I cast with my right arm/hand but I reel in the line with my left hand as to not have to change hands if I hook a fish or while playing a fish.
What do most of you fellows do, switch hands or just use the reel with your left hand or vice versa if your left handed?
thanks
Mike
This subject comes up from time to time on bb’s. I think it is generally accepted to do it whatever way is comfortable to you.
I know I ain’t changin.
I didn’t answer your question because after reading threads about this topic in the past it ended up not making any difference.
When I started fly fishing the reels of the day (at least the ones I could afford) were right hand retrieve only. And thats where I am today.
When you hook a fish, especially a big-un, every move you make should be subconciously reactive. If your reel is set up in a way that you have to think about it before you react, you’re in trouble.
[This message has been edited by Buzz (edited 09 December 2005).]
[This message has been edited by Buzz (edited 09 December 2005).]
Newfoundlander, JC and Lee Wulff both agree if your right handed it makes more sense to fight a fish with the strong hand. I used to switch hands but finally convinced my left it was gonna reel LOL. Boil it down I also agree whatever feels comfortable to you
Newfoundlander;
Cast right handed and retrive with the left hand. Switch all my reels for this.
Yeah I was just kinda taking a survey to see what people found most comfortable to do…I’m really use to reeling with the left hand, she can handle it, 
Which means Buzz, you still never answered the question, 
[This message has been edited by Newfoundlander (edited 08 December 2005).]
I fish right, reel left.
It makes the most sense to me but unfortunately there are a few Hardy’s out there that I’d love to own & use but are only available in right hand wind 
.
What ever works best for you is best.
I cast right-handed and reel either way depending on which reel I’m using. It’s the only way to take advantage of those great old Hardys. But…I prefer to reel left-handed.
Count me in as rod hand right, reel hand left. I am right handed.
xfishcop
I’m a lefty rod hand is left and reel hand is right.
The more time I spend around people the more I like my dog.
Mike
Right Handed…Cast and Reel Right handed. I think JC covered that above. This comes from playing bigger fish and using my strongest hand/arm. But hey whatever works for you is fine.
I wouldn’t bother you with what “I” do, except you said you kinda taking a head count or survey. I cast right handed. I strip line, fish on or not…left handed. I reel in my line left handed. I do not make any attempt to get the fish ON THE REEL. So I am wit all the rest. Cast right, reel left. Funny though. This is 100% same response on this thread. I have read about this either here or somewhere and there were quite a few, if not a majority that said they cast and reel with the same hand.
Anywhooooo…that’s how I dood it.
Gem
What JC said.
Trout - cast right, reel left.
Tuna - cast right, reel right
I cast with the right and reel with the right.
Only because when I started that was the “Tradition”. It was the ONLY way it was done. So I was taught. Now it’s habit - couldn’t change if I wanted to. It would just feel too out of place.
In reality cast with the right reel with the left (or vice versa for a lefty) just makes more sense.
Let No One Walk Alone
><))))‘>------<’((((><
Bill
Cast right and retrive with left hand.
All my reels setup for this.
Unfortunately no one taught me how to fish, or fly fish. Sooooo…I am still trying to learn. But I just started fly fishing myself. So…I started casting right, reeling left. Sorta ambidextrous anyway (due to eye doctor said I needed glasses many years before I got them at age 19, explains all the headaches as a kid and in school, he said he was surprised I wasn’t totally left handed). So…on the very rare occasion I use a spinning rod it’s the same way. Cast right and retreive left. It’s all the same method for me and that makes it pretty smooth and non complicated for me. But it was just the way it played out. Now it’s just plain habit for me. I would not want to try to re-train myself to do otherwise. I like the all in one mop. Same as Sib. All my reels set for left hand retreive.
Gem
The Real reason that untill the late 70’s even reels that were switchable all came set from the factory right hand retreve is quite simple. The old pros never wanted to work the line on the same side as the handle. that way a coil of line would never get raped around the knobb if a fish ran and you had slack. the reason that now most reals come set for left hand wind is also simple. the younger generation is quite willing to trade convenance for correct.
Rich
Don’t know how much more I can add. When I started fly fishing some 40+ years ago, I cast right and reeled right because that’s how I was taught. Did the same thing when I used my Johnson Century spin caster. Then I got my first spinning reel a Mitchel 300 and that screwed me all up.
For some reason over the years I started reeling (fly reels) with my left. Although, it really wouldn’t matter since I hand strip line most of the time anyway. I’ve done it that way when throwing plugs with my bait casting rigs, so it seems more natural.
I do cast right and reel right handed when fishing with my glass rods, since that’s the way the reels are set up.
[This message has been edited by anglerdave (edited 09 December 2005).]
Being a SOUTHPAW, I cast with the left and reel with the right. Now, to add to the confusion, I write and eat right hand, shoot firearm left, bow right.
And with that said, we won’t go any farther, I’ll get REALLY messed up if we do!!
Wyo-blizzard aka Bloody Tom Bonney
Comfy…I may favor my right hand…but after years of fishing with the right hand casting and the left reeling…spinning in my youth and also Flyfishing the past…hummmm…guessing 19 yrs…I can’t reel anyother way…it just does not make sence to me, I also can’t recall ever seeing any Flyfishers I’ve seen fishing switch hands…perhaps I’ll have to watch a bit closer.
I do sometimes have to switch thoe…lol…While casting with my left hand…do this at times without really noticeing it…till I get a fish on…lol
“I’ve often wondered why it is that so many anglers spend so much money on,and pay so much attention to.the details on the wrong end of the fly line.If they took as much care in selecting or tying their flies as they did in the selection of the reel and rod,They might be able to gain the real extra edge that makes it possible to fool a fish that has,in fact,seen it all before” A.K.Best
Everyone wants to excel in this sport but at the same time we let traditionalists place restrictions on our tactics, methods, and ideas. I always assumed that fly fishing was a sport that allowed imagination, creation, adaptation, investigation, dedication, education, revelation? : Fox Statler, On Spinners (Not the dainty Dry Fly kind) “Spinner’d Minner Fly”
“Wish ya great fishing”
Bill
[This message has been edited by billknepp (edited 09 December 2005).]