All right here’s a survey of all of us flyrodders:
If you are right handed:
a.) do you cast with your right hand, strip with your left, “switch” and reel with your right?
b.) do you cast with your right hand,strip with your left and reel with your left?
c.) do you cast with your right hand,“switch”, strip with your right and reel with your right?
If you are left handed:
a.) do you cast with your left hand, strip with your right, “switch” and reel with your left?
b.) do you cast with your left hand,strip with your rightt and reel with your right?
c.) do you cast with your left hand,“switch”, strip with your left and reel with your left?
If you haven’t lapsed into a coma yet you can answer by your hand preference(left or right) and then a., b.,or c.
ex. right hand a. which I know is not the instructed version now shown but I have been FFing this way for 51 years, it’s the way I learned on the black river at Springwood Plantation,Georgetown.
This is not intended to show which method is right or wrong just how we may fly fish with a different movement then others enjoying the sport.
If you have a different style please include. </font id=“red”>
I’m right handed and use this one… b.) do you cast with your right hand,strip with your left and reel with your left?
I tried this one yesterday and it felt EXTREMELY awkward. c.) do you cast with your right hand,“switch”, strip with your right and reel with your right?
a.) cast with right hand, strip with left, “switch” and reel with your right?
Great question. The answer is “personal preference.” To 90% of fly fishing guys I am “goofy handed” (taken from goofy footed for you old school skaters.) …Its what I like and it works for me…I believe in a saltwater situation you reel with the hand that will pick up line the fastest. IN fresh water…it really doesn’t matter because I am stripping majority of my fish with my left hand and fighting with my right…but every reel I have is set up for right hand retrieve…just my two cents…
Quick fix/test…Go to your local shop and ask to use two reels…one set up for left-hand retrieve and one set up for right-hand retrieve…Strip all the line off the reels and reel them in. Which one do you reel in ■■■■■■■■■■■ the style you are comfortable with…
It is a matter of preference and how you learned or were taught. I fish mainly for mountain trout and there usually isn’t enough time for the switch when dealing with stream/river currents to get a good drift. my answer would be…
b.) do you cast with your right hand,strip with your left and reel with your left?</font id=“red”>
Really it’s what works best for you/ what you feel comfortable with.
While I’m right handed I’ve learned to cast and retrive with either hand. Personally I find it more convenient and easier to cast right handed and strip and retrive with my left hand. It’s much quicker and you don’t have to worry about switching hands after the strip strike. If you’re comfortable using spinning gear, typically you’ll be comfortable canking with your off hand.
Great post. I have been battling this question for a long time. I had the best luck with my cast right, strip left, reel right approach. This technique didn’t sit well with the critics, as apparently the left hand reel is the preferable method. I still can’t clear line as fast with my left as compared to right. I’m a slow learner. I’m glad it’s still a 50/50 verdict. I’m switching my reel and respooling tomorrow. Thanks to all you who choose to buck the system and relish in it. Going back to right hand retrieve for the fly reel.
The prevailing theory is that you can reel faster and more efficiently with your dominant hand… ie. right handed - cast with right, strip left, reel right… or Left handed - cast left, strip right, reel left…
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