Casting with the off hand

[fishyfranky]

Yesterday, I was holding up the anchor with my right hand to let the wind drift me to a new position on a pond. So I thought I'd try casting with my off hand and I didn't do too bad.

So I was wondering if anyone does this on a regular basis and if so, does it prove advantageous under certain conditions.

I do it all the time with mixed results.

There are places I fish where it is much better to cast with my left hand. Some places, it is the only way to reach a "special" spot.

I just need to practice it more when there are NO fish involved.

[dudley]

A few years back, my fishin' partner strained his shoulder hoisting his kayak up onto the car. We still had a week to go on our trip so it was either learn to cast with the off hand or not fish at all.
After a couple of days he had it licked. Double haul and all.
I see him fishing left handed regularly now when a stiff breeze is blowing over the right shoulder. It looks a lot easier than casting backwards or with the rod tip angled over your head.
I've tried to learn myself but sofar I stink.


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"The trout were laughing so hard at us that they considered evolving legs so they could crawl on to land and catch their breath"
Dave Barry

[Micropteris]

Often try it am good for first few casts but then always blow it. I think it is very beneficial to be able to cast with both arems due to wind and current conditions but it is difficult to get going.

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Who has time for stress when there are fish to catch.
Nick

[Jim Hatch]

I can't do long casts on the offhand, but
short ones with good accuracy are what I
practice. Comes in handy gill fishing the
swamps. Warm regards, Jim

[Byron Zuehlsdorff]

Now you got to be careful here,, my Right hand is my OFF hand!!

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Wyo-blizzard aka Bloody Tom Bonney

[Chuck S]

It pays to practice both off hand casting as well as casting from what would normally be your backcast. You can never have too many tools in your tool bag, especially if they take up no space and weigh little.

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Good Fishing
Chuck Scheerschmidt
"I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved."

[rriver]

With spey rods you have to learn to cast off of different shoulders, which is what I tend to do rather than (I guess I should say not at all) use my left hand. I have found using spey casts with single hand rods helps get around those wierd situations. Same thing to me (or close enough).

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- rriver

[Riverdancer]

1/4 of the time when I practice, I practice at least 4 hours a month, and I can cast an entire line, is spent casting with my left hand. You never know when you'll need to fish that way, and I cast prettier with that hand!!

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Jude
Late to bed,
Early to Rise,
Guide all day,
Tie more flies!
www.customflys.com

[Rick Z]

I have been doing it more and more. I find times that casting with my left hand lets me get into certain places better than with my right hand.

When I am out fishing I still fish casting with my left hand a fair amount of time.
The more I practice the more my left hand it getting like my right hand casts.

Not always pretty, but effective enough of the time.

Rick