Crank positions on baitcasters vs. spinning reels

  • pockets
    Golden Valley, MN
    Posts: 145
    #1262777

    A few of us at work were talking about crank positions on different reels. We all crank right handed on baitcasters, and left handed on spinning reels. How many people crank using the same hand on both reels?

    perch_44
    One step ahead of the Warden.
    Posts: 1589
    #774044

    i’m right handed, yet i crank with my left hand on all of my rods.

    suzuki
    Woodbury, Mn
    Posts: 18393
    #774051

    Since I am right handed and hold all my spinning rods with my right hand it seemed logical to do the same with baitcasters but to my suprise it didnt feel natural so I now go the traditional route you mentioned.

    James Holst
    Keymaster
    SE Minnesota
    Posts: 18926
    #774058

    Rods are held in my right hand. I crank with my left. Never made sense to me to switch back and forth. I’m right handed.

    jon_jordan
    St. Paul, Mn
    Posts: 10908
    #774063

    I’m left handed, hold all rods in my left hand a reel with my right.

    -J.

    James Holst
    Keymaster
    SE Minnesota
    Posts: 18926
    #774064

    Quote:


    I’m left handed, hold all rods in my left hand a reel with my right.

    -J.


    I know were in a minority, Jon, but it only makes sense to me to have the rod held in the dominant hand.

    The #1 issue I ran into with customer fishing baitcasters back in my guiding days was when the rod was held in the non-dominant hand hook sets were slow, weak or clumsy. Often all of the above. It got to the point where I no longer offered bait casters with right hand crank since the vast majority of my clients were right handed. I got plenty of funny looks and some off hand remarks… and much better hook sets.

    redneck
    Rosemount
    Posts: 2627
    #774065

    I like to crank baitcasters with my right hand and spinning reels with my left. Part of the reason for this is that when I vertical jig I have a baitcaster in my left hand and a spinning reel in my right. Either reel getting a bite I set the hook, drop the other rod and reel in the fish. I also think since I am right handed a baitcaster is a little easier to use in my left hand where my right hand can handle the more difficult spinning reel.

    rkd-jim
    Fountain City, WI.
    Posts: 1606
    #774068

    Quote:


    Quote:


    I’m left handed, hold all rods in my left hand a reel with my right.

    -J.


    I know were in a minority, Jon, but it only makes sense to me to have the rod held in the dominant hand.

    The #1 issue I ran into with customer fishing baitcasters back in my guiding days was when the rod was held in the non-dominant hand hook sets were slow, weak or clumsy. Often all of the above. It got to the point where I no longer offered bait casters with right hand crank since the vast majority of my clients were right handed. I got plenty of funny looks and some off hand remarks… and much better hook sets.


    I’m with these two guys…..I am left-handed and hold both types of reels in my left and crank with my right

    Jeremiah Shaver
    La Crosse, WI
    Posts: 4941
    #774069

    Quote:


    I know were in a minority, Jon, but it only makes sense to me to have the rod held in the dominant hand.

    The #1 issue I ran into with customer fishing baitcasters back in my guiding days was when the rod was held in the non-dominant hand hook sets were slow, weak or clumsy. Often all of the above. It got to the point where I no longer offered bait casters with right hand crank since the vast majority of my clients were right handed. I got plenty of funny looks and some off hand remarks… and much better hook sets


    Just the opposite….I’m right handed and have no problems controling the rod with my left hand….but to watch me try and reel left handed is like trying to throw a ball with the opposite hand…

    If you break down casting/retrieving from a technical standpoint you probably shouldn’t switch hands, but the motion is so fluent now I don’t feel I lose anything by not doing it the “right” way.

    p.s. – KVD is a “switcher”

    gusschoenfeld
    Winsted, MN
    Posts: 409
    #774071

    Quote:


    Quote:


    Quote:


    I’m left handed, hold all rods in my left hand a reel with my right.

    -J.
    I know were in a minority, Jon, but it only makes sense to me to have the rod held in the dominant hand.

    The #1 issue I ran into with customer fishing baitcasters back in my guiding days was when the rod was held in the non-dominant hand hook sets were slow, weak or clumsy. Often all of the above. It got to the point where I no longer offered bait casters with right hand crank since the vast majority of my clients were right handed. I got plenty of funny looks and some off hand remarks… and much better hook sets.


    I’m with these two guys…..I am left-handed and hold both types of reels in my left and crank with my right


    ME TOO!!!!

    James Holst
    Keymaster
    SE Minnesota
    Posts: 18926
    #774072

    Quote:


    Quote:


    I know were in a minority, Jon, but it only makes sense to me to have the rod held in the dominant hand.

    The #1 issue I ran into with customer fishing baitcasters back in my guiding days was when the rod was held in the non-dominant hand hook sets were slow, weak or clumsy. Often all of the above. It got to the point where I no longer offered bait casters with right hand crank since the vast majority of my clients were right handed. I got plenty of funny looks and some off hand remarks… and much better hook sets


    Just the opposite….I’m right handed and have no problems controling the rod with my left hand….but to watch me try and reel left handed is like trying to throw a ball with the opposite hand…

    If you break down casting/retrieving from a technical standpoint you probably shouldn’t switch hands, but the motion is so fluent now I don’t feel I lose anything by not doing it the “right” way.

    p.s. – KVD is a “switcher”


    Hey, whatever works. You should see me type 60 words a minute with my pointing finger and thumb on each hand. Looks like heck, shouldn’t work a lick… but I can crank out the text.

    suzuki
    Woodbury, Mn
    Posts: 18393
    #774073

    Quote:


    Rods are held in my right hand. I crank with my left. Never made sense to me to switch back and forth. I’m right handed.


    James-same with trolling rods? Thats the only configuration I use that type of reel on. Spinning for everything else.

    rmartin
    United States
    Posts: 1430
    #774077

    Cast both right handed. Then switch to left hand and reel with right hand. If not reeling such as jigging, will use either hand but probably more right. The rod is in my left hand as soon as the bait hits the water unless I am stripping line to allow for sinking.

    James Holst
    Keymaster
    SE Minnesota
    Posts: 18926
    #774078

    Quote:


    Quote:


    Rods are held in my right hand. I crank with my left. Never made sense to me to switch back and forth. I’m right handed.


    James-same with trolling rods? Thats the only configuration I use that type of reel on. Spinning for everything else.


    I haven’t found a linecounter I like with a left hand crank so those rods force a switch of hands. Although in that application hook sets aren’t an issue and nobody’s wasting any time between casts switching hands on a linecounter / trolling rod combo. When I trolling 3 ways and bait those cranks are on the left side.

    walleyebuster5
    Central MN
    Posts: 3916
    #774083

    Odd question really.. Since the reel is on the wrong side of the rod with baitcasters anyways…I have to reel it backwards.

    Sorry,,some walleye (anti-bass/muskie) guy had to say it.

    theodorenugget
    Sugar Land, TX
    Posts: 609
    #774088

    I am right handed. Cast with my left. Reel with my right.

    Anonymous
    Inactive
    Posts: 0
    #774098

    right handed, left reeled on everything.

    wimwuen
    LaCrosse, WI
    Posts: 1960
    #774105

    Right handed, cast with left, reel with right. All my trolling rods have the reels on the right, and most baitcasters that I use does as well.

    However, I do have a lefty baitcaster just for bottom bouncing or live bait rigging. This allows me to run one in each hand and never have to switch hands, (it is like pulling teeth to reel with the left hand for me though). All my spinning reel handles are on the right side.

    I always have to switch them over when I take somebody else fishing.

    DaveB
    Inver Grove Heights MN
    Posts: 4443
    #774112

    I hold my spinning rods with the reel on top and crank backwards? Does anyone else (outside of Iowans) do this?

    chris-tuckner
    Hastings/Isle MN
    Posts: 12318
    #774123

    Yes, Sauger and BurBob fish that way all the time.

    fishthumper
    Sartell, MN.
    Posts: 11521
    #774126

    When I worked for a sporting goods dealer ( Gander – Back when it was a good fishing store ) I use to have this discussion with customers all the time. I can not count how many people I got to switch to the correct way. Not one ever came back in and said they were not happy they made the switch. I once read that a person is more than 30% more sensitive in their dominate hand. For this reason alone I don’t know why a right handed person would want the rod in their left hand. I know people who said it would be impossible to change and once they tried it for a full day they never went back.

    life1978
    Eau Claire , WI
    Posts: 2790
    #774192

    Quote:


    i’m right handed, yet i crank with my left hand on all of my rods.



    Same here

    Randy Wieland
    Lebanon. WI
    Posts: 13303
    #774232

    I think the poll is missing “Use Both”

    I am right handed, I have no dominate eye, and I like to use both right and left handed reels. I found I have a faster hook set with my left arm compared to my right. However, when finess fishing, I like the sensitivity I feel with my right and over my left hand. I do have mostly left handed cranks on my spinning gear, and a 50/50 mix on my bait casters

    jd318
    NE Nebraska
    Posts: 757
    #774264

    Quote:


    I hold my spinning rods with the reel on top and crank backwards? Does anyone else (outside of Iowans) do this?


    My father-in-law does this too. First time I saw it, I wondered what the he11 he was doing.

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