As far as the Rt vrs the Lt all the parts that I have been thinking are here. Steelheading, particularly drift fishing is tough. Anyone can nail a suicide fish but feeling that subtule pick up by a stealthy river wise steelie requires skill of which I am still mastering BTW. I think it has alot to do with reflexes and unconcious conditioning in the brain. You are right handed so your left brain has better reflexes and has better eye to hand conditioning etc. Therefore you feel the bite better with the right hand (remember the brain is cross wired). This leads to switching back and forth casting reeling, hookset and retrieving (what a pain).

For me, as someone mentioned, I grew up with a coffee grinder trout fishing (although I can say I never did put it in the up position) and learned to reel with my left hand. The logical decision was the L H retrieve.