Fishing with lefties

Saltwater Inshore Discussion
1

Sometimes I take people fishing that are either lefties or are just confused as to which side you fish a spinning reel with. That being said on a few occasions I’ve had some anglers just flip the rod over. Looks crazy but landed a few fish that way. Is there any reason not to will it hurt the rod blank?

2

I think the handles on most spinning reels are designed to be swapped left or right as needed. You hold the bail and wind backwards on the reel and it just unscrews from the reel. They have a dummy cap on the opposite side and you just swap it over. Not that holding the reel upside down would hurt anything but it just screams greenhorn!!!

Dorado II
Carolina Skiff 25DLV

3

We’ve lost several handles to people that do it backward. Last guy was fighting a fish and finally said, “hey…this reel is broken”. I looked over at him and he had the rod and reel upside down and was cranking like mad. I told him to stop and I’d come fix the reel…just as I reached for the rod and reel, he let go of the handle and it sunk like a rock. This guy said he fished all the time so I assumed he knew how to handle a rod and reel.

You just can’t take your eyes off of greenhorns, not even for a second.

I had to hand-line land a 30"+ redfish. Crikey.:face_with_head_bandage:

“I am constantly amazed at the stupidity of the general public.”
~my dad

Equipment:
190cc Sea Pro w/130 Johnson
1- 20 year old (boy of leisure)
1 - 17 year old (fishing maniac)
1 - wife (The Warden)

ECFC

4

I write left handed but all of my reels are right handed. It drives me nuts when I take people fishing (most right handed) and they want all of my handles switched to the left.

Capt. R. Killin
“Day Tripper”
Shamrock 20 cuddy
Ford 351W

5

So is it left handed when the reel crank is on the left and the rod in your right hand? I’ll never know, I’m so confused I eat and write with my left but that’s it. Everything else, even kicking is done with my right. Mix handed is what I have been told since amibdextrious means equal with both:face_with_head_bandage: I know one thing, you won’t catch me with a reel up-side-down at anytime I will just adapt:wink:

Fishing Nerd

“you win some, you lose some…but nothing beats getting some!”

6

I fish with a lefty, drives me crazy watching him. Maybe its just because he uncoordinated:smiley::smiley:

7

prob shouldnt fish a spinning rod upside down. the eyes are designed to hold the weight of the fish off of the blank. when you flip them over obv the way the pressure applies through the eyes to the blank changes.

8
quote:
Originally posted by AvuncularBen

prob shouldnt fish a spinning rod upside down. the eyes are designed to hold the weight of the fish off of the blank. when you flip them over obv the way the pressure applies through the eyes to the blank changes.

That’s what I was wondering. I makes me nuts to change just some of the rods on the boat.

Mayhem
Pioneer 197

9

I’m a left handed reeler - It looks unnatural for a person to cast with there right hand then pass the rod to the left hand and then start reeling with the right. Especially with bait casters it’s one of the top 5 reasons I cant watch bass fishing on TV.

Sabalo 21 150 Yamaha

Key West Stealth 150 V-max (SOLD)

10

Sooo…on a spinning reel, you have the handle on the right side? All my spinning reels they are on the left? Bait Casting reels handle is on the right. I am right handed. What would a left handed fisherman like?..so confused… :roll_eyes:. I have some 70’s vintage Mitchell Garcia spinners, handle is on the left and you can not switch them. Also have some old bait casters, right side only. As long as I can remember, spinning reels…handle on the left, Casting the right. I guess I would be both then. :smiley:

11

As a Lefty who got started fishing with a bait caster it only makes sense to me to cast with my left hand and reel with my right, so I do the same with my spinning gear now. Just do not see why you would cast then swap the rod to the other hand to reel it in. I completely agree with Flat Bottom.

12

I was so used to baitcasters that when I started using spinning reels, it felt weird to reel with my left hand and work the rod with my right. I just put all of my handles on the right and do everything like I’ve always done it.

'06 Mckee Craft
184 Marathon
DF140 Suzuki

13

What Tigerfin said. Since convention reel handles are on the right, I keep all my spinning reels the same way. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one without a reversible handle. Holding a spinning rod upside down is crazy. Move the handle.

Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper

14

I really don’t understand the lefties. With a baitcaster, I have no problems at all cranking with my right hand. With a spinning reel, I have no problems at all cranking with my left hand.

Lefties want everything on the right side of the reel…baitcasters and spinning reels. Why they can’t switch-reel like the rest of us, I dunno. I think they are defective. :wink:

“I am constantly amazed at the stupidity of the general public.”
~my dad

Equipment:
190cc Sea Pro w/130 Johnson
1- 20 year old (boy of leisure)
1 - 17 year old (fishing maniac)
1 - wife (The Warden)

ECFC

15
quote:
Originally posted by StumpNocker

So is it left handed when the reel crank is on the left and the rod in your right hand? I’ll never know, I’m so confused I eat and write with my left but that’s it. Everything else, even kicking is done with my right. Mix handed is what I have been told since amibdextrious means equal with both:face_with_head_bandage: I know one thing, you won’t catch me with a reel up-side-down at anytime I will just adapt:wink:

I’m also partially ambidexterious. Write, shoot, eat, fish lefty. Bat, bowl, hammer, throw righty. The fine motorskills that require detail are left and everything that requires power is right. I can switch most of them but have strong preferences.

First, Most, Biggest
I want to catch them all

16

I am fully left handed. My spinning rods all have the handle on the left. I usually cast with the left and right, left hand on top right hand on bottom unless I’m pitching, then just the left. Don’t hate. Lefties run this world…

Narcosis

17

I’m a lefty too, and I prefer to reel with the handle on the right side, no matter the type of reel. But I’ve never reeled one holding it upside down. That’s funny :smiley:

Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper

18
quote:
Originally posted by Cracker Larry

I’m a lefty too, and I prefer to reel with the handle on the right side, no matter the type of reel. But I’ve never reeled one holding it upside down. That’s funny :smiley:

Larry, awhile back you posted a pic of a rod holder you had and I noticed the spinning rods had the handle on the right side. I thought about posting something about that, but never did. Funny now since this has come up, but I do the same thing. My conventionals/baitcaster type are on the right and never could figure why most folks don’t like that with spinners:stuck_out_tongue::question:

Good read!!
NN

www.joinrfa.org/

19

I cannot stand the handle on the right on a spinning reel. drives me crazy…

“mr keys”

20
quote:
Originally posted by northchucky

I cannot stand the handle on the right on a spinning reel. drives me crazy…

Me too…I can only figure left handed folks have to cast with their left hand? I cast the same with both, must be the percussionist side of me. Kinda like patting your head and rubbin’ your belly, while tapping Yankee Doodle with both feet in different tempos…I know pretty random. :stuck_out_tongue: I definitely am not fishing enough. :frowning_face: