Baitcasting question...

[jonnymcsavage]

I normally do all of my casting and retrieving on my spinning gear with my right arm, but when I apply it to baitcasting should I be using a reel with a left hand retrieve so I can cast with my right and reel with my left? I was just thinking about this as I was doing a little work on thumb control. Any input is appreciated guys!

[skeeterman190]

 Thats a personal preference really. Im teaching my self as we speak to pitch and flip with my left hand so i dont have to change hands. But after you do it so many times its like second nature. watch Kvd he does the same thing.(right handed) ive tried some left handed reels and i just cant get it? i got too much time on my hands so i figure its better to learn to use the rod in my left hand? spinning rods seem so normal for us righties?? why is it so hard to use a baitcaster that way?? its weird.-skeeterman-

[jonnymcsavage]

Come to think of it, I noticed him doing that at the Ultimate Fishing Show during his seminar. It just seems like a pain to cast and then switch hands to retrieve, although reeling in with my left hand would be awkward too. I guess I will just figure it out and go from there.

[Durand Dan]

Over the Winter I've been practicing flipping with a left handed Curado so I don't have to continually switch hands. It seems a lot smoother and the older I get the more I need to alternate my limb usage!

[Cy]

Thats a personal preference really. Im teaching my self as we speak to pitch and flip with my left hand so i dont have to change hands. But after you do it so many times its like second nature. watch Kvd he does the same thing.(right handed) ive tried some left handed reels and i just cant get it? i got too much time on my hands so i figure its better to learn to use the rod in my left hand? spinning rods seem so normal for us righties?? why is it so hard to use a baitcaster that way?? its weird.-skeeterman-

I completely agree and have the same problem.  I cannot reel baitcaster with my left hand but spinning is not a problem.  I have been practicing pitching with my left hand since last year but it isn't easy.  If you are new to baitcasting I would recommend you start with a left handed model I think it is more efficient. 

Cy

[Dan]

In my humble opinion the reel handle is opposite on a baitcaster to get it out of the way when you pitch/flip. I know I have left handed Curados and when I flip and pitch I have to be conscious of where the reel handle is. All but one of my baitcasters are now left handed because I don't do that much flipping and pitching. Even when I fish docks I'm using my spinning rod because I can skip it a lot farther than I can with the bait caster. Plus all you have to do is touch the spinning spool with your finger to stop a little flip or pitch with a spinning reel. If I get to where the length of the flip is not as long and the cover is heavier I'll go to my one right handed baitcaster. I also use the right handed baitcaster when I throw spinnerbaits all day, just to give one arm a break. It seems to be a much debated topic. They Aussie's even argue it.

http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/showthread.php?p=933210

http://www.setthehook.com/reels/reeldifferences.htm

This guy seems to know the history of it all:
http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/3178892/Re_Here_s_why_Baitcasting_Reel

[Skulley]

I have always been able to do things and perform tasks right or left handed all my life.  It started when I was about 6 years old playing little league baseball.  I was able to bat left handed as well as I do right handed.  That being said, I can cast with either my left hand or my right hand.  I can flip and pitch both ways too.  If you can learn to use both hands then you will be that much ahead of the game.  Sometimes I find myself switching hands depending what is comfortable at that particular moment.  Maybe I have missed some bites and maybe I haven't.........I really don't know how I would measure that not really knowing for sure that I missed a bite because I switched hands.  I have also learned to cast using both hands like a tomahawk over my head and a two handed backhand when going side arm.  To me it is all about hitting the target I am casting for.  In open water it really doesn't seem to matter because I am trying to make the longest cast that I can.  When fishing docks, skipping docks, pitching and flipping docks it comes down to accuracy and two hands helps me be more precise.  If you are fishing for a long day, then it is all about being comfortable all day.


BD           

[cr]

  I too started out with right-handed bait casters, casting with my right and switching to my left. I tried to learn how to pitch and flip with my left but my accuracy suffered. I bought a left handed reel and tried it both ways for a while and came to the conclusion it was easier to learn how to reel with my left than to learn how to pitch lefty. Also I think my hook set is better with my rod in my right hand. Now I have all left hand BC's . The down side is my right arm never gets a rest .

[Cheetam]

I think the argument against using a right-handed reel and switching to your left is that in the time it takes to switch from your right hand to your left and engaging the reel, you can miss bites.  I bought a Castaic SF (right hand retrieve) specifically for the flipping bar, which allows you to engage the reel before switching hands.  For me, I grew up using right-handed casting reels.  I have tried using left-handed reels, but it just felt too goofy.

[thedude]

don't really flip ever - always use some sort of pitch. i use a right handed reel and pitch left handed. If you want to keep your line from wrapping around the reel handle - add a size 10 or so spinning guide about 8"-10" in front of the reel seat.

regular casts i still go right handed and switch hands. its second nature and i don't see any point in the infinitesimal time-savings of a left hand reel. Only time i need to be reeling when the bait hits the water is when i'm throwing a buzzbait - and the reel is already being palmed before one of those even touches the water - the rest of the time the bait is sinking to the bottom or floating so "instant" retrieval is neither necessary nor part of desired retrieve to begin with.

The only rod i like a left handed reel on is my jerkbait rod, i find it easier to work the bait holding the rod in my right hand.

Way i see it, no matter what on a casting rod, you bring both hands up to the reel to hold the rod at the end of the cast - if you palm the reel - you are moving your casting hand up to palm the reel - which is the same amount of distance you would move it to grasp the handle. same for the other hand - you are bringing it to the same position on the reel from either side whether you are going to reel with it or palm it.

So your options are - cast, palm reel with left hand, grasp handle with right hand or cast, grasp handle with left hand, palm reel. Looks like a wash to me.

[Lightningboy]

I started with spinning tackle, so I cranked lefty/casted right.  I had to crank right when we trolled for salmon, just never felt right to me. 

When the time came for my first baitcaster, it just made sense to crank left/cast right since that was what I was used to.  Never really thought about efficiency at the time.  I suppose its technicaly better than switching hands, but I think we're really splliting hairs here.   

I can't really cast left handed.  I know some say you should try, but I can't say I ever had a situation where I would have needed too.

I have spent time practicing different casts.  Flip, pitch, power cast, roll cast, both forehand & back hand.  I also alter my body position on deck to gain a better angle when needed.  I'm still working on accuracy; I need to take my target size from coffee can to tea cup.

I keep my reel handles pointed down when flip or pitch, so tangles are never a problem.

I saw an interesting take on flipping years ago in an instructional video.  He used right hand crank reels, and held the rod by the butt end in his right hand.  He claimed he got more reach by using more rod length.  When a fish bit, his left hand moved under the reel to palm it during the hookset.  His right hand went to the crank.  The man had a very fast, very powerful hookset.  Sounds awkward, but pretty efficient when you think about it.

Do what feels comfortable to you.  Then practice.  There ain't much we can control in fishing, but getting good with a rod we can.

[djkimmel]

I have almost as many left-handed casting reels as right-handed. Just worked best for me. I didn't take the time to learn how to cast very well left-handed, but it was comfortable for me to reel a casting reel left-handed.

It was also better for my personal efficiency to do some techniques with no hand switch. I've been doing it a long time.

What I suggest is buy one left-handed casting reel and use it for a significant part of the upcoming seasons until you decide it feels right or won't feel right for you. As you can see, most of the comments have been what worked / was comfortable for them after they tried some things.

Myself, I use a left-handed casting reel for pitching, flipping, and any short-game with buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, anything where I'm making lots of short casts - say to shallow cover along a river bank, some jerkbait techniques, techniques where I might get a very fast, instant strike I need to react to or need to move fast to keep from getting snagged or mucked up.

Also means I can switch comfortably between finesse versions of some techniques where I use a spinning rod/reel right to the left-handed casting reel with no noticeable change in my rhythm. Works for me. Might work for you, but the only real way you can find out is to try it.

[jonnymcsavage]

I am looking into a BC reel right now, and I asked this because I did not want to waste the money if I bought it and never used it. It may not sound high end, but I found a Quantum Code Red on sale for about $80 and I guess I wanted to ask before I went ahead and bought it. The other reel I have is a $40 Shimano Callisto that's right hand crank., I think it would be easier for me to learn how to reel left handed than it would for me to learn how to cast left handed. I only have a few months to practice before the season starts so I gotta figure it out now. Thanks for the input.

[djkimmel]

For most people, reeling left-handed is easier than casting left-handed from what I've seen over the years. I'm very confident the learning curve is much quicker. Good luck.

[Waterfoul]

I bought two left handed bait casters this winter . . . one for pitching and one for I'm not sure what yet.  But I'm only changing hands on two rods because of the arthritis in my left hand and shoulder... I just can't hold a baitcaster with my left hand for very long anymore.

[skeeterman190]

 Everything everyone is posting is great for you. Id just stress that if your the boater in the boat be good with both hands. But as you are starting out work what feels natural too you. I thought about this today as i was standing in my yard on top of a bucket pitching to targets and wanted to know about the timing thing with switching hands. I stated earlier that i feel its natural after you've done something so many times. When i pitch with my right hand by the time the bait hits the target the rod is already in my left hand. i checked. its weird that it happens so easy and you dont realize it? Play with things and do what works for U. Take our advise and expand on your own.-skeeterman- i think i posted at the same time as you and some others. work with the left handed reel. im not sure the techniques your trying to use with it so? as Justin(thedude) said he uses it for jerkbaiting. Thats a good way. Using your strong arm to work the bait. I get where your coming from.. dont blow your money on something thats not gonna work for u. I did the same thing. good luck-skeeterman-

[bassmandan]

BPS will be having the Quantum Accurist on sale for like 50$ saturday march 14th, just a tip i picked up from someone on beginning with BC reels is to pitch with it first.  it makes sense to me to start this way to get a feel for your thumb to slow the spool down, then you can move to casting. but i never started this way, i just flat out started 2h casting it lol took me a while to get the cast down but i got it. heres a tip i learned to tune your baitcaster to reduce back lashes, take w/e lure your throwing and point the rod tip at 12oclock push the casting bar down and let the bait fall to the ground, there is a knob next to the handle you can loosen or tighten it and what you want to do with that is tighten it to where you get a decent fall of that bait without the spool backlashing when the bait hits the ground but this is only for casting and it should reduce backlashes at little better for you, i tend to have that knob a little loose for pitching baits to get some distance out of it. also i usually have my casting control that is oposite of the handle set at about midrange to help slow the back end of the cast. hope this helps

[korean_bassmaster]

I used to use spinning gear for EVERYTHING! but then i seen a fishing show and they were saying that baitcasting reels are better all around than spinning, except obviously for finese fishing. it was weird for me to switch to a baitcasting reel, i went out and bought a left handed reel i guess... the handle is on the left and even that was weird for me to get used to but then i got tired of looking for left handed baitcaster so i finally bought a right handed one and just practice and practiced with it everyday. now it doesnt bother me anymore cuz its just second nature. the harded thing for me to get used to more than what hand to use, was learning how to cast over and side hand with it bcuz its totally different than a spinning rod.  so i guess my 2 cents would be just practice everyday with it and just get a feel for either one.