Anyone out there ever switched their reeling hand and been successful long term? In other words, say you were right handed and you cast with your right hand, then switch the rod to your left so you can reel with your right. Anyone ever change to a left hand retrieve reel and been successful? Are you able to get as fast reeling with your left as you used to be reeling with your right hand?

Not quite a permanent switch, but I can and do cast and reel ambidextriously, prefering right hand retrieve. For me, the Primary reason to switch up is to rest one arm when fishing all day long.

I switched all my baitcasters to left hand retrieve so I wouldn't have to move the rod from my right hand to the left after casting. I prefer it. It took a little getting used to. I did it with my salmonid and bass gear. I did it for a few reasons and would reccomend it.

My father took the cheap route and started casting with his left hand. He got a few reels for cheap from me when i switched.

I can't run a net left handed for sour apples, so I won't be switching. I do cast left handed occasionally, but not often.

How odd. Ive never understood what was so tough about casting with one hand and reeling with the other. Old school Fly fishing takes two hands.
Fess up if you never learned to drive a stick shift.

Completely switched more than 6 years ago. I am right handed all the way except for swinging a bat, and the first time I tried a lefty, I was in heaven. I can turn and burn with either hand equally fast but prefer holding the rod with my right and reeling with my left.

I did what you're talking about 6 yrs ago or so and haven't looked back. Now all the fly, spinning and casting rigs are in sync for me and I can burn it in quickly when need be,

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I am mostly right-handed. Do all my casting with the right and reel with the left. Have my fly reels set up for left hand but will cast fairly well with the left when the wind is from the right. Keeps the line out of my hair.

Turns out that I tie flies left-handed. That was just the way I set up my vise. Made it interesting when my instructor, who was right handed, tried to show me a whip finish.

I look like I should be wearing a helmet and playing with crayons when I reel with my left hand. Whats weird is I fish left hand retrieve spinning reels just fine or even better than a righty, but baitcasters must be righty's.

That's funny Hankster...guy at my local tackle shop said trying to learn to reel with your other hand after doing it one way all your life will make you look like "a monkey humping a football." Sounds like you had that experience. Guess I gotta stick with what's gotten me this far in my fishing life even if it means switching hands after casting...

I can't reel left handed for crap but I learned to cast left handed. I have all me reels, both fly and conventional on a right hand retrieve. My next task is to learn to fly cast left handed. Throughout the day I go back and forth with my casting arm just to switch it up and rest the other.

Good topic, not sure I've seen it before.

i switch to right hand reeling on my bait casting reel years ago, i was use to reeling my spinning reels, no problem with either hand reeling, just right hand casting.

Made the change 30+ years ago.........100 % left hand retrieve now.....anyone wanta buy all my "old right hand retrieve reels"????

Shimano Bantam 100 "Rosewood handles", 5000D "Green", couple of 5000 Reds.........and more.....actual have pictures taken of my "for sale reels"......just haven't posted......my bad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

+1

I HATE lefty baitcasters, I'll never switch on my personal gear.

When I'm forced to use a lefty baitcaster I've found choking up on the reel w/ my right hand helps me. I basically wrap my hand over the reel body & reelseat of the rod. For some reason it smooths out my retrieve & I can get a little more speed that way.

My lefty retrive still always feels chunky, like I'm reeling a square circle.



c/22

I reel lefty on everything except my big water reels. For that I need my stronger arm.

If you want to try to switch, Michele Bachmann's hubby can fix you up

C/22 -

May have some righties to sell ya in the near future...ordered a lefty last night to give it a try.

Neither...ordered online. I probably look like a monkey humpin a football no matter what hand I reel with, so what the heck, figured I'd give it a try. You outta try it too Hankster...you're from the Bay Area...no one will notice if you don't look right...

That is so funny!
I just hold on to the reel handle and move the rod around in circles.
Short Bus for sure.

When I was young I cast my spinning combo with my right and switched to left and reeled with my right had with the reel on top of the rod. I was corrected and now I cast with my right and reel with my left hand reel below my rod.

I'm a little ambidextrous as when I busted my ring finger tendon on my right side I played tennis and ping pong with my left hand. Still have more power in my right arm.

I can switch any of my spinning reels. I only own one bait caster. Maybe next time I'm bored or my arm is tired I'll switch. Sure helps to have a counter balanced rod.