Backward Ars Reelers

[Curly]

I have left hand and right hand baitcasters and find either one just fine.  Left handed are actually nice when casting so you don't have to switch hands during the cast.  I only reel spinning reels with my left hand..........no way could I reel a spinning reel right handed or upside down.

My dad does reel backward with spinning reels.  But he does have an excuse since he lost all the fingers on his right hand when he was a kid.  I think he just got used to using right handed reels because that is all he had when he was growing up (I don't think they had reversible reels 50 years ago) and he just learned to use them upside down and backward.  It does look funny. 

I've asked him before about swapping the reel handle, but I think he is more comfortable reeling the way he has for so long.

[lokidog]

I learned how to fish using Zebcos with the handle on the right.  When we started using spinning reels, my dad bought us left-handed (reel with the right) Mitchels.  I've been trying for years to get the muscle memory to reel with my left hand.  It seems to work fine most of the time, but when I hook a big one, I sometimes get a little herky jerky with my left hand.

With my trout/bass rod, I can still cast a lot more accurately by casting with my right hand, feathering the spool with my left, and reeling with my right.  I move the handle though so I still reel it in the proper direction with the spinning reel under the rod.   

[huntnphool]

Apparently these dinguses lack the coordination needed switch from a left hand spinning reel to a right hand baitcaster 

Lack the coordination huh?

How about those dinguses that lack the intelligence to purchase a left handed bait caster, when they are readily available, and clearly the more comfortable, prefered way to reel!!! If reeling with your right hand was a more comfortable, prefered and coordinated way of reeling, then you would flip the handle on your spinning reel so you would never need to change your method to begin with, and reel with your right hand using both. I have not seen a spinning reel produced in years that you can't switch the handle from one side to the other in seconds.

 And I'm just funnin with the "intelligent" part.

[RadSav]

Radsav, you mentioned the 6501. For so many years I fished with right handle reels, being right handed. It is what dad put in my hands and said "fish".  I got tired of doing the back and forth, bought a 6501 leftie, still cast right handed and cannot understand why more folks dont do it. Seems logical to me, as right sided spinning reels have left side handle.

I purchased my first one for fishing the Vedder.  When you get into the fish up there one arm gets pretty tired.  So I thought I would try the '01 and see if switching back and forth could help me fish harder and longer each day.  After the first day I was hooked and I now use a left hand reel almost exclusively.  I still use a 965 Int' for some bigger things, but lefties for me on most everything else.  Since switching to the Curado 301 for steelhead I almost never use a spinner anymore.

If Shimano would make a LH Calcutta 700 I'd dance a jig while oversize fishing

[huntnphool]

Radsav, you mentioned the 6501. For so many years I fished with right handle reels, being right handed. It is what dad put in my hands and said "fish".  I got tired of doing the back and forth, bought a 6501 leftie, still cast right handed and cannot understand why more folks dont do it. Seems logical to me, as right sided spinning reels have left side handle.

If Shimano would make a LH Calcutta 700 I'd dance a jig while oversize fishing

That would be awesome.

I spoke with a Shimano rep a couple years ago about left handed reels and he said there isn't enough of a demand. He said that as it is already, more than 90% of all the left handed reels they produce are sold in the NorthWest, West Coast, BC areas.

[bentley30-06]

HA HA that was one of the few things today that made me laugh.  You got this!

[RadSav]

I spoke with a Shimano rep a couple years ago about left handed reels and he said there isn't enough of a demand. He said that as it is already, more than 90% of all the left handed reels they produce are sold in the NorthWest, West Coast, BC areas.

I've had the same conversation and got the same answer many times back when I was working in the fishing industry.  Guess bass fishing and Blue water is where all the money is.  I never could get a straight answer from Berkley on what the sales totals and ratios were on the Ambassador 6500/6501.  I bet those numbers aren't too shabby!

Penn asked my buddy Steve Lynch (Pro-Cure) to help them design an oversize sturgeon specific reel for the Columbia.  They poo poo'd the LH 975 International pretty quick.

[RadSav]

If I wouldn't have to deal with the same FET tax garbage with fishing gear as I do with archery gear I'd tool up and start making premium round body LH reels myself.  I bet a guy could do very well making premium NW specific salmon, steelhead and sturgeon reels.  Not Shimano money, but who needs those headaches?

When I left the industry it appeared as though Okuma was going to offer something.  Unless I missed it, doesn't look like that ever happened.  I sure had high hopes for Okuma when they first hit the scene.  Too bad that didn't go the direction it looked like it was going to.

[huntnphool]

If I wouldn't have to deal with the same FET tax garbage with fishing gear as I do with archery gear I'd tool up and start making premium round body LH reels myself.  I bet a guy could do very well making premium NW specific salmon, steelhead and sturgeon reels.  Not Shimano money, but who needs those headaches?

When I left the industry it appeared as though Okuma was going to offer something.  Unless I missed it, doesn't look like that ever happened.  I sure had high hopes for Okuma when they first hit the scene.  Too bad that didn't go the direction it looked like it was going to.

No kidding, that would have been nice.

[Antlershed]

Okuma makes some lefties, but you better buy them in bulk cause you're going to need spares. 

[wildmanoutdoors]

Then there's the type that pretend baitcasters were not made to forever be reeled on the right side. Apparently these dinguses lack the coordination needed switch from a left hand spinning reel to a right hand baitcaster 

Hey, don't talk about Huntnphool like that...you'll hurt his feelings 

I reel spinning reels with my left hand and baitcasters with my right. Works for me 

  I think all great fisherman do this the same way. 

[Bullkllr]

Then there's the type that pretend baitcasters were not made to forever be reeled on the right side. Apparently these dinguses lack the coordination needed switch from a left hand spinning reel to a right hand baitcaster 

Hey, don't talk about Huntnphool like that...you'll hurt his feelings 

I reel spinning reels with my left hand and baitcasters with my right. Works for me 

  I think all great fisherman do this the same way. 

  I have given the lefties a try a few times- can't get used to them. Just feels weird after too many years of right-hand only. But any good fisherman should be able to cast a bait-caster with either hand anyway, right...

[RadSav]

Okuma makes some lefties, but you better buy them in bulk cause you're going to need spares. 

Sure not how they built them when they first hit the market.  The samples they gave us before they hit the US market were very nice.  Not sure what happened after that   I did miss that they were making the Cedros in LH - Thanks.

It's funny if you go to their website now.  On the Cedros LH picture they have the Red Cross logo.  If a guy didn't know those are Red Cross donation reels he's be thinking, How bad do things hurt when they blow up!?!?!

[87Ford]

I forced myself to adapt to left hand retrieve baitcasters years ago..  Glad I did.  It's nice not having to "switch hands" after each cast.  Still like to old Curado BSF reels.  The 201E is really nice too.  Next reel for me will likely be the new Shimano Chronarch 151 CI4.