Reel-sidedness HELP

[Alejandroi1]

Okay guys, I have a question.... i know this might sound silly but i feel comfortable asking the forum... what side of baitcasting reel do I use? I started out with a spinning reel and i reel with my LEFT hand. I went out to Bass Pro Shops in Vaughan during their spring fishing sale, and i bought an Xcast combo (that reels with the RIGHT hand ~$100 ), but changed my mind the next day, returned it and bought instead a johhny morris reel that reels with the LEFT. now im having second thoughts and dont know what to do. Can someone help? Ive been watching videos and see that people use a spinning rod that reels with the LEFT and its very common, but when i see people using baitcasters, the vast majority are reeling with their right. I cant really tell what hand i felt more comfortable with.... >.>

 

[Garfield the cat]

Well I had the same decision when I was buying a centerpin reel, I had to figure what hand I was comfortable holding the rod with. Then you take from there. Ten hours in the river, u need your strongest arm. Lol

 

[Alejandroi1]

Well I had the same decision when I was buying a centerpin reel, I had to figure what hand I was comfortable holding the rod with. Then you take from there. Ten hours in the river, u need your strongest arm. Lol

lol thanks . btw whats a centerpin reel?

 

[PainInTheBass]

Okay guys, I have a question.... i know this might sound silly but i feel comfortable asking the forum... what side of baitcasting reel do I use? I started out with a spinning reel and i reel with my LEFT hand. I went out to Bass Pro Shops in Vaughan during their spring fishing sale, and i bought an Xcast combo (that reels with the RIGHT hand ~$100 ), but changed my mind the next day, returned it and bought instead a johhny morris reel that reels with the LEFT. now im having second thoughts and dont know what to do. Can someone help? Ive been watching videos and see that people use a spinning rod that reels with the LEFT and its very common, but when i see people using baitcasters, the vast majority are reeling with their right. I cant really tell what hand i felt more comfortable with.... >.>

When I first got into baitcasters, they only made them in right handed models for whatever reason. This probably holds true for many anglers out there, which is why you see it as frequently as you do, Further, many reel manufacturers still bias the number of models towards those who reel with their right hands. I know many that have switched because they are used to reeling with their left hands (from spinning reels), and others still who will use left or right depending ont he technique they are using. Some techniques require more rod manipulation (topwaters, jerkbaits), while others are more about the reeling (crankbaits, spinnerbaits). For the former, my brother uses left handed reels, and prefers to hold the rod in his right hand. For the latter, he prefers to crank with his right hand.

In the end, you have to determine what is most comfortable to you. For whatever reason, the position of the reel on top of the rod makes reeling with my right hand more comfortable with baitcasting gear. However, if you were to give me a spinning reel with a right handed handle, I would be uncomfortable. What you need tp figure out what is most comfortable to you. Don't mind what others are doing because they aren't minding what you are doing.

In other words, the only benefit to being right handed has nothing to do with technique, but availability of reel models.

 

[Somenomai]

When I first got into baitcasters, they only made them in right handed models for whatever reason. This probably holds true for many anglers out there, which is why you see it as frequently as you do, Further, many reel manufacturers still bias the number of models towards those who reel with their right hands. I know many that have switched because they are used to reeling with their left hands (from spinning reels), and others still who will use left or right depending ont he technique they are using. Some techniques require more rod manipulation (topwaters, jerkbaits), while others are more about the reeling (crankbaits, spinnerbaits). For the former, my brother uses left handed reels, and prefers to hold the rod in his right hand. For the latter, he prefers to crank with his right hand.

In the end, you have to determine what is most comfortable to you. For whatever reason, the position of the reel on top of the rod makes reeling with my right hand more comfortable with baitcasting gear. However, if you were to give me a spinning reel with a right handed handle, I would be uncomfortable. What you need tp figure out what is most comfortable to you. Don't mind what others are doing because they aren't minding what you are doing.

In other words, the only benefit to being right handed has nothing to do with technique, but availability of reel models.

This basically covers all of it. It's all up to how comfortable you are. Some left handers like to reel with their left hand, but I like to hold the rod with my strong arm so I reel with my right. Whatever is comfortable for you should work fine.

 

[Garfield the cat]

lol thanks . btw whats a centerpin reel?

It's like a fly reel but for float drifting. Look it up on YouTube Has alot of videos about it.

 

[reefrunner]

When buying my first baitcaster I also came across the same issue. I too spin lefty. I made the decision to go with a left-handed baitcaster and don't regret it. True, more righties out there on the market...but I don't buy what the market dictates. Going lefty was not only more comfortable, I don't have to switch hands after I make a cast to get into reeling posture. Big plus right there to consider.

 

[Alejandroi1]

Thanks for the input guys. I feel a lot more comfortable with the reel i purchased now because I do think that when I take it into action it will feel best held in my right hand and reeled with the left. lol glad i got this issue of my back

 

[Joel52]

When buying my first baitcaster I also came across the same issue. I too spin lefty. I made the decision to go with a left-handed baitcaster and don't regret it. True, more righties out there on the market...but I don't buy what the market dictates. Going lefty was not only more comfortable, I don't have to switch hands after I make a cast to get into reeling posture. Big plus right there to consider.

That's the same reason I have - I don't have to switch hands. Every reel I have is on the left. I decided to this way back for trolling... left hand on the motor, right hand on the rod. I have a quicker reaction time to the reel that way.