Why is the handle on the right side on baitcasters, but on the left on spinning reels?

[JoyBoy]

Why is it, that in a so-called right-handed configuration, the handle on a baitcasting reel is on the right side, while the handle is on the left side on a right-handed spinning reel? And why is it that the handle on most spinning reels can be switched from the left side to the right with no loss of function, while baitcasters are offered in separate right handed and left-handed models? Is this some diabolical scheme against the baitcasting community to force manufacturers, dealers, and users to handle up to twice as many models, or what?

Seriously, does anyone know how this convention came into being?

[LOL]

That reminds me. Did you ever notice how Steve MacInnis, the host of TV show "Adventures North" reels his fish in?
I can't remember which one for sure, but he uses one type upside down and reels backwards. It looks soooo lame.
I think it is a casting rod and reel. Upside down and reeling backwards!!
:stick:

[good one for REW]

Not sure but it may be two different types of drive trains. Bet REW can set this one straight.

[Tom B]

And then..... why do guys that reel right handed with baitcasters always have to switch hands to cast???? LOTS of pros talk about how efficient they need to be in the boat, then they have to switch hands to cast all day long.

I do not get that.

Tom B
taught myself to cast without switching hands

[cxtx]

I simply just bought the Shimano Curado with the handle on the left side. Used it in the Texas surf and bays a lot and you should see the looks I got using a reel with the handle on the "wrong" side. Most everyone uses baitcasters for everything down there. Up here, the walleye guys especially use spinning reels unless they are trolling. I have everything from spinning to baitcasting, levelwind to non-levelwind big game saltwater reels. Its all good!

[Unlogged T-Mac]

They are different...but, I don't think that is the reason. Afterall, you can get left and right hand models of both types.

When I do alot of casting with a bait caster, I have some right hand Curados and some left hand Curados. I use them both and that way... I spread the work out to more muscles and feel better at the end of the day.

But... LOL... with a spinning reel... I am strictly a "righty".

[FJH1]

Don't know why they are built that way. I think it would have to do with the friction system for the reel shaft that prohibits the left/right switching on a baitcasting reel, however, you would think that an engineer at Shimano could come up with a solution. That being said, I have always bought my baitcasters with the reel handle on the left side. We occasionally go buzz baiting for northern pike in lilly pads and reeds. If you are not on the reel as soon as the bait hits the water you're in trouble. Casting, switching hands, and reeling made no sense so I just got reels with the handle on the left.

Best Regards,

FJH

[cxtx]

I really think it has to do with how the drags work on each type of reel. Spinning reels have the drags in-line with the shaft (front or rear drags) so if you design the handle gears to mesh properly from either side, you can switch the handle. Baitcasters and levelwinds on the other hand, have the drag on one side (still in line with the shaft by the way) but it is too difficult, or expensive, to design it so it will work both ways. There are some expensive saltwater reels that do have drag plates on both sides of the reel (can get 50# or more of drag) but you still can't switch the handle and you are paying $600 to $1500 a piece for these reels.

[DW]

I used a regular spinning rod all my life, so when I bought a bait casting reel, I bought a left hand model with the crank on the left. I have learned to cast with it both left handed and right handed to even the stress of casting but always spin the reel with my left hand. Bait casting takes more effort and is more tiring. I avoid it as much as possible except when I have to cast heavy lures.

[Dodge1]

Because that’s the way Fred Pflueger patented his first casting reel and everyone blindly followed suit.

[mudflat]

RYOBI made one called T-2. switch the handle right or left with one screw. casting and flipping reel. don't know how old it is, garage sale.

[Bill Krejca]

Back in the days when the reel handle would spin when the cast was made, the proper procedure was to end the cast with the reel handle up. This would prevent, most of the time, hitting the spinning handles on an unmoveable object, such as the gunnel, an oar, etc. As most folks were right handed, the location on the handle was on the right side. It just doesn't work the other way.

Along the same thought process, another question is why do we today need two handles on a baitcaster? It goes back to the handle spinning while the cast is being made. Balance was required. We don't need two handles on casting reels; we seem to have gotten alone well with just one on spinning reels. The fishing industry is very conservative and generally is reluctent to "push the envelope".

Also, why do spinning rods usually have a hard metal (the seat) where you grab, and a soft "handle where you don't? Why do we grab a bait casting outfit by the reel rather than by the "soft handle"?

The industry has all kinds of room for improvement, but seem to choose to really offer the same old formula year after year. Fishermen also, maybe can take some of the blame by refusing to buy stuff that "just looks different". I finally started to use left handed bait casting reels and have learned to like them.

Sorry if I got long winded,

[JerryA]

It's dumb. If you're right handed, why switch hands to retrieve? If you use spinning and bait casters and are use to reeling with your left hand just buy left handed reels and you'll be happier.

[mudpuppy]

What a great thread. Never really gave it much thought before. Guess I'm guilty of blindly following along on this one. I think Bill Krejka is right. When i was a kid (long time ago) my dad got me an old South Bend bait caster. Taught me to turn the spinning reel handle up on the cast to help prevent backlash. Took some skill to learn & use, so wasn't great for a kid. He then got me a Mitchell 300 spinning reel & to this day prefer spinning over bait casters, except for trolling.
I guess the only exception is ice fishing. When fishing two rods my spinning reel is on my right side & the bait caster on the left. Maybe I'll get a left hand model for that now.

[work2fish]

I've switched primarily to baitcasters as of a couple of years ago. When I made the switch, I tried right hand retrieve reels and didn't like them because I cast with my right hand and it seemed awkward to switch. Ever since I've bought left hand retrieve reels, which is a pain sometimes because of what the fishing stores normally have in stock.

Another thing that was lacking in a left-handed reel was a linecounter, but now Cabela's has one:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0030296119083a&type=product&cmCat=search&returnString=_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&hasJS=true&_D%3AhasJS=+&%2Fcabelas%2Fcommerce%2FCabelasCatalogNumberFinder .giftCertificateURL=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Ftemplates%2F giftcertificate%2Fgiftcertificate.jsp%3Fid%3D00055 86990011a%26podId%3D0005586%26catalogCode%3DIB%26n avAction%3Djump%26indexId%3D&_D%3A%2Fcabelas%2Fcommerce%2FCabelasCatalogNumberF inder.giftCertificateURL=+&QueryText=linecounter&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form23&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&N=4887&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=linecounter&noImage=0&returnPage=search-results1.jsp

I hope more reel companies take notice that there are many right handers that use left-hand retrieve baitcasters and follow suit.

[JoyBoy]

Thanks for all the great replies, fellas, especially yours, Bill. No need to apologize about being long-winded, I found your reply to be quite informative.

I've posted this question on another site as well, and I've found it interesting to see that there's no clear consensus on why the reels are the way they are. Seems to me that Bill's theory about the industry being conservative is as valid as anyting else I've heard. I suppose that if I were in the shoes of the reel co. execs, I, too, might look at my ever-increasing sales numbers and figure "Hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it!".

Tight lines, all! - JB

[Darren MT]

When I'm sitting in the bow trolling with 2 rods in rod holders, especially dragging spinners behind bottom bouncers, I like to use both configuration of casting reels. I use one with the right hand retrieve on my right side, and one with left hand retrieve on my left side. I can easily reach over and use either hand to reel in line to adjust for constantly changing depths when fishing over uneven bottom contour. I also like to use one with right hand retrieve when holding a rod with my left hand, over the left side of the boat, and one with left hand retrieve when holding the rod with my right hand over the right side.

It is not necessary to use both types of reels, but it sure makes it convenient. And it helps justify new tackle every so often ;-)

[Mark561]

Being left handed I have always cast with my left and cranked with my right so I’ve never really had a problem. I always thought that reel makers were the first ones to actually make things correctly as apposed to everything else i.e. writing on coffee cups, scissors etc.. Yes I always move the handle on a spinning real over to the right where it belongs too.

[SteveMacInnis]

That reminds me. Did you ever notice how Steve MacInnis, the host of TV show "Adventures North" reels his fish in?
I can't remember which one for sure, but he uses one type upside down and reels backwards. It looks soooo lame.
I think it is a casting rod and reel. Upside down and reeling backwards!!
:stick:
Unorthodox Style - Backwards Reeling or Practical Evolution?
by Steve MacInnis, Host Adventures North TV Series

Regarding the distinctive way I use a 'baitcaster' reel. I've been asked about this so many times we did a segment about it in an Adventures North TV episode, and wrote the following standard response.

Please understand this only applies to when I'm fishing for large fish. When casting a levelwind reel for Bass or Walleye for example, I generally use a left hand retrieve crank and hold and use a pistol or trigger grip rod like everyone else. When I'm fishing for heavier fish like Lake Trout, Pike and Arctic Char, is when I use my unorthodox style of grip on the baitcaster rod/reel.

Some say it's backwards, to me it's natural, my own personal trademark. Who says its' backwards anyway? Who decided on calling it a baitcaster? Does that mean you cast bait with it? Maybe they should call them ‘lurecasters’? I've always referred to this type of reel as a levelwind.

It all began innocently enough when I started fishing seriously for Lake Trout in 1975. A fight with a big Laker can take over ½ an hour and it takes a toll on arms and wrists. On days where many big fish are caught, this is magnified. Up until this point, I had grown up with a spinning rod and reel virtually attached to my right hand, like an extension of my arm. As I began fishing for big Lakers where a levelwind is best for trolling, I just found it natural to fight fish with my right(strong) arm on the rod, same scenario as one would use with a spinning reel, rod in right hand/crank with left. When people started to mention my 'backwards' style I began to think about the mechanics of it, and I'm convinced in certain applications it is a valid, perhaps the best technique.

Some say why not use a left hand retrieve reel and reel 'properly'? This arrangement allows choice of hand/arms for reeling, but still has the reel on top of the rod which forces all the pressure of a fighting fish down onto one wrist. I’ve watched many an angler fight large fish, and their so called 'proper' grip eventually breaks down from one hand on the crank, and one hand holding the body of the reel, into an even more unnatural fighting and reeling stance. Using the left(weak) arm on the rod and cranking with their right(strong) arm, usually with the butt of the rod stuck in an armpit or deeply imbedded in the gut, or with the entire upper body and hand squeezed in around the reel(all done unconsciously) to limit the stress on their wrist. So by holding the rod/reel 'the so called proper way', you are forced to try and compensate for and protect your wrist. It amounts to clumsy, poor posture for fighting a big fish in my view. If you are right handed, using your left wrist/finger on the rod to fight a big fish and turning the crank with the thumb and index finger of your strong arm is sort of like writing or throwing a ball left handed, it's unnatural and awkward.

I cast like everyone else right handed and then turn the rod over so the reel hangs under the rod, and crank with my left hand. I grip the rod with my entire hand from over(above), and in front of the reel which 'hangs' under the rod. I brace the bottom 12-18 inches of the butt of the 8-9' rod along the back of my right forearm and can control my lures best, and fight and lift large fish with confidence and efficiency. When I lift up or a fish pulls down, the weight and pressure is distributed along my whole forearm and cannot 'break' the wrist. Try it, use a rod with a levelwind reel/pistol grip handle and tie a 5-10 pound weight to it and try to lift it off the ground using the so called ‘proper’ wrist grip and then with my way.

So what began innocently as a response to fighting big heavy fish, has just become the way I have conditioned myself to use a levelwind. It's not for everyone but for those who catch big, hard fighting fish with levelwinds my 'backwards' way is worth a try. The benefits are more and better control of lures and much more efficiency handling big hard fighting fish, plus less stress on the arms/wrists.

A Final Thought on Backwards:

Not that I'm comparing myself to Al Lindner or Gary Roach (both whom I highly respect), but wasn't it Al and Gary that popularized 'back-trolling' or literally trolling a boat backwards against the wind, waves and current? People still question that when they see it for the first time and yet that concept is widely accepted today. In fact backtrolling has influenced the entire fishing industry from the design of boats and equipment, to the way a generation of freshwater anglers have grown up fishing. I wonder how many times Al and Gary were asked why they trolled backwards? Enough times that they wrote books and made videos about it. Sometimes 'backwards' isn't backwards at all, it just depends on your perspective. We can all learn from each other.

www.adventuresnorth.com (http://www.adventuresnorth.com/)

www.youtube.com/stevemacinnis (http://www.youtube.com/stevemacinnis)

[Mike Kansas]

The majority of spinning reels allow you to place handle on either side by simply unscrewing handle and moving it. Works great either side. You can also buy casting reels that are either side. I guess it is just a personal preference.


Good Luck, Mike Kansas

[outdoorsron]

Hello: Certainly no rhyme or reason it's just the way it is. Nothing you can do about it. Just go fishing and fish any way you want. Good Luck O R

[Phil T]

Switching hands at the end of the cast isn't a problem for me. My baitcasting reels have the handles on the right, spinning reels on the left, like most people.
But why do I rig my fly reels (also under the rod like a spinning reel) so the handle is on the right? I don't normally fish salt water so the faster retrieve with the more coordinated hand is any advantage. If I switch them to a left-handed retrieve, it feels strange. Spinning reels feel normal when I retrieve with my left hand.

[Danger Dan]

Is belly button lint always smelly?????

[REW]

Joy Boy,
The answer is pretty simple.

When the first bait casting reel was made, the handle was on the right side of the reel.
As a result, several generations of folks grew up using this style fishing reel with the handle on the right side of the reel.

Since the vast majority of folks were right handed, they would use the reel with the handle on the right side, switch the pole to the right hand, and then switch the pole back to the left hand so that they could reel with their right hand.

After these generations of folks using that technique, they really had no reason, and did not want to change.

Then about 20 years ago, a fellow came along and said, "wouldn't it be nice if a handle were on the left side of the reel, so that the fisherperson who was right handed did not have to switch hands.

The old timers did not switch, had no desire to switch and didn't switch.

But many of the younger fishermen thought it was silly to always to be switching hands with the fishing pole and STARTED using a casting reel in the way that they thought best and many right handed folks who were just starting, naturally picked up the reel with the handle on the left side so that they did not have to switch hands.

The internal mechanisms of a casting reel are such, that it is not impossible but very difficult to make a reel that would be easy to change handles from side to side. This is why bait casters only come with the handle fixed on one side of the reel or the other.

But, spinning reels, due to their internal structure with a single cross shaft in the form of the handle shaft are easily converted from left to right or right to left at the switch of the handle.

By the way, one of the biggest reasons for a double handle on a reel was and still is "balance". i.e. if you simply have a handle on one side of the reel center, with no counter weight, you have a spinning handle that is very badly out of balance.

You can see, on many big salt water reels that have very heavy single handles on the reels, also have very large counter weights on the side of the handle away from the grip so that the handle is essentially balanced around the center line of the handle.

I am sure that you have had both casting reels as well as spinning reels that have not been well balanced, and have found them as annoying as I have. Then, after a while the use of these unbalanced reels cause the reels to fall into disuse in favor of a reel that is actually well balanced.

Good luck and be safe fishing.

REW