Why do spinning reels have their handles on the left side but baitcast reels have them on the right?

I'm used to spinning reels, but am planning to buy a baitcast reel. One thing I like about spinning reels is that I can hold the rod with my right hand all the time. With a right-handed baitcast reel, though, I'd have to switch hands all the time. Is this as awkward as it seems? Should I look for a left-handed baitcast reel instead?

I am not quite sure why they come like that Brett but because of that, I have learned to use both hands. I do reel with the left on a spinning reel and I also reel with the right on a casting reel. I recently went out and got a left hand casting and it took a while to get use to because i no longer have to change hands. Its crazy but I dont know why they do it! I use both left and right hand retrieve on my casting reels and havent had problems with either yet, just get what feels best to you!

Most Spinning Reels have a screw that comes out so you can move the handle to either R or L... if that helps you out.

I've never understood that either. I'm left handed so it works for me. Throw with the left, reel with the right. No switching hands

Started my son out on spinning reels. He learned throw with the right, crank with the left. When it came time to buy his first baitcaster, that's what he wanted. Now, all his rods are left hand crankers.

Downside for me is I can't borrow his rods. Upside for me is he doesn't borrow mine.

JLF

I had always used Left hand spinning reels (back when I was a kid, that's the only way they came. It wasn't that long ago and it may not be exactly true, but it seems that way.) Zebcos and baitcasters were always right handed. I decided I was going to buy a left handed baitcaster and give it a whirl. It just felt so awkward, I never really used it. I inadvertatly picker up a left hand Abu at the BPS sidewalk sale this spring, and am trading it to a guy I know for a righty.

I'm also considering putting a longer handle on the lefty I have to see if bigger circles make it feel better. Spinning reel handles are usually a little longer than baitcasters. Maybe my left hand doesn't like the smaller circles?

The more and more I think about this, it is crazy that any of us that are right handed would reel with our right when using a baitcast or any reel. I use both hands but only because some of my reels require it and I have grown up this way but for those of us that are just starting out, why would we want to reel with our right hand if we are right handed? If right handed, wouldnt u get better and easier action using the right hand to hold the rod? Wouldnt it be easiest to cast and keep the rod in the same hand as opposed to having to swap hands? I know u dont see any righties casting with the left and reeling with the right, I am sure there might be someone that is right handed that does that but I would find it difficult. I would almost feel like a retard trying to cast with my left hand. I dont think I have ever even tried. What are your thoughts on this and why do we do it. Someone has to have a good answer. I have found it dang tough, switching from a right hand retrieve to a left hand retrieve casting reel, due to me always wanting to switch hands before I reel. I have gotten over it but it took a few trips back to back to get rid of the feeling of wanting to switch hands. This is a good topic and I am interested as to why we do this?

All I know is that I have used left handed spinning reels forever, and right handed baitcasters forever. I thought that I would like left handed bait casters, so I bought one, and could not get used to it, so I sold it and replaced it with another right hand baitcaster. The one thing I have noticed is that I grip the rod and reel differently when setting a hook with a spinning reel, than with a bait caster, and could not get used to the grip necessary to set the hook with the left hand retrieve bait caster. Maybe I'm just an old dog that can't be taught new tricks, but for me it will always be left hand spinning reels and right hand bait casters.

I tried he left handed casting reels
and I had trouble cranking in a good fish
with them, so I got rid of them and now
I cast with my left hand and reel with my
right.

I tried a left handed Curado one time years ago when a friend had one. Made about 3 casts, gave it back and said "no way will that work".

Years later I got one for flipping/pitching and after awhile, my right handed ones felt odd. Then I switched to all left handed retrieves. I've switched back after having some arthritis issues, but use all right handed and only left for my flipping rod.

My point is that everyone is different. I taught my wife on left handed baitcasters, so that is all she uses.

My suggestion is to buy a used Curado on Ebay for $85 or so, and give it a good 2-3 months of use to see if you can get used to it. If you can't, you can sell it there for what you paid for it. If you like it, you'll only want more of them.

KD

people will sit here and argue with me on this but there is no way, and i mean no way that you can make faster casts and be more efficient casting right handed and reeling left handed with a baitcaster. the ONLY exception is if your right hand stays in the exact position (holding the trigger of the rod) during the retrieve. which i don't do and nobody else really does. we "palm" baitcasters. consider this sequence of events.
1. make cast with right hand, thumb on spool, finger on trigger
2. before or when bait hits water left hand must grab rod or reel to reposition right hand on reel to "palm"
3. then start cranking with left hand.

now the way i do it

1. make cast with right hand, thumb on spool, finger on trigger
2. before bait hits water the reel is already in my left palm with right hand ready to crank.


you see. if you cast right handed and reel right handed there is no "double gripping" reel goes straight from one hand to the other

if you cast right and reel left you have to touch the rod or reel with your left hand so you can reposition the reel in your right hand to palm it.

if you don't believe me sit down and try for yourself and compare.

Champion,

You make a good point, but for me the difference is in pitching. Of course, that falls under your exceptions list but I palm the reel the same during the retrieve as I do during the pitch. I have 2 fingers fore and aft of the trigger.

Thus the reason I only use 1 left handed reel. Otherwise I think you're right...you're just as efficient reeling after a cast with either side. It's just a matter of what feels comfortable.

KD

Kelly,
That's exactly what I did. Bought a Left hand Curado on Ebay and tried and tried, but could not get used to it. I sold it and bought a right hand retrieve. No more experiments for me.....

Hint Hint

Denny Brauer uses a right handed reel and is one of the best pitchers around.
Tommy Biffle uses right handed reel and is also one of the best.
Jay Yelas uses a lefty when pitching.
George Cochran uses a lefty for pitching.

Brauer and Biffle are natural left handed.

If you want to spend the time and make enough casts a day to make it worthwhile, you can use a left handed reel. Short casting with spinnerbaits in heavy cover and pitching would give you many more casts in a day. Just make yourself use it for a few trips exclusively and you should get better. I did strain a muscle in my right arm from setting hooks when I first started but I noticed I was keeping my arm straight which is what caused it. Other than that, I and my daughter have right and left handed reels scattered about the boat constantly.

To Heath Taylor,
I have fished left handed reels for at least ten years and usually half of them on the deck at any one time. I do not reposition at all unless I am fishing a slow moving bait such as a worm or carolina rig. No disadvantage as it is a slower presentation. I use a lefty for my power baits such as spinnerbaits and jigs. No repositioning involved. None for crankbaits either.
I do notice I can make more casts with a jig or spinnerbait in a given time using a lefty.

To make sense of this, use logic. Does anyone know of a left handed person seeking out a left handed reel so that he can change the rod from his left to right hand? Simple really, most of us use right handed reels because that is what we were taught on.