If you’ve ever asked yourself “why are spinning reels left handed”, or any of the following similar questions, you are not alone. We’re going to get to the bottom of it here!
- “why do right handed people turn a spinning reel with their left hand?”
- “why is a spinning reel handle on the left side?”
- “how come spinning reels are backwards?”
I hadn’t really thought much about this issue, until one day I saw some friends using their spinning reels the “wrong” way. They were right handed, and they were reeling with their right hand. I thought this was very strange, because every spinning reel I had ever used, had the handle affixed to the left side. So, I looked into it, and I believe I have come up with the answers.
Spinning Reels Are “Backwards”
Although the questions above are phrased differently, all of them are trying to get to the heart of the same concept. And that is, “why do manufacturers expect right handed fishermen to turn the handle of a spinning reel with their left hand“. It seems backwards, right?
Obviously, manufacturers are simply responding to marketplace preferences. So, why is it that most right handers prefer spinning reel handles on the left side?
Interestingly, this is the exact opposite to how most conventional baitcast reels ship from the factory. They almost always have the reel handle on the right side.
Advantages To Spinning Reels Having The Handle On The “Wrong” Side
There are some obvious advantages to having the spinning reel handle on the left side, if you are a right hander.
- The stronger (more dominant) hand holds the rod to fight big fish
- Your less coordinated (“dumber”) hand handles the simple task of turning a reel handle
- The quicker (more dominant) hand holds the rod, and provides faster hook sets
- It’s more efficient, since you don’t change hands during every cast
Fight the fish with your stronger, more dominant hand
Having the reel handle on the left side frees up your dominant, and thus, stronger, hand to hold the rod. This is particularly helpful when you hook into a large fish. Your stronger arm can be used to work the rod on a large fish, while your weaker hand simply turns the reel handle. This is easier to do for an extended period of time, if you find yourself in a serious big fish battle.
Let your “dumber” hand turn the reel handle
It’s just better to leave your “dumber” hand to perform the more mundane task of turning a reel handle. Why waste your more powerful hand on such a little lightweight task.
A spinning reel has a much larger turning radius of the handle than a baitcaster. This makes it much easier for a non-dominant hand to perform the operation of turning a reel handle. In contrast, it is much more difficult to QUICKLY reel a conventional reel handle with your non-dominant hand. The small turning radius of a conventional reel requires more dexterity, and thus is better suited to your dominant hand.
Get faster hooksets by using your dominant hand
Besides more power and endurance during a fight, holding the rod with your dominant hand provides for quicker hooksets as well. Most anyone will have a faster reaction time when using their dominant hand.
Quit swapping hands at the end of every cast
Finally, reeling a spinning reel with your non-dominant hand is also more efficient throughout the day. If you think about it, you won’t have to change hands during every cast like you do with a conventional reel.
For the reasons discussed above, I believe spinning reels are designed “correctly”. And, I believe these reasons are why right handers usually choose spinning reels with the handle attached to the left side.
Some right handers actually prefer left handed baitcasters
As a matter of fact, some right handers choose to use left handed baitcasters, for these very reasons. The challenge will be acquiring the dexterity needed in your non-dominant hand, to turn a smaller radius reel handle. If you can do that, you might find that you too would actually prefer a left handed baitcaster (the reel handle on the left side).
Why Are Baitcasters “Backwards”
Maybe, instead, we should ask, why is it that baitcasters have the handle on the “wrong side”.
Maybe These Are The Better Questions We Should Ask
- How come baitcasters are backwards?
- Why do baitcasters have the handle on the right side (the “wrong” side)
- Why do conventional reels have the handle on the right side
For Some Reason, Right-Handed Baitcasters Have The Handle On The Right Side (the “wrong” side)
- Basically, because of history
Probably the most likely reason baitcasters have their handles on the opposite side as spinning reels, is history. Conventional reels predate spinning reels. They originated from their level-wind predecessors.
Those old levelwinds placed great emphasis on the winding action. Since this cranking function was of the utmost importance, it’s clear why this task was assigned to the more dominant hand. Since the more dominant hand for most of us is the right hand, that is probably why the reel handle is on the right side, or shall I say “the wrong side”.
There is at least one advantage to casting a baitcaster with your dominant hand. You are able to better control the spool speed with the thumb of your dominant hand. Therefore, it’s easier to minimize backlashes.
Now, lets see why you might actually want a baitcast reel with the handle on your non-dominant side.
Advantages To Left Handed Baitcasters
A baitcast reel would likely be more efficiently operated with your non-dominant hand, for most of the same reasons a spinning reel is.
- Your stronger (more dominant) hand holds the rod and provides more power in fighting the fish
- The quicker (more dominant) hand holds the rod, and provides faster hooksets
- It’s more efficient, since you don’t change hands during every cast
The handle turning radius is smaller on a baitcaster, and thus more difficult to perform. However, most people can handle reeling with their non-dominant hand with some practice. In time, you can develop the agility and coordination needed to perform this operation with your off hand.
Since you hold the rod with your dominant hand while casting, it’s quite inefficient to have to swap the rod to the other hand at the end of every cast. Think about it. How many casts does a bass fisherman make in a day, especially when pitching and flipping. It just makes no sense to keep moving the rod back and forth all day.
Another reason, is that a large fish could hit your bait just as it touches the water. The loss of time before engaging the reel, as you needlessly swap hands, could occasionally cause you to miss a quick striking fish. Why waste time moving the rod to the opposite hand that you just made the cast from?
Spinning Reels Are Actually Designed Correctly
So, the truth of the matter is, in my opinion, spinning reels are designed “correctly”. Conventional, or baitcasters, are the ones that are “backwards”.
In the end, it doesn’t matter. Most reel manufacturers have wised up, and now offer most models in both configurations. That’s not to say that all stores will carry both models. But, thanks to the magic of the Internet, it’s very easy to purchase just the model and configuration you desire.
Why I Prefer Left Handed Spinning Reels
I didn’t have anyone to teach me when I first started fishing. Like most, I started out with a push button Zebco reel. Then, I graduated to a baitcaster, and worked my way through backlash school.
My first introduction to spinning reels was me venturing into a sporting goods section, and simply picking one up off the shelf. I knew nothing about them, other than, that I saw a friend using one, and that spinning reels won’t backlash! So, I figured I needed one.
I recall wondering why were there so many left handed models of spinning reels. I had no idea at the time that those were actually right handed models. That’s all they had, so I just bought one and figured I could adapt to it. And, I did.
So, I conformed long ago, to fishing a spinning reel as it normally ships out of the box. Like most anglers, I’m right handed and i turn the reel handle with my left hand. It’s just what I got used to at a young age. I’m comfortable with it now, and I think it really is the “correct way”, so I stick with it.
Conclusion
What I found fascinating while researching this, was the number of varying preferences, and why people had those preferences. It seems this is a question that all anglers have pondered at some point.
The truth of the matter is, that it comes down to personal preference. And, most spinning reels can be readily swapped back and forth by unscrewing the handle anyway.
I will say, if you commit to conforming to the out of the box configuration, I think you’ll be glad you did. I am a VERY dominant right hander, and I have no problem at all reeling a spinner with my left hand. With that said, I’m 100% unwilling to give up my baitcasters with the handle on the right side – that’s just crazy!
Augustus Clay
Now that you know how to choose a proper reel configuration, you might be interested in learning how to choose the best fishing rod. If so, check out this article! How To Choose A Surf Fishing Rod
If you would like further info on the history of fishing reels in the U.S., you might find this article interesting: A history of U.S. baitcasting reels
