Why right hand retrieve?

[steve154]

I was wondering how and why it became traditional for a right handed caster to wind with the right hand. I have been fishing and casting with my left hand and have not switched my reel around. I cast and then have to switch hands to retrieve. In addition to feeling weird because I am so right hand dominate, it also feels un-natural to have to switch hands all the time. Was/is there some practical reason why that was just the way to do it?

[Bob Riggins]

Don’t know.

[brian dunigan]

As noted by dunfly, the conventional wisdom seems to be that you can wind the reel faster with your right hand.  I personally don’t buy into this, because I’ve never encountered a fish that I couldn’t handle with my left.

Strangely enough, I fish with a spinning rod or flyrod held in my right hand and reel with my left.  But with a baitcasting reel, I hold the rod with my left hand and reel with my right.  I can’t tell much difference in winding speed.  I don’t know why I differentiate; maybe it’s habit, or maybe the “reel on top” configuration of a baitcaster just balances better with a different, left handed grip.

I *do* think certain rod actions are easier to impart with my more coordinated right hand – thus, I work a streamer (or a Zara Spook or fluke on conventional gear) better with the rod held in my right hand.  It’s just easier to get that twitch-twitch-twitch action going more smoothly with my more dextrous hand.

bd

[Carter Simcoe]

I’m the first to admitt that I don’t know much about “traditional” flyfishing but I think most people do fish the way we do, leaving the rod in the right hand the whole time, at least everyone I ever see does it this way.

[Carter Simcoe]

bd, i do the same thing with spinning reels but I can tell a difference in my winding speed.

[Phil Landry]

[Carter Simcoe]

But (and I really do mean this as a question) why are you so concerned with how fast you can reel line in?

[greg mitchell]

Didn’t one of the famous older fly fisherman/fly casters strongly advocate casting and reeling with your dominent hand? Lefty Kreh? I was thinking maybe that had something to do with it. When I was younger I casted right and reeled right handed. But several years ago I started reeling with my left hand. It seemed a little awkward at first but I wouldn’t go back now. I think it just works better not to have to switch hands with the rod. Just MHO.

Greg

[Phil Landry]

Carter… fish seem to run at me full speed all the time… 😮

[Bob Riggins]

Not to get to far off the subject, but does anyone spin the reel when a fish is running at you or is it just bad form.

[Phil Landry]

I spin the reel, but only when pickin up slack line with a stable fish (not running at me).

[Carter Simcoe]

Thanks Phil, I really was curious about your reasoning.

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