JD, I am new to bass fishing and and ready to purchase my first baitcaster reel (I know I’ve got some tangles in my future!). My question is, should I go with a left-handed reel or a right-handed? Great site, by the way!

–Alex S.

Hey Alex, you didn’t say if you’re a righty or a southpaw, but since the vast majority of the word is made up of righthanders, we’ll assume you are too.

I’m a righty and prefer all my baitcasters to have a left-hand retrieve. My dominant hand (right) does the casting and my left cranks the reel…all without me having to switch hands.

For reasons that escape me, most righties like right-hand cranks, but it seems silly to me to cast with the right hand and then have to move the rod to the left hand so you can crank with your right. I’m especially mystified by pro bassers who do it that way…when time is money, you’d think those guys wouldn’t want to waste the time it takes to switch hands after each cast.

Over the course of a day during a tournament, that probably translates into a few extra casts if they did the other way. And when ounces separate guys from tens of thousands of dollars, you’d think…