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Posts: 127
Location: Brookfield | I am right handed but I use left handed reels. That his how my Dad taught me and didnt know any different until recently. Now all the guys I fish with reel right handed, I tried using their gear but I just cant get used to it. It doesnt bother me to much with trolling but casting is useless, I cant work the lure. I recently wanted to buy my first Calcuta and found out they are not even available in leftly unless you buy the TA. Just way to much money for me so I picked up another Abu Record.
It seems like lefties are getting harder and harder to come by.
Does anyone else who is a righty reel lefty or am I the only one?
NUT  |
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Posts: 1270
| I would actually say that left handed reels are easier to fin today then they were 10 years ago. I would say that only about 1 in 20 baitcast reels sold is left handed. |
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Location: Oregon | I use one and most of my fishing buddies use them also.
RM |
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Posts: 358
Location: London, England | Most pike anglers in the UK and Europe are right handed and use the left hand wind reels. Most have started out using spinning reels with the handle on the left, so the more powerful arm is in charge of holding and manipulating the rod while the menial task of turning the handle is left to the subordinate hand. Means you don't need to swap hands after casting too, much slicker and more efficient! |
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| http://www.dlst.co.uk/amb01/01lr.html
Left is definitely right |
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Posts: 55
Location: SW Michigan | It is kind of crazy. I've seen this same discussion before. Goes back to the days when I was a kid & the reel handles turned when you cast. It's a hard habit to break. When ice fishing two rods the baitcaster is the left rod & the spinning rod the right. Thought of getting a lefty for that too, though. Whats the old saying? Two wrongs don't make a right, but three lefts make a right, or something like that. I'm getting confused now.
Edited by toothn'nail 7/19/2007 5:01 AM
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Location: Wausau, Wisconsin | I have a hard time finding left handed fishing line... |
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Posts: 201
Location: Stevens Point | If it is any help I am left handed and fish with right retrieve, I hold the rod my left hand with spinning and casting gear, it is an efficient way to cast and just makes sense to me. I have troubles understanding why so many people switch from spinning to casting. Just my two cents.... |
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| I am right handed but use both. I find the variety helps long days spent casting |
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Posts: 380
Location: Michigan | What is a right handed reel???
I am right handed and use the more efficient left hand wind. One day the rest of the baitcasting world will wake up...
I agree it is hard to find quality LH reels. Look at the Diawa Luna, Quantum Cabo, and I have recently heard good things about the Okuma Induron. I have 2 of the Cabos and really like them for light to medium weight baits. For heavier stuff, I would go with the round style reels. |
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Posts: 8781
| I use both as well. It really helps with fatigue, and that way anybody can use your stuff. (and vice-versa)
I don't like switching hands to cast, (still can't cast over my left shoulder) but some of the reels I use only come in right handed models... If they did I'd probably switch to all left handed reels.
Funny thing, though: At first reeling with my right hand felt really goofy, so did working baits. Now? I'd rather work most lures holding the rod with my left hand and reeling with my right.
Edited by esoxaddict 7/19/2007 1:47 PM
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Posts: 2894
Location: Yahara River Chain | I too am right handed and use left side crank. Never made any sense to switch hands while casting.
What really blows my mind is that these guys that switch hands while casting will do a LOT of things to up their odds getting a muskie. you name it modify baits, change hooks, split rings not snaps, etc. but using their dominate hand to work baits and get quicker, faster hooks sets is not one of them. This is one area that can really help you boat more fish.
I know many have done it many years, but why not teach a wife, kid, or newbie to use the dominate hand for the working the bait?
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Location: Apollo, PA | I'm convinced if i can find the #*^@ reels |
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Location: Minnesota | eBay has a lot of great Shimano, Daiwa and other LH reels. New and used. I hope to start selling some Shimano reels soon and had a similar question on how many LH reels to buy??? I was thinking 1 out of every 10 I woudl buy in a LH. As for use, I can't use LH reels as my left hand is retarded. |
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Posts: 2894
Location: Yahara River Chain | Grunt Lures - 7/21/2007 9:44 PM
As for use, I can't use LH reels as my left hand is retarded.
How much you want to bet that he uses a spinning rod in his right hand and cranks with his left????? |
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| Minor issue imo, and the so called "switching" of hands seems a pretty smooth movement both to myself, and observing others. Knowing where to cast and then actually casting there are much more important skills I think. |
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Posts: 613
Location: big cove tannery pa | I too am right handed and use left side crank. Never made any sense to switch hands while casting. I also can use the right hand reel but i cant use them for jerkbaits & gliders. Just cant get the hang of twitching lures with my left hand. |
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Location: Yahara River Chain | firstsixfeet - 7/22/2007 8:00 AM
Minor issue imo, and the so called "switching" of hands seems a pretty smooth movement both to myself
No, its a major issue* when you consider how well a person can impart action on a bait and a quicker, harder hookset with their dominate hand. I have a buddy that has been fishing muskies over 40 years and to this day he can not work a bait like a jackpot in place or get the "ploosh" from one like I can. I love fishing behind him because of this. His jackpots come through the water like a snake swimming. Sure he get a few fish, but not nearly the action I get.
Let me restate that if you have been doing this for years and are comfortable with the action from your baits, fine. But why not when starting out a wife, kid, or some other newbie, get them using there dominate hand to work the rod????? I wonder how long it took many of those who switch hands to really become good at using your other hand to impart some decent action on a bait and setting a hook hard enough to keep them on. Maybe you just chalked up losing a fish to "inexperience"?
One last thing, how many of you switch your hands prior to a figure-8? Ever get a fish to hit at that time? Keeping the rod in your dominate hand the whole time will prevent that from happening. Yet another reason.
*- in my opinion. |
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Posts: 199
Location: Sandusky, OH | I think that the reason I tried and failed to use left crank reels had to due with the position it left my right hand with after completing my retrieve. I couldn't cast comfortably from the position I palm the reel with during the retrieve, which meant I'd be shifting my hand around before and after the cast anyway, so I stuck to right crank reels. I would prefer to work the bait with my right arm, but isn't it just as easy to train your left arm to work the bait as it is to work the crank? I'm sure my lack of coordination has nothing to do with it!
In summary, I would if I could, but I can't so I shan't.
Eric |
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| muskie! nut - 7/22/2007 1:38 PM
firstsixfeet - 7/22/2007 8:00 AM
Minor issue imo, and the so called "switching" of hands seems a pretty smooth movement both to myself
No, its a major issue* when you consider how well a person can impart action on a bait and a quicker, harder hookset with their dominate hand. I have a buddy that has been fishing muskies over 40 years and to this day he can not work a bait like a jackpot in place or get the "ploosh" from one like I can. I love fishing behind him because of this. His jackpots come through the water like a snake swimming. Sure he get a few fish, but not nearly the action I get.
*- in my opinion.
Sorry, can't agree at all, and with all the skills I would want to pick up as a musky fisherman, the left hand right hand thing would be a non issue, practice with either method would be much more important. As to how one uses a bait, I would check his rod length, and action and actual knowledge of how the bait works first. Baits are worked right and wrong with both hands. |
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Location: Yahara River Chain | "As to how one uses a bait, I would check his rod length, and action and actual knowledge of how the bait works first. Baits are worked right and wrong with both hands."
Well, how can this be???? He see me throwing the exact same bait and catching fish and he doesn't want to duplicate it???? He knows full well what it takes to make a jackpot type bait to work. He told me he just can't do it.
"Sorry, can't agree at all, and with all the skills I would want to pick up as a musky fisherman, the left hand right hand thing would be a non issue, practice with either method would be much more important."
I agree, a person would eventually get the hang of it (many have & it sounds like you are proof of it), but wouldn't a quicker way to have the expertise to work a jerkbait is with your dominate hand??? I see many out there that using their dominate hand for spinning rods long before they ever pick up a baitcaster. And many folks tell me that the can't use a baitcasting reel with the crank on the same side as their spinning reel. How can this be???? It doesn't make any sense to me.
firstsixfeet, can you name me one physical advantage in switching hands when casting????
Edited by muskie! nut 7/22/2007 10:24 PM
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| muskie! nut - 7/22/2007 10:22 PM
I agree, a person would eventually get the hang of it (many have & it sounds like you are proof of it), but wouldn't a quicker way to have the expertise to work a jerkbait is with your dominate hand??? I see many out there that using their dominate hand for spinning rods long before they ever pick up a baitcaster. And many folks tell me that the can't use a baitcasting reel with the crank on the same side as their spinning reel. How can this be???? It doesn't make any sense to me.
firstsixfeet, can you name me one physical advantage in switching hands when casting????
I don't think the point is very important in development of musky fisherman. I've already said everything I have to say on the matter. Practice far outweighs choice of technique, I think. |
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Posts: 73
Location: Indiana | I've had this conversation with my brother quite a few times. We're both right handed but...
He grew up reeling his spinning reel with his right hand. He can work any walk the dog bait glider as well as anyone while the rod is in his left hand. He's been fishing his whole life that same way...just likes it better and he's accustomed to the motion.
I on the other hand started out reeling a spinning reel with my left hand. That's what all those bass pros do #*^@ it, so I did it too. Actually it was a different brother of ours that told me that's how it was to be done, so naturally wanting to follow his advice, I followed suit. Years and years later, the weird left hand rod holding brother (TOAD) decided to get us both hooked on musky fishing. The bastard.
Anyways, when I started out Musky fishing, I got myself a nice Pete Mania combo that helped me at the very least start to throw these monstrous baits. Of course, the Pete Mania's only come in right hand reels. I was like a fish out of water (no pun intended). I had no control over my baits. I sucked at switching hands. I didn't have a hook set at all. Definitely noticeable...of course it was just something I wasn't used to.
But the worst part for me was this...you cast with your right dominant hand (most of us do)...the crank is on the right side of the reel...and those STUPID screws that hold the side plate on the reel are on the right side as well...those things hit right where my right hand grabbed and kept on digging into my finger as i cast. The BEAUTY of the left hand reel is that those screw things are on the opposite side of the reel now when I cast...no freeking skin ripped off my fingers.
It all comes down to what you're comfortable with. There's no right or wrong way. Not sure there's much difference in actual results between two people who have the same amount of experience. However, for me it would have been a waste of time to change...no need to go through the learning curve when I could just bypass it. Definitely something to think about when getting someone started...might save them a bit of money.
As far as left-handed reels go...it does suck there isn't selection. I really really would like one of the Curado 300's, but alas, no left handed ones. It'll really suck when my brother gets his...did I mention that he was a bastard??? Just a price you pay I guess. I've got 2 Abu 6601C4's that I use pretty much all the time. I like the higher gear ratio of the reel. They break down a lot, but they're easy as pie to fix.
And funny thing...my brother is always tinkering with baits. Interesting observation for sure.
Edited by Halfpint 7/23/2007 10:37 AM
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