I crank with the right on both types of reels and I am right handed. Cranking with the left feels weird unless I'm reeling really slow or jigging. I've heard it's best to crank with opposite hand that you use to cast so you don't have to switch the rod to the opposite hand to start reeling. I cast and reel with my right because I could never get used to cranking with the left. Switching hands with the rod has never been a huge issue for me. Hope that helps.

 

I'm exactly the same way/hand you are, as are most I would assume. I had the same thought a couple years ago switching to a bait caster too. Throwing right handed and reeling right handed sounds weird, but you fall right into it after a trip or two.

I will say that once I switched I didn't want to go back, and now I look for every reason in the world to buy another bait casting outfit.

Backlashes... Well, that's a different post!

Good luck!!

 

What hand do you crank with your other reels?

 

Left

 

if you crank with left hand,you have to get,left hand baitcaster,for fine casting.
you can crank the opposite way when you troll for eyes,you are not castin,using the rod lot,only bringing the fish.
I have no use for baitcaster only for trolling or jigging,you can not cast further than spinning real,lot of people say they are good,when I fish with the people they create ret nest at least 2 times a day,it is not happening with spinning real only ouns in while.

you cast with wright hand,then you would have to pot rod to left hand,to crank right hand baitcaster,i neve saw anybody use them at night from shore.

 

If you can, use all left hand retrieve. I am too 'stuck in my ways' to change but have tried and failed. I try casting with both hands but alot of times its not pretty.

I guess as a rule of thumb use your strongest most coordinated arm/hand to set the hook and the opposite to reel.

 

Myself, I use left hand crank on spinning reels and right hand crank on baitcasters. But when I first started using baitcasters they didn't make left hand models. After so many years with right hand cranks I tried to switch to left hand. I just couldn't get used to it, so I went back to right hand. It just becomes second nature to switch hands after casting that it just feels normal to me.

If you've never owned or used a baitcaster a lot, I would recommend that you get the left hand model. If you don't have to adjust from using one style to the other, it won't have any negative affect on you. It will just be the style you learn with. I also would highly recommend that you get a baitcaster be it left or right handed just for the placement and accuracy of casts. Once you learn and get good with baitcasters, they are an amazing fishing tool to have.

 

Most people are right handed and with a bait caster it usually tighter to your body and involves a little more power fishing which is done better with your dominant hand . There making more left handed reels now back in the day there were none .

 

deaz if you have never used a baitcaster its going to feel wierd no matter which side the reel is on. Because the placement of the reel handle is significantly different than a spinning rod.
The thing is that you have, whether you know it or not, spent lots of time training your right arm to work the lure, feel for bites, set the hook and fight fish. I would keep using that arm for that purpose and get a lefty reel. Learning a baitcaster is tough enough without completely starting from scratch.

 

deaz if you have never used a baitcaster its going to feel wierd no matter which side the reel is on. Because the placement of the reel handle is significantly different than a spinning rod.
The thing is that you have, whether you know it or not, spent lots of time training your right arm to work the lure, feel for bites, set the hook and fight fish. I would keep using that arm for that purpose and get a lefty reel. Learning a baitcaster is tough enough without completely starting from scratch.

I agree with all of that. I switched a few years back. Switching hands to reel makes as much sense as putting down your knife to pick up your fork with your right hand after you cut your meat. Just like that example, it's something of a silly convention that people adopted.

The only reason for a RH fisherman to use a RH baitcaster is if he is doing just that: casting bait. The theory behind it was that you are leaving your dominant arm to reel in the fish. Unless you are chunking out some skipjack on a 3 oz. sinker for flathead, their isn't any sense to it. I assume that it was a saltwater thing that just got adapted to freshwater fishing. It's got no place in bass fishing.

If you are throwing a spinnerbait to a rootball, you don't want to waste even half a second to get those blades spinning.

 

With a baitcaster if you cast using your right arm you need the retrieve on the left or your constantly switching hands which is dumb. I only buy left hand retrieve bait casting reels and love them. I have had a few bought for me that are right hand and they are still in the box

 

On a bait casting set up, the rod guides and line are on top of the pole, as opposed to them being under the pole on a spinning set up. IMO This creates a different feel and at times different casting motions depending on lure and target. I am right handed and grew up on spinning rods, always reeling with my right hand. I switched to left when I started using bait casters, which are right handed. As with anything fishing related, it's what's comfortable. I don't use bait casters in creeks.

 

Be a "Big Boy"!! Pitch with the rod in your right hand/slide to your left hand and crank with your right. Kevin Van Dam will love you.

 

Thanks for the responses! I opted for a Pflueger Supreme, left-handed, and a St. Croix Premier. Just put my order in. The XT was cooler looking, but the left hand model only came with a high gear ratio. Now I have the winter to figure out how to use it in the backyard. Again, thanks...[emoji106]

 

Best baitcaster for the money-Pfluger supreme, I also like the President. When I first started to read this thread iwas going to recommend a good reel because nothing is harder to learn on than a cheap reel. Guess you got that covered.
I'm ambidextrous and wether I cast right or left handed depends on boat position or if their are two people on the front of the boat. I often switch back and forth.

 

Enjoy your new reel. When I started out with a baitcaster I used mono line and casted lures 3/8 oz and up. It helped me get used to the new setup.

 

might want to reconsider not getting the higher gear ratio. The higher the better IMO!

 

Well, my birthday is coming up in a few weeks...[emoji41]

 

I'm left handed so I allways cast my spinning reels with my left arm and cranked with my right hand. So when I went to get my first bait caster. My buddy says you need to get a left handed model. Because I'm left handed. Wrong! Handle is on wrong side so I use a right handed model so i can cast then crank never changing hands. My fishing buddy does the switch hand thing. Allways puzzled me why he cranks with his left hand with his spinning reel but switches hands after casting and does other hand on his bait caster. Dumb dumb never understood it.

 

The switching hand thing is no big deal most experienced bass fisherman crank with there right hand if your used to fishing spinning reels it might seem awkward at first but in my opionion you rely more on your reel with a bait caster and reeling right handed is your best bet to get the fish in quickly

 

Get left handed.

If you want proof, take one of your spinning reels and swap the retrieve to the other hand.

Did you snag your lure trying to re train your brain to reel?? Did you come close? Did you start reeling with the left and just moving the entire rod? Or did you just want to throw your damn rod in the river and not bother with it anymore?

If you answered yes to any of these, or anywhere near, don't bother getting right hand retrieve. I hate right hand retrieve. I think one reason people go RHR is because they don't realize you can get [Model Name01/1/A/B] as left hand retrieve.

 

I'm left handed and crank a spinning reel with my lefthand and cast left but a baitcaster I crank with my right like somebody else said when I started using them they was right only so thats they way it is to old to change now

 

I use spinning rigs, baitcasters and fly rods. When fishing shallow cover by not having to switch hands I can begin my retrive sometimes before the lure even hits the water saving lots of hang ups. I am right handed, and holding the rod in my left hand seems wrong, but I have been fishing this way for the last 40 + years of my 56.

 

90% right handed guys,play hocky,with left hand and chop wood with axe.

 

I cast right handed and I also started using RH retrieve bait casters years ago because they made very few left and retrieve. About six years ago I switched to left-hand retrieve bait casters and very glad I did. They make many left hand retrieve bait caster now and I don't have to switch hands after every cast. And myself personally I can cast way further with a bait caster compared to a spinning reel especially if you're using a bait 1/4 ounce or higher. Casting distance depends a lot on your rod also.

 

Never played hockey. Did you here about the blonde girl who got hurt while ice fishing? She got hit by the Zamboni.

 

My 2 cents.

I grew up using spinners that were always left hand, even though I am right. When I decided to get into baitcasters it made no sense at all to have to switch hands with every cast.

I find it to be more efficient to get a lefty, and it has no weird feeling since I am already used to lefty reeling. Just cast and crank with no wasted motions.

 

I'm left handed but crank with my right. For me it's easier because I don't have to switch hands after a cast. I've found that I have more power and control with my strongest hand on or above the reel

 

my son is left handed and cranks with his right hand, but he only fishes with spinning gear.