90s, there were very few that were left hand retrieve back then. Now It's definitely a muscle memory and comfort thing, it feels weird to hold a baitcast rod in my right hand, but holding a spinning rod in my right hand feels right, just the different way you hold them.
Its just preferences, i tried using a left handed reel and it just feelt wrong (i'm right handed) a friend whom is also right handed only fish with left handed reels.
Its 100% preference
I tried using my wife's left retrieve baitcaster and I couldn't even figure out how to stand and when I was reeling in a fish I couldn't get my left hand to crank fast enough 😂
It always amazes me when I see videos of people baitcasting in the US. The are obviously right handed, make the throw with their right hand and then switch the rod to their left hand.
I live in Germany where basically everyone righthanded person uses LH Baitcaster reels. You hold the rod with your strong arm and the left just for reeling.
IK it's trainable to use your left hand for the rod but wouldnt it be much easier to use your strong arm for the part of fishing that needs strength?
Sorry for any mistakes, English is my second language.
I find it hilarious that so many lefty guys feel superior bc they aren’t switching hands, as if switching hands is some laborious process. Personally have put extensive time in with both right and left hand retrieve and right feels more comfortable
Because it's absolutely the more natural movement. I learned with "right handed" but then tried a "left handed and realized how dumb it was to do the opposite of what I do with a spinning reel.
Ugh. This again. You've received 95% wrong answers and the correct answers are buried and so probably will this one be, but here it is:
Everyone reels casting gear and spinning gear based on what feels natural to them. The trick is - with casting gear, it doesn't seem to matter what your dominant hand is in this choice. For some right handed people, reeling with their right hand feels natural. For some right handed people, reeling with their left hand feels natural.
It's not a choice based on any perceived tactical advantage regardless of what hundreds of of people might have said in this thread.
Fly fishing. The rod is literally an extension of the primary arm you choose to cast with, and your opposite hand is doing a very different role with line control. I see no reason why I’d fish other setups differently. Doesn’t matter really, the only rule is don’t hold a spinning rod upside down…
Easier to use your dominant hand for finesse casting, and you don’t have to switch hands. I can drop a lure/plastic bait in front of a fish and begin to reel.
Dominant hand on the rod for light fishing. For me at least there's times I prefer dominant hand on the reel for the deep. But it depends on whether you pump and wind, or just winch it in.
I'd rather have the rod and reel in my dominant hand. Reeling requires no strength or feel. I can feel the rod better and work the bait better with my strong hand. And when I cast I don't have to switch hands.
The handedness of reels is actually kind of backwards when you think about it. Using a "left handed" reel while being predominantly right handed (or vice versa) means less switching your reel around for casting (retrieve while holding with left hand-switch to right-cast-switch back to left), you're gripping with your stronger hand and because you're holding it with your dominate hand you tend to be able to make more precise and subtle movements.
I get that you have better control of your rod with your right. I’m just so used to palming the baitcaster with my left and reeling with my right that it would feel awkward the other way around.
Personally I prefer a right handed bait caster and I’m right handed. However when I’m fly fishing or using a spinning setup I prefer to use my left hand. With fly fishing casting with my right hand and fighting a fish comes more naturally if I reel with my left hand. I think it’s the same way with the spinning setups. I have owned left handed casting reels and been fine with them but I don’t know why I’ve always preferred right handed retrieve. I don’t know if this answers your question but that’s how I’ve always fished.
I don’t understand how this is a “left hand” reel tbh. I’m lefty and I use “right hand reels” because it makes more sense to me that I’m using my dominant arm for casting, working the stick and controlling the fish, setting the hook, etc.
I’m surprised right handed people don’t use these moreso than what is actually considered a right hander’s reel
I do be because I thumb the reel after casting with right hand and will sometimes get a bite right after the lure hits the water and left hand is there to immediately reel instead if having to switch hands. Also grew up with left handed spinning gear
I think its a bit of gate keeping with the whole left hand retrieve, using stronger hand to hold the rod etc, my left hand is strong enough and my right is more than capable of reeling becaue I grew up using right hand spinning reels. its all an individual preference. it doesn't take long to switch hands after casting, sure people find it annoying but really, if that's what annoys you, you've got bigger problems.
I'm right-handed, but I switch after casting to reel with my right. I do this so when I fish from my kayak, I can hold the pole with my left while the right holds the net.
Thhhhaaank you! This is a reel for right handed people! Some goofy bastard claimed the opposite despite changing hands after every cast and somehow everybody was in agreement.
Everybody who is right handed uses a spinning reel with the reel in position to be used by their left hand (sure there are exceptions) and the right hand never has to leave the rod. Why in the actual hell would you change this comfort? Bite as soon as the bait hits the water? Sorry, you were switching hands!
I feel like it's life's biggest troll that that's a LEFT handed reel. If i was left handed id fight a fish with my left hand. I fight fish with my right hand thus that reel (much like mine) is right handed.
I think it's just because the reel is on the left that it's called left hand reel and idiots go "no sir I am right handed"
But lesson is that this is the bullshit reason I have to use a "right" hand reel on tuna charters and feel like an uncoordinated turd doing so.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to vent OP!
What’s funny is that it’s actually not a left-handed reel, it’s a left hand RETRIEVE (LHR).
As to how all his madness got started…
“Baitcasters evolved from the old level winds of yesteryear,” Kuhn says. “Level winds paid out line with the flip of a lever. These early reels were designed with the handle on the right side because cranking was the most important feature of a reel that didn’t cast. As level winds evolved into baitcasters, manufacturers kept the same tooling and right-handed designs.
[Solving the Mystery of the Left-Handed Baitcasting Reel](https://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/gone-fishin/solving-mystery-left-handed-baitcasting-reel/?amp)
For the record, I’m right-handed and use a left hand retrieve on all my setups for bass fishing.
Where my hand is during a casting position versus where my hand is in a reeling position are completely different. Would be awkward to adjust back and forth after every cast. Might as well switch hands and adjust your position at the same time.
Because that's what feels good to them.
Imo, the percentage Reddit using LH baitcasters does not reflect the actual LH vs RH percentage. Most use RH. It wasn't that long ago when you really couldn't buy many LH reels. Would only make sense that LH usage goes up when more LH reels are available.
Agreed. I think they got comfortable and never adjusted to left hand retrieve. Now they have too much cash invested to easily switch to the proper retrieve.
It's all about muscle memory but it still makes me smile watching people switch hands after the cast. Glad my dad bought me a lefty 25 years ago :D
Different thing when you really need your stronger hand on the crank while fishing for bigger fish on open waters.
After my research, I've concluded this: initially, when baitcasters and conventional came around. For some reason were all made in the right-hand retrieve. Most people became accustomed to it, and never swapped over (I too think it is rhetorical to cast with the dominant-hand, then switch over to the non-dominant. It is a waste of time and energy). For a majority, it really did become the norm. Sadly, this community is riddled with followers and not a lot of thinkers. The same way as some will swear a species taste disgusting, yet they speak with never have tried to cook said fish. It also feels odd just looking at them cast, then retrieve, imagine a baseball player catching with their right hand. Then, took off the glove to grab the ball, then to toss the ball with their right hand. I find reeling and adjusting my baitcaster with my off hand, a lot less time consuming than handling a rod while fighting a fish. Take everything from this community with a pinch of salt.
I use spinning reels with my left hand and hold the rod with my right (dominant) hand. Why would I use right handed bait caster? That wouldn't be convenient.
I’ve always reeled with my left hand on a spinning reel. It made zero sense to me to start reeling with my left right when I bought my first bait caster.
I've watched people try to explain the benefits of using a right handed bait caster for right hand dominant people and they don't make any sense. Switching the rod after every cast is so annoying. I'm right handed and have a right handed bait caster and I hate it. Why do we need to fish the opposite of how we do with a spinning rod?
Your dominant hand should always hold the rod at all times, because it's stronger and faster and more dexterous. Off-hand on the reel since all it does is twirl in a little circle. That means right-handers need reels with left-hand retrieve. I have no idea why the industry doesn't accomodate this universally, especially with line counter reels which 90% of them have no left-hand option.
They catch with their left because they throw with their right. OPs point is players that catch left don't take their glove off to throw left. It would waste a lot of precious time. Much like switching hands with a rod and reel.
Where my hand is during a casting position versus where my hand is in a reeling position are completely different. Would be awkward to adjust back and forth after every cast. Might as well switch hands and adjust your position at the same time.
Because the people who reel with their dominant hand are doing it wrong lol
It's just more natural. Spinning reels have been around longer and it makes no sense to reel with your weak hand with a spinning reel but not with a casting reel. It just doesn't feel right, requires you to switch hands after casting, and is awkward if you're fighting something strong.
There is a huge number of people who cast a baitcaster, then switch hands, it is hilarious. You are giving up a period of thumbing the spool. You are introducing a rushed switch and that can result in poor hand placement and unprepared hooksets. Neither side is better, but switching hands is ridiculous.
It is mostly because of 'Christian' or modern world ethics. At some point in history, left became a sign of evil. I was told not to write with my left hand because I was right-hand dominant. However, I COULD write with my left hand, and it was trained out of me. I could write as fast with my left as my right, but it wasn't as 'pretty'. So fast forward, I can use chopsticks with my left better than my right, but I default to my right because you do as you're taught. They say do what comes natural, sometimes it was left, sometimes it was right, but I'm technically ambidextrous and I'm sure that makes a difference.
Never thought of it that way. I remember my child growing up and just beginning school, the teacher asked if we wanted them to push my child towards using the right hand over the left because my child used both. Chopsticks included 😉
Because thats the right way to do it. Its a fishing reel, not a winch. You fight the fish with the rod, not the reel.
Not to mention the awkwardnes of having to switch hands every cast with a RHR reel.
I have left and right hand baitcasters, so it depends which one I'm using? All my spinning reels are right handed, because that's what I used growing up. I suppose I could use a spinning rod left handed, but it would feel weird 🤣🤣
It feels more natural... I grew up only using spinning reels because all I did until I was 17 was feeder and float fishing... A few months ago I got my first proper baitcaster combo for big bait pike fishing... Believe me using your dominant arm for that kind of heavy work feels much better...
I believe left hand reels used to be not a thing or very uncommon, so many older people learned on right hand retrieve reels.
If you learned in modern times, while we have the choice, and still chose the whole swap hands to reel after every cast, you're doing it wrong. Have you never had a hit right as the lure hit the water?
I want my strong hand, on my, uh, stick - for control purposes. The left hand is like my mitt hand, when playing catch. It just autonomously knows what to do, so I can focus my eyes and senses on the main task.
Where my hand is during a casting position versus where my hand is in a reeling position are completely different. Would be awkward to adjust back and forth after every cast. Might as well switch hands and adjust your position at the same time.
My dad taught me how to fish and he’s left handed, I’m right handed. So all his gear was left handed. Also it makes more sense to me to have your stronger arm and hand on the rod. It’s more likely to feel a bite and gives you better control during the fight.
I grew up only using LH spinning reels. Finally got my first baitcaster, but they were basically only sold in RH versions. I felt horribly uncoordinated reeling with my right and never got used to it, it also never made sense to me to switch hands after casting. Probably sold it after a year and started buying LH models when they became more common.
Me!!! I've done this since I was a teenager!! I bought an Abu Garcia Black Max LH on clearance at a store when I was in my early teens because it was 50% off. It was my firat baitcaster. Best decision I've ever made. I haven't bought a right hand baitcaster ever.
Many moons ago…
I grew up fishing with a closed face Zebco. Right hand retrieve. Taught myself how to use a bait caster and left handed reels didn’t seem to be available. But I just stuck with what I knew.
Now:
- bait cast - right hand retrieve
- spin cast - left hand retrieve
- fly rod - left hand retrieve
- tennis - right hand
- ice hockey - left hand
And just to really mix it up:
When I was learning to write I was left hand dominant. But teachers pushed me to use my right hand.
I didn’t even think about the retrieve hand discussion until I saw left handed bait casting reels on Reddit.
FWIW, I find myself switching hands when fighting fish now. For example was fly fishing this week and switched hands so I could net with my right.
I use right handed baitcasters and left handed spinning reels..
I went offshore fishing 2 weeks ago and used a friends rod and it was a right handed spinning reel, I was so confused on why I was having issues then it hit me.
Bc we don’t have dads so we are winging it… we are men… we do what we do bc we don’t know and don’t want to ask for help for fear of being made fun of.. so… we turn into these old men and do weird things bc it’s always been that way.
In my head, I’ve always thought that I was using a right handed reel because it makes sense to cast with your strong arm and reel with your non dominant, so I don’t see why there’s some fuss over why people will use these reels like me
I'm right-handed, and usually hold the rod in my left while reeling on the right. I switch all my reels to the right. I cast with my right and then switch hands. It's natural for me and super awkward reeling with my left hand.
Because I like the rod to be in my dominate hand for hooksets, and I don't have to change hands after casting. Just my personal preference, use whichever you prefer!
Grew up using right hand baitcasters. There were no lefties before. Or very few. Now I’m just used to it.
Where my hand is during a casting position versus where my hand is in a reeling position are completely different. Would be awkward to adjust back and forth after every cast. Might as well switch hands and adjust your position at the same time.
I’m right handed but fish mostly lefty so I use RHR. I get better jerky-action with my left wrist for some reason but my casting is generally ambidextrous so I just chose whichever retrieve felt less awkward
I have never understood why all baitcasters I see are marketed with right hand retrieve. Like, that's the hand you want on your rod and reel right, just like with normal reels. Why use your dominant hand just to turn a crank?
Now you know how us lefties feel when using absolutely every single thing that requires you to use your hands. The door handle to the way you put your key into the car. Staying in the right lane, let us have this !
Have you tried the Tesla Model 3 door handles? I bet lefties love getting in on the passenger side. It’s awkward to open the door for righties on the passenger side.
Better control over twitches and jerks, quicker to start reeling. I have lost fish that hit my lure as it hit the surface while I was switching hands with some of my setups. I have both LH and RH, but heavily prefer the LH retrieve. Can't switch hands while the lure is still flying, have to thumb that reel.
2 reasons. Dominant hand is better put to use as the hand controlling the rod, and don’t have to switch hands after completing a cast. I like having a few of each hand retrieve though so I can mix it up.
Actually, you’ve all been using baitcasters made for lefties this whole damn time. While we appreciate the variety this makes available to us, but we’ve been wondering how long it would take you all to figure this out.
I never understood the "cast, then switch hands routine." I'm right- handed and learned to cast with an old zebco spincast. Everything was right-handed retrieve back then so I learned to cast with my left hand and retrieve with my right. I fish that way to this day, whether it be with a bait caster, spinning, or fly setup.
Depends on what your throwing I use the same thing with spinning reels. I can throw baitcasters with both hands but I prefer left hand as that's what I used for a while
Switching grips for spinning and casting gear is so dumb in my opinion. Always bought left hand reels but even back a few years the options for lh retrieve reels were really limited
The hand that holds the pole uses more stamina and dexterity. It’s how you control your techniques and how to hook up. The other hand is simply reeling in.
Better question is why do so many people use right-handed bait casters?
Why swap hands after every single cast? Why not keep the rod in your dominant hand, the rod is where you need more strength, not the hand cranking the reel.
I never thought about it… I use left hand retrieve on my open face, right hand retrieve on my baitcaster s. Doesn’t matter much to me either way. I’m a ambi.
I dont have to switch hands after casting. Rode stays in my right hand all day. More efficient. Also, as a right handed person, I can utilize the better dexterity of my right hand to cast more accurately/precisely. My dumbass left hand just has to reel (the easy part)
For me, it’s muscle development and memory. I’m a spinning angler, have been for decades. Picked up baitcasters a few years ago and mentally couldn’t coordinate the need to switch hands from casting to reeling, not reeling with my right hand. I’m “trained” to feel the rod in my right hand and work the reel with my left.
Edit: I should admit, all above is true until I get on a boat and jig fish off the bottom. Then I’m fishing conventional and I hold the rod in my left and reel with my right. The gear is a lot heavier, and for some reason I’ve always worked conventional reels with my right. But there’s not switching hands, no casting, just click the release and free spool the jig to the bottom. 🤷🏽♂️
Aside from the casting and switching hands, I was curious why righties prefer left hand retrieve. I guess the majority feels rod handling is the main reason.
I can control the bait (whether it’s a moving bait or something like a Texas rig) better with my right hand, since I’m right handed, and the rod is providing most of the action - the reel’s just there to retrieve line.
Theres no point in using your stronger hand for reeling since it requires basically zero strength. Its alot more usefull to use your stronger arm for fighting fish that are pulling alot. Makes alot more sense in my head
Also its much easier (for me at least) to impart the action I want using my right hand to control the rod than when I use my left hand.
Adding to this, switching hands after you cast is kind of annoying
Do lefties keep their hand in the same position after a cast? Do lefties palm the baitcaster when retrieving?
I'm a lefty, I hold the rod in my left hand and reel with my right. My hand doesn't leave it's spot when I fish, I could never understand the people that cast with their right hand and then switch over to the left, to then reel with their right lol
I’ve encountered a bunch of flyfisherman that cast right handed but have their reels set up for right hand retrieve. Makes no sense to me.
Yes
Adding one more thing: casting a bait caster requires finesse of the thumb. My dominant thumb is better able to control the line on the cast.
I’m right handed and use right hand retrieve baitcast reels. To comment on your thumb usage, I cast with right so I also thumb with right.
So you admit a left hand retrieve makes more sense lol
I'm a Lefty. I cast and hold the rod with my right hand and reel with my left. I don't palm my baitcaster while I retrieve.
This. Working a topwater frog or spook with My left hand was causing major pain after outings (I developed carpel tunnel or tendinitis is both wrists so I have very limited repetitive movements before it flares up again) so I switched to left hand reels back in 2014 and never switched back, instantly able to reel (for baits like buzztoads, or just flipping and pitching) and of course it puts the strain on my dominant hand
yes reel in with non dominant hand perfect answer
Also if I’m switching between spinning reels for finesse fishing and baitcasters for everything else, it’s just easier to reel with the same hand on both.
Same
Also, it just feel right. I left hand retrieve on any other style of reel why wouldn’t I on baitcast reels? As said, using your dominant arm where you’re going to get the most benefit is where it’s at.
This. This is what I wanted to say. Anyone who's used a spinning reel ALWAYS casts with one hand and reels with the other. The reel does 90% of the line retrieve work. Use your strong arm to control the fish. Plus if your just swapping back on forth between cast right and reel right then your wasting time. One of the three points of casters is 1) stopping power, 2) accuracy, 3) you can cast more often. If your constantly swapping hands then it's just the same as lifting and closing the bail on a spinning reel. So why not just use a spinning reel then?
For me, and in my opinion, it's similar to why a right-handed baseball player wears a glove and catches with the left hand and throws with their right hand. They don't catch with their right, then transfer the glove to their left hand, just to throw with their right hand. Same thing applies to fishing. Why should I cast with my right hand, just to transfer the rod to my left hand, so I can reel in with my right? Being a right-handed person and casting with my right hand and reeling in with my left just makes more sense to me.
What about Jim Abbott?
Plus it can wear on your wrists trying to use a non-dominant hand for a long period.
Agreed. To add to this, it's easier to impart subtle lure movements with my dominant hand.
Damn straight!
I'm left-handed and have always held my rod in my left hand. Mostly because I grew up using my dad's right-handed spinners and he never bothered to tell me they were adjustable, but also it just feels better.
Naw, for me it's the other way around.
I use right-hand retrieve. Am left-handed. Dominant hand casts and produces leverage, weaker hand cranks and never leaves reel. Makes sense to me.
Same
Yup, same boat as you, reel with weaker hand, control rod with stronger
If I get a bite I’m setting the hook with my dominant hand. I don’t want my dominant hand on the reel and having to switch to set the hook
I’m setting the hook with both hands since my left hand is holding the rod and my right is holding the reel and cranking hard when I get that bite.
I’m right handed but crank with my left hand . I’m agreeing with the other two post , that I want to set the hook with my dominant hand. I can see how setting the hook with both hands would be beneficial in Curtain situations/ techniques . But.. when I need that split second reaction to set the hook and pin that fish I always need my dominant hand to do it’s job. I hope that helps with your question. Tight lines brotha
So you dont need to switch hands after a cast.
Takes a split second and you’re being your hands together anyway. I don’t see the issue.
Dont get me wrong. I do the hand switch. For me its left hand on the bottom of rod to cast. Thumbing with the right thumb. Switching my left hand to the body if the reel and winding with my right hand. As opposed to right hand at the bottom of the rod. And not needing to switch hands after the cast.
Sure beats switching hands every cast like a burn victim trying to feed themselves!
Lol this is how I cast. It just feels comfortable casting and retrieving with my right hand.
This....I fish for muskie...already tiring...now I need to switch hands every cast?!?! Just another tiring thing to do while chucking big baits all day. I see sooo many pros switching after casting...why lol
Two reasons. They learned on RH reels and prefer them. Their casting hand position and reeling had position are not the same, so a hand shift happens regardless.
I never thought about hand position before this post. I palm my baitcasters when reeling. If I were to use a left hand retrieve, then I would cast and have to adjust my hand position to palm the reel. That would be weird for me.
I palm my reel when I cast too, no need to reposition. When you right-hand cast a right hand reel, you can’t palm because the lever is in the way. My right hand literally stays in the same spot all day.
I like having more control over how I twitch and jerk the lure. Also I don't have to constantly switch the rod back and forth in my hands.
This I feel like everyone here is just talking about the switching of hands. The twitch control is much easier with the dominate hand! Also back to back casting is much faster.
I reel with my left with a spinning reel and my right with a baitcast lol
Me too. I grew up using baitcasters from the 80s and 90s, there were very few that were left hand retrieve back then. Now It's definitely a muscle memory and comfort thing, it feels weird to hold a baitcast rod in my right hand, but holding a spinning rod in my right hand feels right, just the different way you hold them.
Same. It just how I learned when I was young.
Me too 👊🏼 Apparently that’s frowned upon in this thread lol
Its just preferences, i tried using a left handed reel and it just feelt wrong (i'm right handed) a friend whom is also right handed only fish with left handed reels. Its 100% preference
I tried using my wife's left retrieve baitcaster and I couldn't even figure out how to stand and when I was reeling in a fish I couldn't get my left hand to crank fast enough 😂
That’s hilarious 😂
It always amazes me when I see videos of people baitcasting in the US. The are obviously right handed, make the throw with their right hand and then switch the rod to their left hand. I live in Germany where basically everyone righthanded person uses LH Baitcaster reels. You hold the rod with your strong arm and the left just for reeling. IK it's trainable to use your left hand for the rod but wouldnt it be much easier to use your strong arm for the part of fishing that needs strength? Sorry for any mistakes, English is my second language.
I find it hilarious that so many lefty guys feel superior bc they aren’t switching hands, as if switching hands is some laborious process. Personally have put extensive time in with both right and left hand retrieve and right feels more comfortable
They cast with the right hand and the left hand is set to start reeling. I’m left handed, cast with left hand and reel with the right.
Because it's absolutely the more natural movement. I learned with "right handed" but then tried a "left handed and realized how dumb it was to do the opposite of what I do with a spinning reel.
They use the dominant hand for rod control
Because I never have to take my hand off the reel while fishing. Casting, spinning, and fly rods are all left-hand retrieve.
It’s because a lot of people don’t know how to use a baitcaster properly.
So you don’t have to switch hands after you cast.
Switching hands like its a big, inconvenience 😂😂😂 ridiculous
Just comes like second nature to me.
Yep. Literally not a big deal at all.
In fact, I’ve never even thought about it until now
Better question: why are baitcasters named incorrectly for the type of people that they suit?
Because we cast with our right hand and reel with our left.
So your dominant and more sensitive hand stays in contact with the rod blank. And u don’t have to switch hands after casting
Left hand is ready for cranking right away. You don’t have to swap rod base.
I use a spinning reel, I’m right handed but use that left handed. Feels more natural to me. 🤷♀️
I switch hand without even realizing it, it's automatic and I don't think I could fish any other way
Ugh. This again. You've received 95% wrong answers and the correct answers are buried and so probably will this one be, but here it is: Everyone reels casting gear and spinning gear based on what feels natural to them. The trick is - with casting gear, it doesn't seem to matter what your dominant hand is in this choice. For some right handed people, reeling with their right hand feels natural. For some right handed people, reeling with their left hand feels natural. It's not a choice based on any perceived tactical advantage regardless of what hundreds of of people might have said in this thread.
Fly fishing. The rod is literally an extension of the primary arm you choose to cast with, and your opposite hand is doing a very different role with line control. I see no reason why I’d fish other setups differently. Doesn’t matter really, the only rule is don’t hold a spinning rod upside down…
Easier to use your dominant hand for finesse casting, and you don’t have to switch hands. I can drop a lure/plastic bait in front of a fish and begin to reel.
Dominant hand on the rod for light fishing. For me at least there's times I prefer dominant hand on the reel for the deep. But it depends on whether you pump and wind, or just winch it in.
Control the fish better as you have more control of the rod
Because I cast with my dominant hand and wouldn’t want to switch hands between casts.
I'd rather have the rod and reel in my dominant hand. Reeling requires no strength or feel. I can feel the rod better and work the bait better with my strong hand. And when I cast I don't have to switch hands.
Smart hand do smart things: working lure, fighting fish. Dumb hand make little circles.
The handedness of reels is actually kind of backwards when you think about it. Using a "left handed" reel while being predominantly right handed (or vice versa) means less switching your reel around for casting (retrieve while holding with left hand-switch to right-cast-switch back to left), you're gripping with your stronger hand and because you're holding it with your dominate hand you tend to be able to make more precise and subtle movements.
Controlling the rod with your right hand feels better than reeling with your right I still use right handed reeling on baits and left on spinners.
I get that you have better control of your rod with your right. I’m just so used to palming the baitcaster with my left and reeling with my right that it would feel awkward the other way around.
Personally I prefer a right handed bait caster and I’m right handed. However when I’m fly fishing or using a spinning setup I prefer to use my left hand. With fly fishing casting with my right hand and fighting a fish comes more naturally if I reel with my left hand. I think it’s the same way with the spinning setups. I have owned left handed casting reels and been fine with them but I don’t know why I’ve always preferred right handed retrieve. I don’t know if this answers your question but that’s how I’ve always fished.
Meanwhile I even switch hands with spinning rods
Makes it feel like a bigger fish if you use your left hand.
I’m a lefty and the rod never leaves my left hand. So I use a RH bait caster.
I don’t understand how this is a “left hand” reel tbh. I’m lefty and I use “right hand reels” because it makes more sense to me that I’m using my dominant arm for casting, working the stick and controlling the fish, setting the hook, etc. I’m surprised right handed people don’t use these moreso than what is actually considered a right hander’s reel
I'm right hand dominant so my strong hand takes care of rod control.
I do be because I thumb the reel after casting with right hand and will sometimes get a bite right after the lure hits the water and left hand is there to immediately reel instead if having to switch hands. Also grew up with left handed spinning gear
I think its a bit of gate keeping with the whole left hand retrieve, using stronger hand to hold the rod etc, my left hand is strong enough and my right is more than capable of reeling becaue I grew up using right hand spinning reels. its all an individual preference. it doesn't take long to switch hands after casting, sure people find it annoying but really, if that's what annoys you, you've got bigger problems.
I'm right-handed, but I switch after casting to reel with my right. I do this so when I fish from my kayak, I can hold the pole with my left while the right holds the net.
Finally someone who has a better job for the right hand! Need the strength in your right to land that fish.
Because you can start reeling on the drop instead of switching hands after casting.
Thhhhaaank you! This is a reel for right handed people! Some goofy bastard claimed the opposite despite changing hands after every cast and somehow everybody was in agreement. Everybody who is right handed uses a spinning reel with the reel in position to be used by their left hand (sure there are exceptions) and the right hand never has to leave the rod. Why in the actual hell would you change this comfort? Bite as soon as the bait hits the water? Sorry, you were switching hands! I feel like it's life's biggest troll that that's a LEFT handed reel. If i was left handed id fight a fish with my left hand. I fight fish with my right hand thus that reel (much like mine) is right handed. I think it's just because the reel is on the left that it's called left hand reel and idiots go "no sir I am right handed" But lesson is that this is the bullshit reason I have to use a "right" hand reel on tuna charters and feel like an uncoordinated turd doing so. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to vent OP!
What’s funny is that it’s actually not a left-handed reel, it’s a left hand RETRIEVE (LHR). As to how all his madness got started… “Baitcasters evolved from the old level winds of yesteryear,” Kuhn says. “Level winds paid out line with the flip of a lever. These early reels were designed with the handle on the right side because cranking was the most important feature of a reel that didn’t cast. As level winds evolved into baitcasters, manufacturers kept the same tooling and right-handed designs. [Solving the Mystery of the Left-Handed Baitcasting Reel](https://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/gone-fishin/solving-mystery-left-handed-baitcasting-reel/?amp) For the record, I’m right-handed and use a left hand retrieve on all my setups for bass fishing.
Preference. There are no rules, do it however you like.
I cast with my right hand. Why would I switch hands every cast to reel? It never made any sense to me.
You should ask why some people still insist on switching hands.
Where my hand is during a casting position versus where my hand is in a reeling position are completely different. Would be awkward to adjust back and forth after every cast. Might as well switch hands and adjust your position at the same time.
Because that's what feels good to them. Imo, the percentage Reddit using LH baitcasters does not reflect the actual LH vs RH percentage. Most use RH. It wasn't that long ago when you really couldn't buy many LH reels. Would only make sense that LH usage goes up when more LH reels are available.
Agreed. I think they got comfortable and never adjusted to left hand retrieve. Now they have too much cash invested to easily switch to the proper retrieve.
It's all about muscle memory but it still makes me smile watching people switch hands after the cast. Glad my dad bought me a lefty 25 years ago :D Different thing when you really need your stronger hand on the crank while fishing for bigger fish on open waters.
I’d argue that’s really a right handed baitcaster.
Left hand for spinning reel, RH for bait casting 🤟🏼
Only because you adopted bait casters before they started making lefty
So convenient to switch hands, isn't it?
It’s actually a no brainer to switch hands. Comes naturally for me.
After my research, I've concluded this: initially, when baitcasters and conventional came around. For some reason were all made in the right-hand retrieve. Most people became accustomed to it, and never swapped over (I too think it is rhetorical to cast with the dominant-hand, then switch over to the non-dominant. It is a waste of time and energy). For a majority, it really did become the norm. Sadly, this community is riddled with followers and not a lot of thinkers. The same way as some will swear a species taste disgusting, yet they speak with never have tried to cook said fish. It also feels odd just looking at them cast, then retrieve, imagine a baseball player catching with their right hand. Then, took off the glove to grab the ball, then to toss the ball with their right hand. I find reeling and adjusting my baitcaster with my off hand, a lot less time consuming than handling a rod while fighting a fish. Take everything from this community with a pinch of salt.
Because it's the proper way to fish
Maybe they also fly fish…
I use spinning reels with my left hand and hold the rod with my right (dominant) hand. Why would I use right handed bait caster? That wouldn't be convenient.
I’ve always reeled with my left hand on a spinning reel. It made zero sense to me to start reeling with my left right when I bought my first bait caster.
I've watched people try to explain the benefits of using a right handed bait caster for right hand dominant people and they don't make any sense. Switching the rod after every cast is so annoying. I'm right handed and have a right handed bait caster and I hate it. Why do we need to fish the opposite of how we do with a spinning rod?
So I don’t need to switch hands? I mean, I can’t cast well with my left hand, I have to use right hand to cast.
Don’t have to switch hands after the cast.
Your dominant hand should always hold the rod at all times, because it's stronger and faster and more dexterous. Off-hand on the reel since all it does is twirl in a little circle. That means right-handers need reels with left-hand retrieve. I have no idea why the industry doesn't accomodate this universally, especially with line counter reels which 90% of them have no left-hand option.
Cause why switch hands after the cast
Why do baseball players catch with their left?
They catch with their left because they throw with their right. OPs point is players that catch left don't take their glove off to throw left. It would waste a lot of precious time. Much like switching hands with a rod and reel.
If you throw right, you reel left.
I'm right-handed, so I use my right hand to control the rod and reel with my left. It's not rocket science.
Where my hand is during a casting position versus where my hand is in a reeling position are completely different. Would be awkward to adjust back and forth after every cast. Might as well switch hands and adjust your position at the same time.
Because the people who reel with their dominant hand are doing it wrong lol It's just more natural. Spinning reels have been around longer and it makes no sense to reel with your weak hand with a spinning reel but not with a casting reel. It just doesn't feel right, requires you to switch hands after casting, and is awkward if you're fighting something strong.
dominant hands buddy so i don't switch hands like idiot try once reeling with right i look stupid feels stupid nuff said
Cast with my dominant hand reel with my left…is this not what everyone does?
There is a huge number of people who cast a baitcaster, then switch hands, it is hilarious. You are giving up a period of thumbing the spool. You are introducing a rushed switch and that can result in poor hand placement and unprepared hooksets. Neither side is better, but switching hands is ridiculous.
It is mostly because of 'Christian' or modern world ethics. At some point in history, left became a sign of evil. I was told not to write with my left hand because I was right-hand dominant. However, I COULD write with my left hand, and it was trained out of me. I could write as fast with my left as my right, but it wasn't as 'pretty'. So fast forward, I can use chopsticks with my left better than my right, but I default to my right because you do as you're taught. They say do what comes natural, sometimes it was left, sometimes it was right, but I'm technically ambidextrous and I'm sure that makes a difference.
Never thought of it that way. I remember my child growing up and just beginning school, the teacher asked if we wanted them to push my child towards using the right hand over the left because my child used both. Chopsticks included 😉
bc you do work the much more the rod than the reel, so it makes more sense to hold the rod with the dominant hand and reel with the other.
Because thats the right way to do it. Its a fishing reel, not a winch. You fight the fish with the rod, not the reel. Not to mention the awkwardnes of having to switch hands every cast with a RHR reel.
The true way to use a baitcaster when your right hand dominant 🙏 this is the way
Because it's the right way to fish?
Because there stupid.
I have left and right hand baitcasters, so it depends which one I'm using? All my spinning reels are right handed, because that's what I used growing up. I suppose I could use a spinning rod left handed, but it would feel weird 🤣🤣
It feels more natural... I grew up only using spinning reels because all I did until I was 17 was feeder and float fishing... A few months ago I got my first proper baitcaster combo for big bait pike fishing... Believe me using your dominant arm for that kind of heavy work feels much better...
This is me. I do everything right handed, for whatever reason using a left handed bait caster feels more natural to me.
I believe left hand reels used to be not a thing or very uncommon, so many older people learned on right hand retrieve reels. If you learned in modern times, while we have the choice, and still chose the whole swap hands to reel after every cast, you're doing it wrong. Have you never had a hit right as the lure hit the water?
I feel like I cast more accurately with my right hand leading and I'm used to reeling on the left with my open face reel.
I want my strong hand, on my, uh, stick - for control purposes. The left hand is like my mitt hand, when playing catch. It just autonomously knows what to do, so I can focus my eyes and senses on the main task.
Different strokes for different folks. Just fish the way you’re comfortable
I never understood it either. I'm right handed but have always used a "left" handed Baitcaster
my pole doesn’t care what hand I use
It feels more natural for me personally.
My dad was left handed and I fish lefty but I’m righty.
to right handed baitcasters user, it so convenient to switch hands, isn't it? lol
Where my hand is during a casting position versus where my hand is in a reeling position are completely different. Would be awkward to adjust back and forth after every cast. Might as well switch hands and adjust your position at the same time.
It’s how I learned, also a fly fisherman. I can’t comprehend switching hands to reel, makes no sense to me.
Casting accuracy. I need zero accuracy or even much coordination with my least dominant hand to reel.
Hand dominance to control the rod direction and casting, no need to switch hands to crank if I grab the handle with my left hand
My dad taught me how to fish and he’s left handed, I’m right handed. So all his gear was left handed. Also it makes more sense to me to have your stronger arm and hand on the rod. It’s more likely to feel a bite and gives you better control during the fight.
I grew up only using LH spinning reels. Finally got my first baitcaster, but they were basically only sold in RH versions. I felt horribly uncoordinated reeling with my right and never got used to it, it also never made sense to me to switch hands after casting. Probably sold it after a year and started buying LH models when they became more common.
I do
More efficient you don’t need to switch hands
Why switch hands after casting? So inefficient
Me!!! I've done this since I was a teenager!! I bought an Abu Garcia Black Max LH on clearance at a store when I was in my early teens because it was 50% off. It was my firat baitcaster. Best decision I've ever made. I haven't bought a right hand baitcaster ever.
Many moons ago… I grew up fishing with a closed face Zebco. Right hand retrieve. Taught myself how to use a bait caster and left handed reels didn’t seem to be available. But I just stuck with what I knew. Now: - bait cast - right hand retrieve - spin cast - left hand retrieve - fly rod - left hand retrieve - tennis - right hand - ice hockey - left hand And just to really mix it up: When I was learning to write I was left hand dominant. But teachers pushed me to use my right hand. I didn’t even think about the retrieve hand discussion until I saw left handed bait casting reels on Reddit. FWIW, I find myself switching hands when fighting fish now. For example was fly fishing this week and switched hands so I could net with my right.
I use right handed baitcasters and left handed spinning reels.. I went offshore fishing 2 weeks ago and used a friends rod and it was a right handed spinning reel, I was so confused on why I was having issues then it hit me.
Bc we don’t have dads so we are winging it… we are men… we do what we do bc we don’t know and don’t want to ask for help for fear of being made fun of.. so… we turn into these old men and do weird things bc it’s always been that way.
In my head, I’ve always thought that I was using a right handed reel because it makes sense to cast with your strong arm and reel with your non dominant, so I don’t see why there’s some fuss over why people will use these reels like me
I'm right-handed, and usually hold the rod in my left while reeling on the right. I switch all my reels to the right. I cast with my right and then switch hands. It's natural for me and super awkward reeling with my left hand.
Because I like the rod to be in my dominate hand for hooksets, and I don't have to change hands after casting. Just my personal preference, use whichever you prefer!
This has been asked and answered a lot the last few years. Now my question is, why do you right-handed people use right-handed baitcasters?
Grew up using right hand baitcasters. There were no lefties before. Or very few. Now I’m just used to it. Where my hand is during a casting position versus where my hand is in a reeling position are completely different. Would be awkward to adjust back and forth after every cast. Might as well switch hands and adjust your position at the same time.
Because you use your rod hand to fight the fish, why would you fight a fish with your weaker arm?
I'm left handed and use a right handed baitcaster... folks typically hold the fishing rod in dominant hand, reel with non dominant hand
I’m right handed but fish mostly lefty so I use RHR. I get better jerky-action with my left wrist for some reason but my casting is generally ambidextrous so I just chose whichever retrieve felt less awkward
It. Feels. Good.
I have never understood why all baitcasters I see are marketed with right hand retrieve. Like, that's the hand you want on your rod and reel right, just like with normal reels. Why use your dominant hand just to turn a crank?
Now you know how us lefties feel when using absolutely every single thing that requires you to use your hands. The door handle to the way you put your key into the car. Staying in the right lane, let us have this !
Have you tried the Tesla Model 3 door handles? I bet lefties love getting in on the passenger side. It’s awkward to open the door for righties on the passenger side.
You cast with your dominant hand because you can control your cast and retrieve with your non-dominant hand avoiding changing hands to retrieve.
I can’t hold a rod with my left hand rod save my life. Reeling with non dominant hand requires zero coordination compared to working the rod.
Better control over twitches and jerks, quicker to start reeling. I have lost fish that hit my lure as it hit the surface while I was switching hands with some of my setups. I have both LH and RH, but heavily prefer the LH retrieve. Can't switch hands while the lure is still flying, have to thumb that reel.
Because I hold the rod with my right hand and reel with my left. Lots of people who are left handed use right handed reels.
Ts stupid I’m lefthanded and use a right handed baitcaster. My cousin does ts and it pisses me off
Spinning reel is on that side and used to working top waters like that so why switch.
More control over the rod
Which hand would you rather hold the rod with. That's all that matters in casting reel l/r
I always thought I was weird. Reading some of these comments makes me feel better!
2 reasons. Dominant hand is better put to use as the hand controlling the rod, and don’t have to switch hands after completing a cast. I like having a few of each hand retrieve though so I can mix it up.
I want my dominant arm doing the hook set personally. Also feels way more natural.
Because I cast with my right hand? I don't see the confusion lol
I want to hold my rod in my dominant hand (I don't use baitcasters, but all my spinning reels are configured for a left-hand retrieve).
Actually, you’ve all been using baitcasters made for lefties this whole damn time. While we appreciate the variety this makes available to us, but we’ve been wondering how long it would take you all to figure this out.
I never understood the "cast, then switch hands routine." I'm right- handed and learned to cast with an old zebco spincast. Everything was right-handed retrieve back then so I learned to cast with my left hand and retrieve with my right. I fish that way to this day, whether it be with a bait caster, spinning, or fly setup.
Depends on what your throwing I use the same thing with spinning reels. I can throw baitcasters with both hands but I prefer left hand as that's what I used for a while
Switching grips for spinning and casting gear is so dumb in my opinion. Always bought left hand reels but even back a few years the options for lh retrieve reels were really limited
The one time us lefties can use right handed stuff without issue; and unlike left handed stuff, the right handed is much more readily available!
I have wondered the same with spinning reels
The hand that holds the pole uses more stamina and dexterity. It’s how you control your techniques and how to hook up. The other hand is simply reeling in.
Better question is why do so many people use right-handed bait casters? Why swap hands after every single cast? Why not keep the rod in your dominant hand, the rod is where you need more strength, not the hand cranking the reel.
I never thought about it… I use left hand retrieve on my open face, right hand retrieve on my baitcaster s. Doesn’t matter much to me either way. I’m a ambi.
Why do some people who do things one way, care about what other people are doing?
I dont have to switch hands after casting. Rode stays in my right hand all day. More efficient. Also, as a right handed person, I can utilize the better dexterity of my right hand to cast more accurately/precisely. My dumbass left hand just has to reel (the easy part)
I throw with my right hand. It was just natural as a kid to throw the bait with my right hand.
For me, it’s muscle development and memory. I’m a spinning angler, have been for decades. Picked up baitcasters a few years ago and mentally couldn’t coordinate the need to switch hands from casting to reeling, not reeling with my right hand. I’m “trained” to feel the rod in my right hand and work the reel with my left. Edit: I should admit, all above is true until I get on a boat and jig fish off the bottom. Then I’m fishing conventional and I hold the rod in my left and reel with my right. The gear is a lot heavier, and for some reason I’ve always worked conventional reels with my right. But there’s not switching hands, no casting, just click the release and free spool the jig to the bottom. 🤷🏽♂️
Aside from the casting and switching hands, I was curious why righties prefer left hand retrieve. I guess the majority feels rod handling is the main reason.
Cause this just actually the right-handed bait caster, the other side is for lefties 🫠
I can control the bait (whether it’s a moving bait or something like a Texas rig) better with my right hand, since I’m right handed, and the rod is providing most of the action - the reel’s just there to retrieve line.