Fishin Lefty

[Ezcue]

Hey Sdesign, I just noticed the pics that were attached to the links in your last post. So, I am not the only lefty fisherman out there. I was starting to wonder. Actually, I have picked up some great deals because I fish lefthanded ( kinda weird, I do everything else righty). The first baitcaster I ever bought, old Shimano Bantam mag, ( - - blocked - - ) from a TG&Y store when I was 14 and on a very tight budget. The left handed reel was on sale for $20.00 the right handed one was $30.00 and the rest as they say is history. Last weekend, I was browsing the reel counter at Academy sports while my wife cruised the shoe section ( she is a shoe fanatic). I noticed a Curado 101B and a Chronarch SF with an odd skew number on the tag; they both had "disc" as the final four digits. Me being a budding tackle fanatic, I asked the sales guy and sure enough they are ( - - blocked - - ) all of this years left handed retrieve baitcasters. You know how this deal turned out MUAHAHAHA!!!! I just coudn't pass up a CU101B and a couple of the Chronarch SFs ....$90.00 for the Curado and $170.00 for the SFs was to much for me to take....they have found a new home.

[TTCal]

Ezcue,

Oh yah... I'm right handed and prefer to cast and hold my rod in my right hand and retrieve with my left. It makes no sense to me whatsoever to switch hands. Afterall, my right hand is also quicker to react to a hit!

I "suffered" for years watching all these super nice, high end reels being released in right hand retrieve only while I bought these cheaper reels (I have a BMag 1001 too) because I refused to switch hands. Enter my 7 year hiatus from the sport and re-enter this year. And now, ALMOST all the nice reels are offered in both right and left.

I've gone crazy this year. To start out the year, I bought a Chronarch 101SF. Then another... soon I had 5. Then... I bought a Scorpion 1001 and was introduced to the Japanese market reels.. ooooohhhhhhhh boy.

I am now a certified and certifiable tackle junkie.

If the Chronarch SF had a click drag and click adjustment for the tension adjuster, I'd have been satisfied sticking with that reel. As it was, it does not and I have been on a mini rampage buying really nice stuff.

Sounds like you got some great deals though on those Curado and Chronarch reels. Wish I could find the reels I'm after on sale like that! The Chronarch SF did spoil me for one thing and that the ideal I won't buy another bass reel that doesn't have a superfree spool, and preferably, a whiffle or shallow spool to boot.

[chavez]

I too am a right handed caster that retrieves/reels with the left and am right-handed. I started with spinning gear that was this way when I lived on the Texas coast and switched to baitcasters a couple of years ago after reluctantly taking up bass fishing. IMHO anyone starting off with baitcasters for non-big-game fish should cast with their dominant hand (for control and accuracy and pumping the rod) and reel with their non-dominant hand.

For me, the only problem I have with the setup is with flipping. Sometime when I pull out line with my left and release it, it gets caught on the reel handle located on the left so flipping needs to be done the opposite of most casting for me. That's why I just pitch instead of flip.

I am on my way to being a mini-sdesign . I've bought four left-handed Shimano Metanium XT reels(silver reels that are Japanese versions of Chronarch SF but with tapped Ti spools) and probably get one more. You can get them on e-bay sometimes for $150 or less. I've upgraded the bearings with standard ABEC 7 (just because) and lubed them with Yellow Rocket Fuel and they are butter smooth.

Now, if I could just sell off a G.Loomis GLX rod to replace it with a He76HC, I could change my nick to mini-sdesign.

[TTCal]

Chavez,

Reluctantly took up bass fishing? LOL

When you flip, try to make it a habit to turn your wrist slightly so that the handle of the reel is pointing towards the water. If you can do it, this will eliminate the tangles... this will also help your casting distance when making regular casts. Not sure why that is, but it helps. It's just not a natural thing to do so it takes a little getting used to. I don't always do it, but when I'm flipping I do.

mini-sdesign... you kill me .. lol

[chavez]

[TTCal]

Chavez,

Ahhh... i get it now... yeah, fishin' the gulf sure looks like a lot of fun. I want to get to Florida one of these days and try for the salty hat trick - permit, redfish, snook & tarpon! then pack up and head over to Okeechobee for some home town florida bass!!!

SD

[Lightninrod]

This is one time it's lucky to be l/h'd in that I get to choose and use 'right-handed' reels .I too don't understand why anyone insists on changing hands after the cast, pitch, or flip . As has been said, it makes sense to cast and fight the fish with the dominant hand and reel with the other.

And sde is correct in that you should roll your wrist over so that the reel's handle faces the water when casting, pitching, or flipping.

Dan

[chavez]

[TTCal]

Chavez... well that's a unique solution!!! I might have to try that, thanks! Not sure my arms are long enough though...

SD