Left handed baitcasters

[Fish mojo]

Why is it right handed people cast with their right hand, then have to switch the rod to their left hand to start reeling with teir right hand? I find it much easier and more efficient to cast right handed and use a left hand cranking baitcaster for reeling. No wasted effort of switching hands. Most spinning rigs use left hand cranks. Why the double standard? Why aren't there more left hand baitcasters on the market?

[Capt. Denny Bergeman]

Fish Mojo,

Personally I like to switch hands during the day. Casting frontweighted lures all day long takes a toll day after day during charter season.
Changing hands is a must for me.

The reason they don't make more left handed baitcasters is easy to understand. Supply/Demand.
You can bet if there is a demand they would make more. Good Fishing

[bob oh]

LAST EDITED ON Apr-12-00 AT 12:34PM (CST)[p]Althought they are limited, many manufacturers offer left handed baitcasters. I have a Quantum, I think its an Express or Extreme???? I love it. (It's great to use on a flippin stick for bass, but I wouldn't mention that on a walleye board ;-)
Bob

[Hans]

I'm a lefty. I cast left handed, and reel in right handed. No handswitching needed.

Bet you're jealous! :-)

Hans

[John N]

While the right handed reels dominate the market, at least there are some real nice lefties out there. Calcutta in some models (I use a 251 some), Curado, Calais, 5501, 6501, etc. Like to see some lefty Morrums. Good luck on the water. John.

[steve(IL)]

I never owned a casting reel until they started coming out with more left handed cranks. There are now excellent models from Quantum, Diawa, Bass Pro, Cabela's, Browning, etc. I don't think you need to spend huge dollars to get a good reel. I've got 8-10 from various mfg's and they all work great. I'm especially fond of some older models which have a back reel switch - watch the bargain bins for Diawa PS2-5B's or Shimano Bantam's. I mostly use them for heavy river jigging, bouncers, trolling, and only occassional casting. Back lashes are not(knot:-)) a problem once you learn the tricks/adjustments.

[FJH1]

Fish mojo, I'm with you. I found this to be very useful shorecasting for pike. We fish these thick weedbeds and if you don't start reeling as soon as the buzz bait hits the water you're dead. When I take guys out that have to switch hands to reel they are constantly pulling in a mat of weeds while I get to pull in the fish - lol.

Best Regards,

FJH

[bob oh]

Now, what if you find some really great deals on right handed baitcasters.....or...what if we send you some er.............:-)

[WALLEYE EYES]

I have both left and right handed baitcasters. I have also learned to cast with my left and right hands. This way my arms do not get tired from casting all day long. You might want to try this if you plan on casting alot. It took some practice, but it payed off.

[mkebenn]

Fish Mojo,
I'm also with you, I'm a righty, but I fish a calcutta 251. I grew up with spinning reels and it just makes more sense to me.
Tight lines, Mike

[Ness]

Bob, how long have you had your Quantum??? I've been leaning toward the Quantum but all the guys that have had them awhile say they get real noisy after a bit of use...
I haven't tried baitcasting but I normally cast right handed and reel lefty. Isn't that the norm for a right handed person?

[Skeeter®Mark]

Basically you didn't see manufacters or retailers putting out baitcasters in left-handed versions until fairly recently (in the midwest especially). I wish I would've started on a lefty like my spinning equipment. I've tried them and quite franky, it feels totally ackward due to the tight revolution on the handle and the reel is placed above not below the rod. I do a ton of casting and have found that a 2-handed cast works well, It doesn't even feel like your switching hands that way.

[PFMN#1]

If you ever visit the Pacific NW. you will find that the lh/rh ratio is getting close to even. The steelhead fisherman do not switch hands. As far as product goes I know that Abu Garcia makes at least a dozen reels in left hand already and hopefully they will come out with the Morrum in LH as I am left handed.

[Dick]

I am right-handed but have not seen a post that gives the reason I like left hand cranks on baitcasters. My reason is that I run a tiller motor and use my baitcaster exclusively for trolling spinners and cranks. When I get a hit, it is easier to drop my left hand off the tiller handle and crank than it would be to switch hands.

[crew]

I use a lot of line counters (Diawa models). Has anyone found a left handed retrieving line counter reel? It would be nice to have the left handed ones on the right side of the boat and the right handed ones on the left side of the boat. Let me know. Thanks!

[mn angler]

I agree with you 100%! Abu Garcia makes a full line of left handed baitcasters. I have several
of the 5501's and the 6501's and I love them both!
They are a great reel and you won't break the bank
by picking up a couple. I am a right handed person and it just feels more comfortable to reel
with my left hand. I sure hope that someone at daiwa reads these messages and comes out with a
left handed line counter soon!

[bob oh]

Haven't had the reel long Ness, so I can't speak to reliability, but I have some Quantum spinning reels that have taken a lot of abuse and are still working. I think I probably like Abu Garcia casting reels the best (oh, oh now the Shimano crowd will beat me up), but the Quantum has been OK so far. I have had good and no so good in about all of the major lines, but actually I am amazed at how good most really are considering the work they do and the conditions they do it in!!! You said they get noisey. Do they quit working or just start making a noise. Actually I have two above mid-level reels in the supposedly "greatest ever made" line that are the noisest things I've ever used. But they are smooth enough and work fine.
Bob