Right or Left handed Baitcaster?

[LEECH21]

I just picked up my first musky comba at Cabela's today. It is a Abu Garcia 6600CB on a Cabela's heavy Fish Eagle II. Lookes like the perfect combo for my musky/catfishing needs. This is my first baitcaster and having the handle on the right side of the reel feels a little strange. I am a right-handed guy and fish with the handles on the left on my spinning combos. Just wondering if this is something I need to get used to with my new baitcaster or did I mess up and should've gotton the left-handed model? What do you guys use and perfer?

[I'llTakeWhatiCanGet]

You could have ordered a lefty, but i think you'll get used to it fairly quickly. I reel on the left side of my spinning reels, but use a baitcast with the crank on the right. Its basically what you get used to using that you'll prefer, so if this is your first baitcaster you shouldn't have too many problems.

[Walleye Wegs]

I switched to left handed baitcasters a while back. I cast right handed so I thought why keep switching hands back and forth all day when I can cast with my right and reel with my left. It doesn't take long to get used to either way. I really like it. Just my two cents

[Down to Earth]

I think it all comes down to personal preference. All my spinning reels are lefties, but for some reason I could do the same with my musky rods, especially the one I used for jerkbaits. I actually started with a left handed reel, fished it one outing and felt so uncomfortable with it I took it back and exchanged it for a righty. One thing nice about Cabela's is you could probably exchange it after your first outing if it doesn't feel right.

Andy

[Gus]

I like all my reels Left hand retrieve. Fly rods, spinning, and baitcasting. To me it's just easier that way. With a bait caster especially, I think it's easier for me to use my right hand to control the cast and spool tension. It's totally personal though and to each his/her own. Good luck. If you feel you may be wishing you purchased a lefty, by all means exchange it.

[fishingmike0770]

Everyone is different. Find what is most comfortable for you. Dont decide it though until you have actually fished with it. I reel with my left hand on spinning reels. Got a muskie rod and reel in which the handle was on the right. Felt a little wierd at first but i quickly got use to it and now its just second nature. Like i said, fish with it befor you make a decision.

[dsludge]

You may want to consider going back and exchanging it for the left-handle version.

[P.DONA]

I"m lucky and am left handed.. Everything I own is cranking on the right side. The people I fish with don't like that, but That's my equipment

I would take it back for the left hand crank model, you will feel much more comfortable that way..

[LEECH21]

I was kinda hoping all you "righties" were going to say that I'll be fine with my right-handed reel.

[RK]

Hiya,

Well, I think you'll be fine... I'm right handed, retrieve spinning reels with my left hand, and casting reels with my right. Always have, and it works fine. Really, either will work once you get used to it.

One thing to think about - teach yourself not to switch hands when you cast. I hold the rod by the foregrip, and pretty much never let go of it while I'm fishing. When I cast, I just hit the button as I come into an L-turn, clamp my thumb on the spool, and if there's no fish there, I pick the bait up and back and cast in the same motion. Bait's out of the water for about 3 seconds. Switching hands is just inefficient. A little awkward at first, but once you get used to it it'll feel totally natural. If I tried switching hands to cast now I think I'd hit myself in the chin with the rod butt...

Cheers,

RK

[LEECH21]

RK, probably a real stupid question, but where on the rod is the foregrip? My buddy told me to basically reel with one hand and hold the reel (with just a few fingers on the rod itself) with the other. Is this what you mean?

[RK]

Hiya -

Not a silly question at all...

What I mean is - I hold the rod itself *in front* of the reel, rather than doing what your friend described (which is known as 'palming' the reel). I don't have big strong hands, and I use Garcia 7000s (big reels) most of the time, so palming's tough. I do sometimes palm 6500-size reels, but even with those I prefer to hold onto the rod itself. I get a better grip, and I think better control over the bait at boatside. Plus, as I described, I don't switch hands to cast. My left hand always stays on the foregrip.

Hope that explains it a little...

Cheers,

RK

[MJCatfish]

When I was a kid, I read an article about training yourself to fish with a left-handed reel. It made sense: cast with your dominate arm (my right), set the hook with your dominate arm, and fight the fish with your dominate arm. I made the switch back then and have been successful with it or about 25 years or so. Also, I don't have to switch hands when casting. I've seen guys fish like RK does, and it's impressive. I'm still trying to train myself to grip the rod at the fore grip. I try and try, but automatically still go back to gripping the reel. My hands are pretty good sized, but still tire doing it the way I do. My goals this year are to catch that elusive 50 incher and do it by being comfortable with the fore grip.

I guess the point to all this would be, choose the best way for you, but try to be efficient with your motions and you will tire less and end up with more casts.

Can't wait until June 4th.

MJ

[LEECH21]

Thanks RK, makes sense now!

[muskybuck]

I bought a left handed reel thinking that as I am right handed I could cast with my right and reel with my left. Thing is with musky poles and musky baits most of the time I am using both hands to cast that big pole and that big bait anyway so it makes no difference to me now. I have both and end up using the right handed ones the most.