Anyone switched from RH Reels to LH?

[896J]

I've been debating whether or not to switch to left handed reels for my baitcasters. I actually use my spinning rod with the reel setup for the left hand side. For my baitcast setups, it feels really strange to use a left handed reel, but I'd love to cast and then start reeling without switching hands. Have any of you guys switched from RH to LH reels? How long does it take to get used to using LH reels? I'm right handed, and it seems like I should have the rod in my right hand.

[WackySenko]

I have both left and right on the deck at this time. I like the left hand ones because I do not have to change hands after I cast. Yes, I should learn to cast with the left. It felt a little strange at first but now I can switch during the day as needed. I would say that it took 2 outings and I was fine with it. I still have the pole in the lefty hand to lip or net a fish. Good luck

[bassinDerek]

i use right hand on my bait caster and left on my spinning reel but use whats comfortable for you

[Greg_Cornish]

I have lots of friends who've either made the switch or tried to. The ones that stuck with it until they were comfortable wouldn't want to switch back. The ones who picked it up, didn't like it and never forced themselves to get used to it didn't switch. It only makes sense to go lefty imho. None of them liked in in the beginning.

[BassManDan]

Most people learn to fish with a spinning reels (left retrieve) and then upgrade to common baitcasters which are usually right retrieve. I was definitely one of those, but I realized that there was really no reason to switch hands, so why not have lefty baitcasters.

I still of course have older reels that I use for rockfish or surfperch that are right retrieve, and frankly I can't detect any difference in my performance and effectiveness.

For techniques like flipping and pitching however, (which is at least 50% of my bass casting, the left just makes things quicker and more efficient.

If you are already and "established" right hand retriever, buy a cheaper left baitcaster and just give it a try, worst case scenario some one who is more evolved than you will buy it off ya

[JamesH]

I switched to lefties for all my flippin, pitchin and top water set ups and I use both for swimbaits and crankbaits because it allows me to switch back and forth when my hands get fatigued. It only took me a day to get used to the lefties and now when I try to pitch a righty, I don't know how I ever did it before.....

James

[896J]

When fishing rip baits, my left shoulder kills me, basically from doing all of the work with my left arm. I think I need to make the switch, but it feels really strange right now, especially when setting the hook. Glad to hear that guys are able to make the switch, it gives me some hope that I can make it myself .

[barse41]

practice with one while watching tv or something. just reel and practice setting the hook til it feels natural. thats how i learned

[jazzwannabe]

A friend gave me a lefty Procaster about 25 years ago. I tried to get used to it, but gave up. Still do the lefty retrieve on my spinning reels, righty on baitcasters.

[R.Mac]

I think Shimano come out with good (no spool backlash) left-handed baitcasters around 12-15 yrs ago, maybe longer. For me cranking left handed is easy and right hand/arm has the best hook setting power and overall rod control. Flippin is not quite as cool for me with a lefty reel because the line ya pull out gets tangled in the crank arm and star drag occasionally.

[Phil]

Coming from the Steelhead fishing side some 40 years ago in the Eel River. I always wanted to use a levelwind reel, but could not reel with my right hand; I was to used to feeling the light bite and I am right handed. Then along came Ambassador 5001c, finally I could start to use a LH retrieve reel. Then came Shimano Bantam (I still have) 201C, wow another bonanza for me. Since then, I have dozens of LH reels and could not reel with my right hand for anything. Yet I have two sons right handed who learned on RH retrieve and can not use or reel LH reels.........Was good for me, no borrowing Dads reels, ha.

As they are saying, stay what is comfortable with you.
Just my .02

[ash]

Like James I have lefty's for all of my pitchin and flippin and rights for my cranks, most of the new reels I am buying are lefty's only took a day to make the adjustment.

[Dan Stahlman]

I hurt my left hand in a accident about 17 years ago so I didn't have the strength in it to comfortably hold a rod in it. I went to left hand reels and have never looked back. It took about three days to get use to it. I do use right hand Castics for flipping as I can use my left hand to set my fish.

[tunaman]

I use both... most anything requiring me to work the bait, I use a lefty as I'm much more coordinated with my right hand for working the tip.

And over the last year, I've learned to flip and pitch and can do both with either hand, so I have flipping gear set up with both.

Roger

[Tony B]

Although I am right handed, I have used LH reels for over 20 years. Back in the "day" it was hard to find very many models that were made left handed, but today that has all changed. I suggest that you try a LH model first to see if you can get use to it. Give it several trips. Once you get use to it, you'll never go back. If you don't have a buddy that can loan you one, send me an e-mail and I'll look to see what I can do for you.

Happy Holy Days !

[mark poulson]

I use both.
A while back, I was laying brick at my house, and developed carpal tunnel in my left hand, so I bought some left handed reels for my jerkbaits, since that was what aggravated the carpal tunnel.
I got used to it quickly, but I still have a little trouble with the hookset left handed. Just not as fast lefty.
Funny thing, when I finished the brick work, the carpal tunnel went away, but I kept the reels and still use them.

[Tin Can]

Most people learn to fish with a spinning reels (left retrieve) and then upgrade to common baitcasters which are usually right retrieve.

I started with spinning reels but have always switched them over to right hand retrieve. I can reel fine with both hands, my problem is I don't feel like I can get a good hook set with the rod in my right hand, which is strange because I am right handed.

I do have both though, I have left handed bait casters that I use for certain things, mostly chuck and wind type stuff. I hate flipping with a left hand retrieve reel because sometimes when I pull off the line to make the flip it gets hung up on the handle when I flip it. So I flip and then switch hands. It just feels right to me, no matter how wrong it may be!

[Micropterus salmoides]

Thought I'd resurrect this thread as I've struggled with the internal debate - RH vs LH - from time to time. I've been very tempted to try a LH baitcaster for jigs/worms, maybe topwaters. On a couple of occasions recently I mounted a LH reel on a rod in-store and while the rod in my right hand felt OK if held still, cranking the handle felt akward, and I imagine working a jerkbait or topwater would feel awkward as well.

Strangely when I first got into bass fishing I started with a modest spinning outfit (something that I had grown accustomed to trout fishing during Summer camping trips) so when I wanted to get a baitcaster I decided "naturally" to get a LH model. After getting used to casting with a baitcaster I was golden.

Then came the time to expand my arsenal. My increased exposure to bass fishing revealed that most right handed anglers used RH reels, plus RH reels dominated the market, and LH versions typically delayed. So I began purchasing RH reels and never looked back, for years.

Now I have some issues with my left arm and shoulder, probably from years of rowing and exacerbated by sleeping on my left shoulder, so I have been thinking more seriously about trying a LH reel. Tackle Warehouse has a cool demo program so I may take advantage of that. I guess I've been reluctant to relearn how to use a LH reel and then go through the hassle of selling some RH reels and purchasing LH ones.

[elfish16]

i have just taught myself to cast left handed as I feel like I've got SOO much more power reeling right handed. I had some lefties before and got fairly good and comfortable with them...but felt like it wasn't the right feel. I switched back to my right handed retrieve and feel more powerful reeling in fish. for me...pitching and flipping left handed is great! Same with casting buzzbaits...engaging the reel before it hits water is CRUCIAL on walls!

[GKramer]

Put aside the fact that "fishing where the fish are" is the best thing you can do--even with a cane pole and no reel--let me put this forward. In all of professional baseball at all levels US and international, how many successful "switch hitters" are there?

If it were as seamless as argued, 90 percent would be two-way (meaning equally proficient) and not say 2 percent. I understand the potential for more fluid casting is higher with a left-handed baitcaster, but if your real desire is to elevate your game, then picking which hand to cast with is way down at the bottom of the list.

And to coin an old Harvey Naslund saying, I can name "A lotta guys" who cast right and switch hands and somehow earn a living while fishing.

Especially now, with the end of head-to-head tournament fishing, you can't get back-seated by a guy taking you into the back of the cove and working out the left side, forcing you to fish your weaker hand. In other words, switching might be good for an individual, but it's not mandatory.

gk

www.kramergonefishing.com

[j10b]

Like an FLW and Elites series pro told me, when you can fish at the upper levels you can start worrying about the .10th of a second saved switching hands.

Personally I don't see a need for it. Once I match all rods and reels to the specific technique then I can worry about which side the reel handle is on.

[Roboworm99]

Just cast with your left hand on the RH baitcasters to reduce fatigue....i switch it up through out the day without problems..

[Riplip]

I think it was a good thing which allows me to use a bit more rod control in certain situations. I also believe it reduces some arm/wrist stress on those days when a repetitive technique reaction bite is on. Right now I'm up to five lefty's...ripbait, couple 'a topwaters and pitch & flip. With the exception of rippin, I still use either for most techniques. I don't believe the hand exchange thing is any huge advantage. I'm more interested in the ability to cast ambidextrious. I'm still working on that one, but the advantages are clearer to me, such as creating an angle to retrive that might not be possible with a right armed cast without repositioning the boat. At the very least it gives me pleasure to be proficient with either outfit, with either hand. Put me down as a solid advocate.

[Lugnut]

I tried, I learned how to fish with a spinning reel - handle on the left side, and a baitcasting reel - handle on the right side. I have tried a couple different baitcasting reels with left-hand handles and I just can't get used to it.