bait casting reels question

[ramonesfreak]

im new to bait casting reels...so far so good dealing with birdsnests

what im wondering is, why do most of them have the handles on the right so that the rod is in your left hand. im right handed and this feels very unatural.

most of the reels in the shops (all but a few) had the handles on the right...i went with it, but im hating it

it makes no sense to cast with the right hand and then switch the rod to the left to reel in the lure....and having the rod in the left hand feels awkward anyway

whats the deal with this?

[MBAtarga]

are you holding that rod upside down?

[BeyGon]

Does this mean you are right handed and want to hold the rod in your right hand and reel with your left, if so, get a left handed reel, but I think it wouldn't feel very natural.
It's comfortable holding the rod in your left hand and reeling with your right.

[M.D. Holloway]

We must have 10 different rod/reel set-ups and the most recent addition was a baitcast - my son loves them until he creates a rats nest with the line. This happens when he gets lazy/sloppy - figuer at least once an outing. I know that many feel that bait cast reels are the way to go but to me they just seem like a PIA. I like my Shimano Micro Spincast with a lil Ugly Stick.

[ramonesfreak]

Originally Posted by BeyGon

Does this mean you are right handed and want to hold the rod in your right hand and reel with your left, if so, get a left handed reel, but I think it wouldn't feel very natural.
It's comfortable holding the rod in your left hand and reeling with your right.

yes exactly. im right handed and prefer the rod in my right hand like with spinning or fly gear...

the bait casting reel i use doesnt come lefty so i have to adapt but it seems wrong to have the rod in my weaker and clumsier non dominant hand....

i hope i get used to it

[id10t]

Originally Posted by srandallf

yes exactly. im right handed and prefer the rod in my right hand like with spinning or fly gear...

the bait casting reel i use doesnt come lefty so i have to adapt but it seems wrong to have the rod in my weaker and clumsier non dominant hand....

i hope i get used to it

Yup, always reel w/ off hand, always cast & control rod w/ right hand.

You may be able to switch the handle to the other side, just like on a spinning reel. My one baitcasting setup is this way.

[ramonesfreak]

well ive done some reading online and see that others have wondered this and that the reason most bait casting reels have the handle on the right is because thats the way they started way back when...and most people just adapt to it. still seems odd to set hooks and pull fish with your week arm.

[M.D. Holloway]

Took awhile for Johnny to land that lunker! Loved the music. Never thought to try having the handle pointed upwards.

[David]

I've never put much thought into it, but I cast with my right hand and switch hands as soon as the bait hits the water.

[GWN7]

Originally Posted by srandallf

im new to bait casting reels...so far so good dealing with birdsnests

what im wondering is, why do most of them have the handles on the right so that the rod is in your left hand. im right handed and this feels very unatural.

most of the reels in the shops (all but a few) had the handles on the right...i went with it, but im hating it

it makes no sense to cast with the right hand and then switch the rod to the left to reel in the lure....and having the rod in the left hand feels awkward anyway

whats the deal with this?

Most major manufactures of baitcaster reels make their models in both left and right handed models. Most spincasts are easy to reverse. Some baitcasters can be reversed also.

If your right handed it usually is your strongest, so it is natural that you should want the rod in that hand and crank with the left. It makes fighting those huge fish a lot easier.

[ramonesfreak]

well for now im gonna try getting used to the rod in left hand...im guessing if it was that much of a disadvantage then what seem like almost 100% of bait casters would not be using their left hand to handle the rod. so far im doing fine with it. getting easier every day. i do actually like switching hands after the cast as it seems more involving and i love casting with the bait caster...the better i get the more it feels like fly fishing...being able to gently drop the bait exactly where you want it...

my first fish on a bait caster

[Joe Ricard]

It's all what you get used to.
fished several years in shore near and around San Diego. Spinning reels just don't hold up. Conventional is the oly way to go. Cast and thumb control with right hand Left hand holds rod right hand turns the handle. Seems natrual to me.

[berettafan]

Fantastic question which i too have pondered many a time.

There are SOME baitcaster reels available in the correct configuration.

[ramonesfreak]

Originally Posted by LubeMaster77

Took awhile for Johnny to land that lunker! Loved the music. Never thought to try having the handle pointed upwards.

makes a big difference i find, if you rotate handle 90 degrees when casting...less back lash and more control