If you take enough kids fishing, there will come a time when you’ll run into one who struggles with reeling. This is usually a sign that the child isn’t comfortable using that hand to reel, and would prefer it if the reel handle was on the other side. If you’re using a spinning reel, it is easy enough to change. This article will walk you through how to change a fishing reel from right to left handed in a jiffy.
What Is Considered a Right Handed Reel?
A reel is right handed if the handle is on the right side of it. In other words, if you are using your right hand to turn a properly installed reel, it is right handed. In contrast, if the handle is on the left side and you use your left hand to turn it, it is left handed. Whichever hand is working the reel will tell you if it is a right or left handed model.
Changing a Spinning Reel From Right to Left Handed
One of the main advantages of spinning reels is that you can change them from right to left handed and vice versa. This makes them great reels for amateurs or for children as it is easy enough to swap them out if someone just doesn’t like the feel of the current retrieve.
Changing the Direction of a Fishing Reel
- Opposite the reel handle there is a small dial called a dust cap. This acts to prevent dust from getting in your reel. Unscrew this.
- Holding the reel for leverage, take the reel handle and loosen it by reeling “backwards” or towards yourself if you were holding it straight ahead.
- Once the handle is all the way unscrewed, place it in the hole on the opposite side where the dust cap used to be. Reel it tight by turning the handle the way you would if you were reeling in line until it is tight.
- Replace the dust cap on the opposite side from where it started.
That’s all there is to it. It’s as easy as can be! This is something that can be done quickly, in the boat, or on shore. While some models have slight variations (for example, some of the dust caps double as part of the screw for the reel), most spinning reels can be changed from right to left handed in this fashion.
Can You Break a Spinning Reel Trying to Change it From Right to Left Handed?
Don’t worry too much about messing this up. If everything isn’t connected properly, it will be obvious because your reel handle will be flopping around like a wet noodle.
Are All Spinning Reels Reversible?
There’s the phrase “never say never” but most spinning reels are reversible. There’s very little reason for a manufacturer to not allow a spinning reel to change from right to left handed and vice versa because of the way these reels are designed. It’s basically a standardized option for the type. All the same, if this is a concern for you, make sure you double check the reel before you leave the store so you don’t get stuck with the few models that won’t reverse. Most likely, you will find you have a fishing reel you can change from right to left handed as needed, but you never know.
Do You Reel With Your Dominant Hand?
A major reason you might want to change your fishing reel from right to left handed is if you preferred to reel with your dominant hand. Given that most people are right handed on this planet, and most baitcasters (or at least traditional ones) have a right hand retrieve, it stands to reason that most people are reeling in with their dominant hand. That doesn’t mean that you have to, however. I certainly don’t.
I prefer that my dominant hand be the one working the rod as I fish a lot of jerkbaits, worms, and other lures that require a lot of input. However, there is a good argument to be made that I’d be more effective fishing lures like crankbaits while reeling with my dominant hand. The rationale being that you can get the crankbait down deeper, faster, by reeling in more quickly with your dominant hand than you can with your other.
Can You Change the Handle Side on a Baitcaster?
No, you cannot change the handle side on a baitcaster from left to right or vice versa. You need to purchase a baitcaster reel with a dedicated left or right-handed retrieve. Baitcasters have complicated braking systems and are not symmetrical like spinning reels. Often, one side has a bulge to accommodate mechanicals that the other side completely lakes, and they can’t just be reversed. They are not designed to have their retrieve side changed. Do not purchase a baitcaster assuming you can change the handle side on it from left to right as you can’t.
Frankly, when researching this article I was appalled to find how many niche sites are out there telling you that you can. While I suppose there may be some odd baitcaster on the market that is designed for switching, I have never seen it, and the articles that claim this is possible aren’t citing specific examples either. Be careful about who you take advice from on the internet.
Check out the photo below. Do you see that giant chunk of metal between the reel handle and the reel? Yeah, that’s not reversible. Anyone who tells you it is needs to be vetted for whatever other advice they’re pitching. Since baitcasters can be quite expensive, make sure you get one with the handle on the side you prefer!
Can You Get Left Handed Fishing Reels?
Yes, left handed fishing reels are available for sale. They’ve become much more popular over the past decade or so, as more and more manufacturers have started offering them. For example, the Pro Qualifier from Bass Pro comes in left and right hand retrieves in most, but not all, of its gear rations. The 6.8:1 gear ration model is designated with the model number PQD10HLA as opposed to PQD10HA for the left hand version.
Just be aware that not every brand is going to offer every model baitcaster reel in a left handed version. If you’re looking for a particular gear ratio or retrieve, you might need to shop around to find one.
Why Are Most Baitcasters Right Handed?
While nowadays you can find more and more left handed baitcast reels, this wasn’t always the case. For the longest time, most of them were right handed. There are a few reasons for this. First, it’s simply the way they were designed way back when, and old habits are hard to kick. Further, because a baitcaster reel works like a winch, it was designed as such. Pretty much every winch out there for other applications (such as securing your boat to the trailer), you’re going to use your dominant hand. As most folks are right handed, when the first baitcast designers built the reel, they figured folks would want to winch it in with their dominant hand.
This does create an interesting situation where you’ll see most guys using baitcasters switch hands. What I mean by this is they’ll cast with their dominant right arm and then take the rod with their left hand once the lure hits the water. They then reel with their right hand. Given how many professional anglers do this, I guess it isn’t a problem. Still, I’ve had enough fish strike my lure the instant it hits water that I prefer to use a left hand reel. This way I don’t have to switch.
Conclusions
While you can easily switch a spinning reel and even a few spincast reels from right handed to left handed and vice versa, it is not usually possible to switch the handle side of a baitcaster. Therefore, if you truly have a preference, make sure you buy a proper left or right hand retrieve reel from the get go, so you aren’t disappointed.
Also, can we just agree that we need to be discerning on the internet? I tend to research these posts just to see what else is out there to try and provide more useful information for you, and this particular topic upset me. There are some folks out there who are giving very bad information that could cost people a lot of money! If you ever have ANY questions, or don’t quite understand what I’m saying, PLEASE send me an email and let’s talk it through. The main reason I started this site was to help folks who are new to this sport get the hang of things, and I would hate for you to misinterpret things and have a bad experience. I’m here, so write me!
Thanks all,
John Paxton
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