[Strike1]

This may be really stupid, but I have searched high and low for an answer...

Which hand should I be using for a saltwater fly reel?

With conventional equiptment, I prefer to hold the rod with my right hand (dominant hand), and crank with my left.

 

[hauler]

This is not an odd question, and is a bit of a preference choice in my opinion. Like you, my dominant hand is my right, and prior to fly fishing, I use to reel a spinning reel with my left hand, and conventional tackle with my right. In fly fishing, I feel your dominant hand should be your casting arm, therefore I reel with my left. Oddly enough, I'v seen many fly fisherman both cast and reel with the same hand. This constant "switching" to me looked like a headache. Still say cast with your dominant hand and reel with the other. Fighting the fish with the rod with the stronger arm. Good Luck. Welcome to a great addiction.

 

[Strike1]

Thanks. It always seemed odd to me as well.

I am addicted already and I haven't even wet a fly!

 

[614078]

I cast with the right and reel with the right hand. Thats the way I feel most comfortable with. But if you feel better reeling in with the left hand it doesn't make a difference.

 

[jklett]

I grew up on spinning reels, so I was used to casting with my right and reeling with my left. When I started fly fishing, I started off the same way, then I heard that you could reel faster with your dominant hand(something to do with smaller circles than spinning reels), so I switched to reeling with my right, and I feel like I am reeling faster. The other thing I heard was that by switching rod hands between casting and fighting, you tire less quickly. Don't know if I buy that one, but just trying to help. Oh, and by the way, those trout "purists" all use their right hand to reel with, not that this should have any bearing to us, since we're all doing everything wrong by them anyway! Heck, I just wasted all this time typing to say the same thing as flyrodder, that is just do what is most comfortable to you!

 

[615965]

some reel with the left some witht the right i personally reel with my left cast with the right but i have heard the argument that if you are on a boat and u are consistently casting and fighting with the same arm battling heavier fish it's possible for you to get a cramp and loose your grip while casting resulting in your flyrod goin to the bottom theory being cast with one arm and fight with the fresh arm..... just what i've heard

 

[Jaiem]

I cast with my right hand but reel with my left hand. It does require a switch but I feel more comfortable that way.

To each his own.

Jaiem
ArtsNFlies.com

 

[Strike1]

Thanks for all opinions. I decided to switch my brand new reel to use it with my left and couldn't get the darn thing to snap back in place properly! Apparently I am missing the 'black O-Ring'

Hopefully this insn't a sign that I shouldn't be taking up another hobby!

 

[Prospector]

Some guys can twist a spinner with their left but are all fingers with a fly or conv with the left. I prefer left with both and I'm right handed. You don't have to change the rod hand every cast and your domiate hand still holds the rod. I always conceived this practice a no brainer and more effecient, but what do I know. Prospector

 

[615981]

What ever is comfortable

Go with what you are comfortable with.

 

[strip]

I cast with my right(dominant) and reel with my left because i find that most comfortable.
The one disadvantage of doing it this way is I have noticed that sometimes the line will catch on the reel handle.

 

[Striper77]

anthonyale,

I had the same problem, thought I would like it on the left because I do a lot of spin fishing, but then discovered I hung up the line on the handle a lot so moved in back.