Children and first-time fishers are presented with a challenge when determining which to cast, hold the rod, and crank the reel. Despite having a dominant hand, rods and reels are rotated from arm to arm between casting and retrieving by many people who fish. Eliminating transferring the fishing combination between hands will prevent losing fish that strike during the movement. Here are five key points about a left handed fishing reel. 

Do I Fish Right Or Left Handed

First, it is essential to determine if you are a left or right-handed angler. The dominant hand is the hand in which indicates whether you are right or left-handed in regards to fishing. Read the difference in dominant hands below. 

Left Handed

When the dominant arm is the left side of the body, you are considered a left-handed angler. The dominant arm serves the purpose of casting because it is the most powerful of the two. Alternatively, the right arm retrieves the fishing line by turning the handle. 

Anglers who are considered left-handed must purchase a right-handed fishing reel to avoid passing the combination to the opposite hand after each cast. 

Right Handed  

Most anglers identify as right-handed, which means the angler casts with the right arm instead of the left. After casting, the rod remains in the right hand, allowing for the left hand to turn the reel’s handle. 

Right-handed anglers must shop and purchase left-handed fishing reels for a seamless process. 

What Does A Left Handed Fishing Reel Mean

A left-handed reel is a fishing reel in which the crank is positioned on the left side compared to the right side. 

A right-handed angler utilizes a left-handed fishing reel. The right arm is the strongest, which best suits the angler holding the rod, particularly when casting and fighting fish. The person rotates the handle with the left and less dominant arm when reeling the line. 

Is There A Left Handed Fishing Rod

In regards to a left or right-handed fishing rod, they do not exist. Fishing rods are designed universally to be used in the left or the right hand. 

When attaching a spinning reel to a fishing rod, the reel lies beneath the rod as compared to bait casters, levelwinds, and conventional reels which are seated on the top of the rod. 

Remember, to fish a spinning reel from a rod in the proper position. Positioning the reel upward and rotating the handle is not correct. Inexperienced anglers often make this mistake or rotate the rod to best suit the dominant hand. Instead of flipping the reel, remove the handle and swap to the opposite side. 

Unlike spinning reels, conventional, bait casters, and level winds do not allow anglers the opportunity to shift the handle from one side of the reel to the other. Instead, a right or left-handed reel must be selected and purchased. 

Why Are Baitcasting Reels Left Handed

The vast majority of baitcasting reels are left-handed because anglers are predominantly right-handed. 

Baitcasters are complex when compared to other varieties of fishing reels. When casted, the rate it which the line comes off the spool requires being controlled. The failure to control the fishing line from exiting the spool results in what is known as a bird’s nest. 

A bird’s nest is the result of failing to thumb the reel which means controlling the spin of the spool by applying pressure with the thumb. Birds nests are a ball of tangled line similar to the shape of a bird’s nest. The fishing line becomes challenging to untangle and often requires cutting and retying. 

To make a long story short, baitcasters are designed with the reel affixed to the left side because the highest population of anglers cast with the right hand while thumbing the spool with the thumb on the right side of the body. 

Left-handed anglers must not worry, fishing reel manufacturers design and build bait casting reels affixed to the right side. 

When you’re shopping for a right-handed bait caster check out the Abu Garcia Max Pro. When purchasing make sure to select the reel handle location opposite of the casting or dominant arm. 

Now You Know The Five Key Points To Left-Handed Fishing Reels

The vast majority of anglers fish with left handed fishing reels because the right side is the dominant side holding the rod. No matter which hand you cast or retrieve, spending time on the water is all that matters in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina between the coastal and fresh bodies of water.