Right Hand or Left Hand Wind Fly Reels?

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kam4	Right Hand or Left Hand Wind Fly Reels?		Lead	[-]
Posts: 78 08/14/2008 01:32	Tags : None Greetings, I am a 61 year old right casting Fisherman that has fly fished since the late 50's. It was never awkward for me to begin using my Grandfathers old Heddon Gem right handed reel and to this day, all my fly reels are right handed and perfectly co-ordinated to my needs. When I see another right hand casting angler with a left hand wind reel, it always appears oddly arranged to me. I believe the rarity of old Hardy Perfects and other vintage fly reels that were manufactured left hand wind were for left handed casting fly anglers. What happened that changed this traditional method of fly angling? I also grew up using traditional right handed bait casting reels, and the early right hand wind Zebco spinning reels. I can't help but wonder if the bulk of the left hand wind fly anglers are from the left hand wind spinning reel generation. I clearly understand the practical value of not having to change hands when the need arises to reel line in. However, there were countless flyfishers of the past who had inherent practical attributes but this left had wind change fell short of usefulness for hundreds and hundreds of years. Appreciate any other ideas on what has caused change to the traditional way of mounting the fly reel on the fly rod. Kenny Last Edited By: kam4 08/14/2008 01:53. Edited 1 time.
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JR SPEY		#1	[url]	[-]
Posts: 190 08/14/2008 08:49	I think you nailed the primary reason. Also, Lee Wulff, who had an enormous influence on fly fishers when he was alive, also began writing about the reasons he felt that RH fishers should have reels set up for left hand retrieve in the 1950s. As has been noted numerous times, this preference for LH retrieve reels is mostly a freshwater thing. Most guys who fish a lot in saltwater prefer to reel with the dominant hand and this percentage increases when you start talking about reels for large, strong, fish like tarpon, billfish, tuna, and the like. My sales swing from a 1:7 preference RH:LH in small trout reels, to better than a 1:2 preference LH:RH in large saltwater-type reels. For most, it is a comfort thing in freshwater fishing. If there's no real need to switch hands with the rod, why do it?
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SBoat	LH or RH ???	#2	[url]	[-]
Posts: 44 08/14/2008 09:59	Hello Kenny, I think that JR SPEY has it figured out, it seems to be a freshwater thing, ease of retrieve for the right handed guy (or gal) using a LH reel. I use all LH wind reels for my freshwater trout fishing, also when I go out on occasion looking for bass and blues on Narragansett bay. When I'm out fishing on the stream I cast and hold the rod with my right and strip with my left, when I get a fish on I strip it in to net the fish unless there is lots of line out, then I will reel it in after cleaning up the slack, or if not much slack left in the line, I'll hold the line down against the cork with my right hand index finger while I reel in with my left, this is what I learned when I started fishing. I guess if a nice Bogdan or Saracione salmon reel came my way in a RH wind, I think I could adapt quite nicely....... I think it all comes down to what is easiest and comfortable for you, I just fish the way I always have fished, LH wind, and almost always get a comment when the RH wind guys see me using LH reels. Some of the old timers at the clubs I belong too always give me a hard time (just kidding around) about using the wrong reel on my rods, it's just a preference thing. I'm no expert, and I won't try to be one, but I just don't like having to switch hands, casting with the right and winding with my left just seems natural to me, just don't like switching hands after a fish is on. I bet that the guys that cast right and wind right can do the switch in there sleep with there eyes closed. In the past, I've been told that the handle is on the right when you use a RH reel, and that the line will not get tangled in the handle when casting, so that's one reason that was told to me over the years, I'm sure there are more reasons for using RH vs LH if you're a righty, maybe if anyone else has a reason that they might be able to enlighten us all. In the UK they drive on the wrong side of the road, and I'm sure they say the same about us Yanks..... Bill B. Last Edited By: SBoat 08/14/2008 11:06. Edited 1 time.
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quashnet		#3	[url]	[-]
Posts: 2117 08/14/2008 11:09 Moderatus Muscae	My father owned and operated a saltwater charter fishing boat when I was growing up. We also fished freshwater, so this meant that I as a right-hander used Penn reels for jigging bluefish (RH), surfcasting reels for striped bass (LH), baitcasting reels for black bass (RH), spinning reels for bass and sunnies (LH), and fly reels for trout (RH). Each of these fishing methods had its own rituals, tricks, and secrets for success. So although it sounds like I ought to be ambidextrous with any gear, in reality I'm sure I'd be stymied by a RW-wind spinning reel, and I certainly am no good at all with a LH-wind fly reel. One thing I am confident about is that concern about switching hands is a non-issue. If the fish is small, it doesn't matter. If the fish is big, he's going to jump twice and take off on a long run against the drag, which means that you're not going to need to be thinking about switching hands and reeling for a while anyway. Quashnet's Paul H. Young Rod Database has photos and descriptions of over 320 PHY Co. rods, plus catalogs, accessories, etc. Thank you to all who continue to send me PHY rod photos and info.
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Rockthief		#4	[url]	[-]
Posts: 208 08/14/2008 12:14	drives me nutty as a rh person to cast r and reel r as well. That means I have cast then switch the rod to my left hand. That is too awkward. I like to cast and control the rod with my dominant arm and hand.
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JR SPEY		#5	[url]	[-]
Posts: 191 08/14/2008 14:15	SBoat wrote: Hello Kenny, I'm sure there are more reasons for using RH vs LH if you're a righty, maybe if anyone else has a reason that they might be able to enlighten us all. The advantage in saltwater fishing is very apparent. Cranking with your dominant hand allows you to crank considerably faster and for a much longer time. As pointed out, the rod switch becomes very natural in no time (although admittedly probably a little awkward the first few times). I've fished with a lot of guys who cast right and reel left in saltwater and it's easy to tell how quickly that hand (actually the wrist and forearm) becomes tired. They then often resort to "fanning" the reel or just stripping line back in because they feel that they can strip faster than they can crank. This breaks a cardinal rule in fishing: Once the fish is on the reel it needs to stay on the reel. I've read dozens of authors on saltwater fishing, and with only two exceptions that I can think of do they recommend using the non-dominant hand for use on the reel. Far too many guys delude themselves into thinking they're fairly ambidextrous when anyone watching can clearly tell that's not the case. However, I'm aware of the fear that comes with switching methods and then going out to fight serious fish not really feeling comfortable with what you're doing the first time or two.
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oldfishbrain		#6	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1159 08/15/2008 11:58	When I first started fly fishing (late in life) the store that I bought my first rod and reel at asked me if I am right handed and set up the reel as a left hand wind. Then I reasoned that the only situation where winding speed is important is when you have a big strong fish that turns around and starts swimming toward you. I could wind faster and with a smoother action with my right hand so I changed everything around and all my reels are RHW. There is no problem changing hands and (alas!!) it doesn't happen often enough. When a fish is big enough to be put on the reel the change is second nature to me and I don't think about it, I just do it. Then if I have to take up line in a hurry I am ready for it. I do have a couple of special reels that are non convertible LHW and I can use them without difficulty, providing I don't have to take up slack in a great hurry. It just feels awkward when I do that with my left hand. Maker of light line nodeless bamboo fly rods avardanis@sympatico.ca
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TomTrout		#7	[url]	[-]
Posts: 110 08/15/2008 15:23	Ken, I am a right handed caster who also retrieves with my right hand. The main reason I crank with my right is comfort. I get cramps in my left hand when trying to crank a flyreel with my left. For those of you who also spin fish the spinning reel has a much wide turning radius and easier to hold handle plus gearing. Already mentioned is with the reel handle on the right side I get less of a chance of the line tangling around the handle. That's also why most reel handles are shaped like an upsidedown cone. Third and very important to me. If you are using a left hand wind reel for a right handed caster or the opposite for a left handed caster, and you use exposed rim reels. Unless you pull perfectly straight down while stripping line off your reel. I bet very few of us can I know I can't. You will be pulling your $65.00 to $100.00 or more flyline across a spinning spool edge. I bet this wears out more line surfaces than anything. Tom
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catskilljohn		#8	[url]	[-]
Posts: 118 08/15/2008 20:41	This is a great topic...one I have always wondered/argued about. I too reel with my right hand. When I bought my first reel, a Pflueger Medalist, it was the natural thing to do. Having not spin fished before, I had no ingrained desire to reel left handed. Now everywhere I go guys are cranking with there left hands! I cant understand it, some of these guys are 20 years older than me, and they are comfortable reeling lefty! I certainly agree with the spin fishing converts being more at ease reeling lefty, I just dont know why they are always telling me my reel is on backwards CJ
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reelmaker		#9	[url]	[-]
Posts: 58 08/15/2008 21:42	Jr Spey hit the nail on the head...a lot of us read Lee W many moons ago......In my own salmon reel work...many more than half opt for LHW...play the fish with the stronger R arm and reel with the left...trout,,salt or salmon...after 30 years it still works for me....if anybody wants to have a little nit picking talk....we can talk about what is really different and important to a LHW winder in terms of reelmaking.......any of you LHW guys ever notice how line gets caught under a serpentine handle when you cast RH if the reel isn't designed properly? One of the reasons (among others) a die hard salmon guy like me started making my own reels...
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kam4		#10	[url]	[-]
Posts: 81 08/16/2008 01:04	Hi Gang, Sure have heard alot of philosophical and physical and even psychological opinions so far on the rationale behind how one parks his reel on the old fly rod. As I originally mentioned when I prompted this subject, it always seemed far too practical for me to cast my rod right handed and reel right handed. I flyfish the spring creeks and mountain streams, but also haunt the coastal streams after steelhead and salmon and dolly varden. During any typical days outing, with much casting and working the runs or when I am dry fly or nymph fishing and working selective feeders, the greatest majority of the activity deals with casting. On the trout streams, the majority of the fish are worked with the line in hand, and only will I resort to reeling merely to gather up a bit of line to prevent tangle of the fish. I primarily fight the trout stream fish holding the rod in right hand and manipulating the line with my left. When I fight a bigger fish, it is far more practical for me to reel or feather drag the line righthanded cause I have better strength, coordination and finesse working the reel with my right hand. But again, only a small or should I say, insignificant, part of the day is spent reeling in line. The bulk of the fishing is casting, with rod in right hand and reel sitting there doing nothing at all. Interestingly, when I double haul on the Big Rivers, or when I am Spey Casting, I do use my left hand considerably for rather critical timing issues. However, the idea of converting my reel retrieve to left hand has never entered my fishing mind. So the modern change we see astream may well be a combination of Lee Wulff influence, Spinning Reel childhood, or WHAT ELSE??? Kenny
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cross creek one		#11	[url]	[-]
Posts: 323 08/16/2008 18:50	I will start by admitting that I am ambidextrous. However, I was trained to write right-handed in school, so I've got some preference for that hand. I've just never seen what the big deal is about which way a person reels. Is it really that hard to use the non-dominant hand to do something requiring so little fine motor skills as cranking a reel handle around in a circle? Seems like it should be personal preference when there is a choice, and live with the reel you've got when there isn't. I do think, though, that if you use your fingers to apply drag to either the rim or the inside of the spool for big fish, you probably should do that with the hand that you have the best control of (which ought to be the non-cranking hand, to avoid the spinning handle). On a long-running fish, it would be nice to be able to switch the cranking work back and forth during the fight, but I'm not the engineer to design such a device. -CC
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Hardy Guy		#12	[url]	[-]
Posts: 726 08/17/2008 06:35	i eat chips, dry the dishes, clip my nails,, throw a frisbee and among other things reel flyreels with my left hand. I throw a punch, hold my beer, throw a ball, tie flies,, and among other things cast fly rods with my right hand. My right hand is by far my dominant hand. When i came to the world of Bluefin Tuna fishing i was a little dismayed to see the big Penn 130's were right hand wind. It only took me one fish to be glad i had my dominant hand on the reel. That is the only type of fishing i do that i use my right hand to reel,, all other fish are targeted with my LHW reels. As a left hand winder and a right hand caster,, i see this as the "path of least resistance", or the straightest line between two points and therefore the (seemingly) smartest choice for a flyfisher. The opposite also holds true in that of a left hand caster and a right hand reeler. I have fished with a few lads over the years that cast right and reel right and honestly it looks foolish,, but if it works then cool No problem on small trout and stuff but that little switch of hands could bite you in the ass someday on a big salmon or a fast running steelhead. I think all the above only applies for a newbie or relatively new fisher. Anyone with any time on the water should develop the ability to fish and reel with whatever combination of hands they want,, regardless of how silly it looks to the rest of us. And in closing,, perhaps this is just another shot at us LHW perfect(or similar) owners Hardy Guy Obsessed Salmon Chaser since 1988!! www.flyfishtheisland.com Last Edited By: Hardy Guy 08/17/2008 06:39. Edited 1 time.
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eric baylis	rh winding or lh winding fly reels	#13	[url]	[-]
Posts: 25 08/17/2008 19:08	thought you folks may like to know, this hardy guy fella, just landed a 925 lb blue fin tuna this week off nova scotia. well done hardy guy, big congrat's. eric
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Hardy Guy		#14	[url]	[-]
Posts: 730 08/20/2008 20:43	Hey eric. I could have used this little treasure in my bag of tricks eh? Hardy Guy Obsessed Salmon Chaser since 1988!! www.flyfishtheisland.com Last Edited By: Hardy Guy 08/20/2008 20:47. Edited 2 times.
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Right Hand or Left Hand Wind Fly Reels?

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