What eye doc said. I can't reel for shait with my left hand. And, I'm left handed. But, I have spent about 60 years reeling with my right and anything else for me resembles that ledgendary primate attempting intercourse with an inflated pig skin. Just ask Jdarr. He has seen the carnage.

Did anyone get the second handle with the $99 deal?

There wasn't one in my box.... and I definitely looked.

I have a couple. Might be willing to give away if i can find in my tackle rat's nest.

Google "Revo Toro 61" and 7th hit down is "eyeFISH Offline Ornamental Rice Bowl"

The only thing I can do w/ my left hand better than my right is catch a frisbee behind my back in mid-air while doing a 360 spin....





















































go figure.....


c/22

After going on 35 years reeling with my right hand, I'll just stick with that...I've been known to make it work ok on occasion.

Spinning reels...always on the left. Why? Those were the ones I learned on, just like rightie levelwinds are what I learned on...fly reels and center pins, both on the right side, too.

Francis, I've got two of the crankin' handles, you can have 'em.

Fish on...

Todd

Nice explanation, Thanks. Still, maybe some strongly right hand dominant fishers should reverse all their spinning set ups to right hand retrieve. But the seemingly gross skill cast is actually very fine, as we have learned. And maybe some habitual right hand level wind retrievers may fine that the left hand works better.

I think in terms of common motor movements. If I use a left hand retrieve on most of what I do (spinning) then why do I want to use an entirely different motion with a level wind. But if I used a right hand retrieve level wind as a starting point, why would I want to use a left handed spinner.

Definitely in a high stress environment gross motor movements and the dominant side win out.l

I'm definitely overthinking this. Think I'll go fishing.

Doc, If you're just using that reel on the 965, you won't need or want the oversized handle. The 'standard' handle that comes with the Toro is already oversized, compared to something like a 6500 or even the Calcutta 400. Bigger circle; less fine motor skills needed. The 'standard' Toro handle is considerably lighter than the cranking handle, too, and you'll notice the difference after bouncing for 10 or 12 hours a day. That being said, if you plan to use it for backtrolling Kwiks or big divers, the cranking handle is the way to go.

Plan was to fish tuna today, and I thought I would give my Toro 61 the ultimate test drive.

Sad to report that I smoked my reel today.... NOT ON A TUNA.... but just doing a demo of the drag on the dock for Katosan.

I cranked the star wheel to near max to demo the supposed 23# of drag this reel is capable of generating.

Well, with one good pull, the drag and levelwind mechanism were INSTANTLY stripped out.... SMOKED in nothing flat.

I now have almost ZERO drag to barely wind line in.... and the levelwind will not track at all as line goes out.

This one's going back to ABU for a replacement

Bunmmer!

Pressure is pressure, doesn't matter what it's attached to.
Levelwind mechanisms cannot take that kind of side pressure, that's why they are absent on big game reels.

In my way of thinking, if the reel is built right, a NON-disengaging levelwind should be 100% passive.... it is under ZERO pressure except that imparted by the rotating spool.

The only immobile object in my test was me.... Katosan grabbed the 40# leader and simply walked away on the dock. I ran the first test with my usual 4-5# of drag, and he said, "C'mon, put some meat behind that thing, we're after tuna here after all." So I gave the star wheel a few cranks, boasting of the supposed 23# of drag these reels are reputed to generate.

Well it probably generated about 9-10# of drag the instant before it stripped out. I looked down to see the line zipping out completely out of synch with the stationary line guide! Good thing I didn't hook any giant kings on the Kenai with it last month!

The design does sync spool rotation with levelwind action but it is inevitable that the average user will "un-sync" the two during use (stringing, re-stringing, etc).

Just for clarity...

The reel can now just barely generate enough drag to reel in line under tension. The levelwind engages and travels while reeling in.

If line is pulled out against the minimal drag, the level wind remains stationary as line peels off the reel.

BIZARRE.

Gonna get me a replacement, and will definitely run the same test again.

If I get similar results, that reel is officially retired.

+1


My Inshore been working fine last 2 years on kings, coho, rockfish & lings, its drag is totally stock & its my go-to saltwater reel. Its spooled w/30 PP red & mounted on a Lamiglas X 89 MCT






BTW, its a rightie.............


Doc, sorry about your Toro 61. I hope you just got the odd duck bad reel.



c/22

You didn't do the old 'braided line slipping on the spool' trick, did you? I'm sure if you spooled up the reel yourself it's fine, but if the store spooled braid on the reel they might have failed to use backing.

I had it done but they knew all the tricks, it has some 10 yards of mono backing & then double uni knots,



I asked.



c/22

Well, any word on the failure mode yet? My Toro 60 has become my favorite salmon reel and I'd like to know if it's on borrowed time!

Gotter wrapped up and ready to ship back to Spirit Lake.

Shoulda put a note in there that if they are going to replace it, send a 60 instead.

While I can do it, I'm not really sure I like reeling wrong-handed.