LH vs RH Retrieve

[Shankapotomus]

How may of you RH'ers use LH retreive reels and visa versa?

Currently I cast my baitcaster with my right hand and reel with my right hand. I have been doing it for years, but I know I should probably switch to a LH retreive when I buy my next reel. It has to be more efficient?

Thoughts?

[Battery Doctor]

I am right handed, cast right handed, and reel left handed. My dad would have shot me if I tried to do otherwise when growing up. Says it wastes precious time when you get the big one on. However, I use a spinning reel, not bait casting.

[yak-aholic]

When I use a spinning reel, I cast right handed and reel with my left. Baitcasters, I cast right, switch, and reel right. Don't ask me why, but it's just a habit.

[Sandman]

I am right handed and always fish with left-hand retrieve spinning reels, but I have been wanting to get a good baitcaster for a while now. I think I will end up getting a Calcutta 201 (the left hand retrieve), but every time I go into Bass Pro or Academy, they don't have them in stock!!!!! I would order online, but I can't get my military discount that way, Lol. I'll just hold out 'till I save some extra dough and they get them in stock.

[fishtaco]

I'm RH and I use left hand retrieve reels. I cast with my right, hold the rod with my right, set the hook with my right, reel in the fish with my left. Just a personal preference, I don't have to switch the rod from one hand to the other, which really isn't a big deal, I could do right hand retrieve if I had to.

[who-yak]

Shank -- I use spinning reels 99% of the time. My Shimano 2000 has RH/LH option, simply unscrew the handle and move it over. I don't know that much about bait casting reels but maybe you can find a manufacturer that offers a reel with that option. Good Luck

[Branch_Office]

I am right handed and my dad made me learn very young to cast with my left hand and reel with my right. Save time from switching hands to reel and a little quicker on the hook set if the hit occurs when it hits the water. I do that regardless of what type reel..baitcaster or spinning. Thank you Dad!!!

[BayouTiger]

I am left-handed; however, I cast with both my right and left hands and retrieve right-handed. No problems switching hands when needed. I have a left-handed reel and have no problems using it--I just prefer right-handed retrieve. I've thought of trying to cast only with my left so as to cut down on the passing back and forth but I'm comfortable with my current technique. I fillet right-handed. I cannot write with my right hand no matter how hard I try. How screwed up is that?

[Choupique]

When I use a spinning reel, I cast right handed and reel with my left.
Baitcasters, I cast right, switch, and reel right.

ditto, wish my dad taught me to reel left handed. But at least he taught me to use a baitcaster!

[yak-aholic]

I really don't see the issue with having to switch. It doesn't seem to take too long. When fighting a fish, it leaves my left hand holding the rod and my right (dominant) hand free to handle the fish, lip grippers, net, gaff, whatever I need to grab.

[Kingfish]

I'm right handed and grew up with spinning reels, started throwing baitcasters a few years ago. The right hand crank didn't make sense at all, so I started with the left hand crank.

[marshdaddy]

When I use a spinning reel, I cast right handed and reel with my left. Baitcasters, I cast right, switch, and reel right. Don't ask me why, but it's just a habit.


Yep, same here. Some old RH bass buddies tried to get me to learn to cast left handed when using a bait caster, but it was already too ingrained to change.

[Racechaser]

All my reels baitcasting and spinning are left hand retieve even though I am right handed.

[Racechaser]

I am right handed and always fish with left-hand retrieve spinning reels, but I have been wanting to get a good baitcaster for a while now. I think I will end up getting a Calcutta 201 (the left hand retrieve), but every time I go into Bass Pro or Academy, they don't have them in stock!!!!! I would order online, but I can't get my military discount that way, Lol. I'll just hold out 'till I save some extra dough and they get them in stock.

Does Cabela's have military discount? They usually always have 201's in stock. What about Chaq's? They might be cheaper even without the discount combined with the savings on gas.

[Where Y'ak?]

I fish mostly baitcasters. I'm RH and cast and reel RH. More accuracy in casting and stronger reeling with my RH. If using a spinning reel, I can use it either way, but generally keep them as RH also. Many baitcasters come in LH retrieve, but are not as readily available. No baitcasters that I know of offer the ability to switch retrieves as almost all spinning reels do.

[Mung]

When I use a spinning reel, I cast right handed and reel with my left. Baitcasters, I cast right, switch, and reel right. Don't ask me why, but it's just a habit.

Me four. I think this is pretty common.

[Shankapotomus]

ditto, wish my dad taught me to reel left handed. But at least he taught me to use a baitcaster!

So it's not just me. I am also thankful that my Dad taught me on a baitcaster. Spinning reels to me (although I own three of them) do not have the "feel" of a baitcaster. I really only use them for popping corks.

Anyway, I think I may try to make the switch and see how it goes. I really think that the ability to start my retrieve as soon as the lure hits the water will keep me out of the grass.

[Sandman]

Does Cabela's have military discount? They usually always have 201's in stock. What about Chaq's? They might be cheaper even without the discount combined with the savings on gas.

I called Cabela's about it once and they said they would match Bass Pro's discount, but I have not made it over there yet since it is further out of my way. I would be more than happy to buy from Chag's; I have not been in there yet to see what they have and what kind of prices they have. It's on my to-do list!

[Hobie1Kenobie]

I am right handed, cast right handed, and reel left handed.

[Laidback]

I'm left handed. I can use either had to do both, but prefer to cast LH and reel RH.

[Shankapotomus]

I'm left handed. I can use either had to do both, but prefer to cast LH and reel RH.


I wish I had your talent. You must have played baseball. That reminds me.....

Two things two remember for all you fathers out there.

1. Teach your son to reel with the opposite hand that he casts with.

2. Teach him to throw a baseball with his left hand because left handed pitchers make twice as much!

[who-yak]

Where Y'ak -- Just for kicks I googled RH/LH option on baitcasting reels. Found absolutely nothing. Wonder what the mechanics are that would make a baitcasting reel less acceptable to that option than a spinning reel???