Left or right hand retrieve

Any opinions on the advantages / disadvantages of mounting a fly reel for a left or right hand retrieve?
Let's assume we're talking about a right-handed fisherman.

I figure the left hand retrieve is best for a right handed fisherman/woman. Having to change the rod in your hand after a cast seems to be way too much trouble especially if you're stripping line.  My FF history is short but that's just what I figure after my time. It definitely works that way for my w/ conventional gear. My 2 cents.

Z

It's mostly a personal preference thing. That said, some facts of the matter are...          If you're right handed, you'll cast with that hand and then strip in the line with your left hand - over and over and over again, and when you do hook-up - in most cases you will land the fish by stripping in line with your left hand. Only heavier and hotter fish will take enough line that you have to play them from the reel. So you're not using the reel most of the time. I had all my reels set up for left hand retrieve ( I'm right handed ), because I felt it made sense to handle the rod with the right hand and do the reeling with the left. However, I also do a lot of jig fishing - I used to use a spinning rod and my right arm was doing ALL the hard work - casting and playing the fish - the left was only winding the reel. My arm started to let me know about it and this became a problem. I decided to share the load with my left arm - I switched the fly reels back to right hand retrieve so I cast with the right and fight with the left - and I went to a bait caster instead of the spinner for the same reason. My right arm is much happier now.

Many of the fly fishing gurus say that you should reel with your dominate hand because you can recover line faster with your stronger hand and sometimes thats important - like when a good fish is running back at you and don't want slack in the line. Try both ways and see what works for you. Tom

Thanks.

Being a righty, I have always used left hand retrieve. But I have also always used ultralight gear and fished for small trout. I have never used a heavy rod like the one I have now, targeting ocean fish, where I might actually need to fight a fish with the reel. I like the idea of switching sides if fatigue sets in. That sinking line with an 8 weight rod is pretty tiring after casting for a while.

Cast right. Line control and retrieve left. Never did understand why people cast and reel with the same hand. Cast then switch the rod to the other hand so you can reel seems like a totally unnecessary step to me.

Cast right. Line control and retrieve left. Never did understand why people cast and reel with the same hand. Cast then switch the rod to the other hand so you can reel seems like a totally unnecessary step to me.

Cast right. Line control and retrieve left. Never did understand why people cast and reel with the same hand. Cast then switch the rod to the other hand so you can reel seems like a totally unnecessary step to me.

Just based on tradition...do what feels right to you.

Jay

I grew up semi ambidextrous, mostly left handed.One advantage I have is that I cast left and reel right. More fishing time with immediate casts after the retrieve.

This is a hottly debated topic for some.
I say do what is most comfortable. I guess I am one of the wierd ones. I am right handed. I strip line with my left hand. When I get a hookup, I reel with the right hand.

The switch between hands takes virtually no effort. Being right handed, my right hand is more nimble, thus I am more efficient at reeling. My left hand just feels clunky when reeling.

Another positive side....it keeps people from borrowing your stuff.
 
Marc