Question about RHW and when to change grips (newbie)

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KevinP	Question about RHW and when to change grips (newbie)		Lead	[-]
Posts: 7 07/01/2009 19:17	Tags : None I recently bought a 1495 1/2 RHW reel for my DeBell/Phillipson rod, and am going to try to give it a shot (my other reels are LHW, but I do use a RHW baitcaster from time to time...). For a non-ambidextrous rightie, is the typical way to cast with the right hand and switch to the left hand holding the rod when the fly's on the water? Or do some of you keep the rod in the right hand, and only switch over in situations where you need to play the fish off the reel. For my purposes though, I'm talking small bass, panfish, and trout--nothing that will need much reel! And, so everyone is clear, I am not asking whether LHW or RHW is better or any of that....
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Slate Drake 9		#1	[url]	[-]
Posts: 100 07/01/2009 19:26	When using a right hand wind reel, I do everything as I normally would do with a left hand wind, but just switch to left hand to hold the rod if I need to play the fish on the reel. It sounds like most times the fish you are dealing with will probably be able to be landed by pulling the line in by hand. Also, if your new reel doesn't have a round line guard and sculpted pillars, it can be reversed to left hand wind pretty easily. Fishing with bait is like swearing in church.
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hdrmd		#2	[url]	[-]
Posts: 23 07/01/2009 19:41	I like the RHW for no better reason than I am used to it. I switch the rod to my left hand to play a fish on the reel (rare), or retrieve the line. DR
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GrsdLnr		#3	[url]	[-]
Posts: 191 07/01/2009 20:55	The rod stays in my right hand unless an unusually large fish is hooked, one big enough to do some running. Just let the loose line slip through the fingers of my left hand until it's tight to the reel, then switch hands. Smaller fish can be handled easily enough by stripping line.
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Battenkiller		#4	[url]	[-]
Posts: 42 07/01/2009 21:12	My very first fly reel was a Medalist, I believe a 1494 1/2 RHW. I learned that way, and never changed even after I knew better. I switch hands the minute a good fish takes off on his first run. That's the moment I realize I'll be playing the fish on the reel. The switch is seamless since the fish is running while I do it. All the rest of the time I just strip the fish in with my left hand.
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Marty		#5	[url]	[-]
Posts: 201 07/01/2009 21:24	I have to concur with everybody else. Only on a fish I am going to play off the reel. I usually let the fish run controlling the line flow with index finger then switch as soon as he's on the reel. Every once in a while if I have lots of line out and fish moving more slowly I will switch and wind line up till it is close to reel but 99% of time I let fish run slack out then switch. I have to confess I am guilty of getting some smaller fish on the reel just to let them put 2 or three feet of a few times to hear the reel sing a little. My first reel was a medalist too. Pretty much bombproof. Life is too short for cheap scotch and plastic rods. Tight Lines!!! -M
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kpp80202		#6	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1 07/01/2009 23:35	Ok, this sounds like something I can handle. I would change it over to LHW, but it seems cool to have it the original way. Plus, I would need to buy a new part, because this one is old enough to have the single sided ratchet. Plus, I only paid $11 for it, and I'd hate to blow my good deal with more expensive parts. (I'm cheap that way; it's a curse.)
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Cane Head		#7	[url]	[-]
Posts: 2241 07/02/2009 03:07	I'm a rightie with RHW reels. A some point in time when a fish is on, the rod winds up in my left hand and when need be - I reel with my right. Could never pinpoint when the switch happens - it just happens and feels natural. It's like shooting a real SxS, the ones with a front and rear trigger - the mind knows which trigger of the appropriately choked barrel to pull. If you gotta think about it - your gonna fornicate the pooch doing it. Cane
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flyh20		#8	[url]	[-]
Posts: 68 07/02/2009 08:27	I cast right, mend right. As soon as fish is on, hold the line between the grip, transfer hands still holding the line between the grip, then reel in the slack. I usually put fish on reel.
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KevinP		#9	[url]	[-]
Posts: 8 07/02/2009 11:07	That makes total sense. If I can ever get the hang of casting bamboo, we'll see how it works with actual fish. My stroke is screwed up because of playing with plastic. Every now and then, my line hits the rod tip on the forward cast. I think I need to use more wrist on the forward "snap" or more arc of my forearm (or both) to get the tip lower than the line. I also need to add some lead core trolling line to the reel to get the balance a bit better. Right now, the rod balances about an inch and a half in front of the cork, which is about 2.5" in front of my index finger. I prefer the balance point to be under my index finger. It sure would be nice if there was a FAQ of common problems that recovering plastophiles have when switching to the one true rod material. OR maybe it's just me!
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teter		#10	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1363 07/17/2009 00:01	I'm another righty caster who also reels righty. As for when to switch hands, as Cane Head said, it just happens, when it feels right -- if I stopped to think about it I would screw it up (can't put it as colorfully as he did). I would just add, don't be embarrassed to put a fish on the reel, especially a big one. Almost every reel has some kind of drag function, and it's there for a reason.
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oldfishbrain		#11	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1354 07/17/2009 10:59	The switch of the rod from right to left hand has been covered well in previous posts. I think the important aspect of winding with the right hand, if you are a right handed individual, is that you can take up the line quickly when a big fish that you are playing on the reel turns and starts swimming toward you. This does happen, and if you are fishing with barbless hooks you have to keep a tight line. I cannot wind as fast with my left hand, so the right hand winding after the switch of the rod to the left hand, which by the way happens automatically, works for me. Maker of light line nodeless bamboo fly rods avardanis@sympatico.ca
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davisdepot	Righties & Lefties	#12	[url]	[-]
Posts: 87 07/27/2009 18:46	Hello. Been doing this fly rod thing for some time. I am right handed. Soon after I started , at the tender age of 7 yrs, I tried LHW. To me it made sense to use both hands without switching. I can not imagine shifting to the left hand for the rod just to run the reel. I have 'preached" my tenants on the matter to a lot of people and converted some to LHW. They, the converts, praised the change. Saves a lot of time too. To me RHW feels awkward, I guess maybe due to my habits. So handy for picking up excess line while casting or playing a fish.. Well everbody to his own, thats why they make vanilla, straberry, and choclate. But you might try it and be well satisfied. Regards. N N
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Spey Salar		#13	[url]	[-]
Posts: 29 07/27/2009 20:29	Concur with the above. Cast and fish right handed (although blessed somewhat in that I can also cast left-handed fairly decently), then switch the rod to the left-hand only when the fish is on the reel (if it ever is). I was always a LHW person until I began falling in love with vintage English reels. I decided it was easier to switch to all RHW, rather than fish both ways. So I converted the reels I could (even the Bogdans) and sold off the rest of my LHW only reels. Kind of radical, but that's what I did. Good luck.
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Question about RHW and when to change grips (newbie)

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