DonO I can reel with either hand, having thrown my share of lures, but when it comes to single-action fly reels, I'm more comfortable with my right. It's the way I was taught. Obviously one should reel with the most comfortable hand, hanging onto a rod hardly requires coordination. OTOH, as you say, when the fish get seriously large, and the battles concomitantly longer, being able to work smoothly from either side is a huge advantage.
If you really dig into fly-fishing history, you'll find reels that were around long before baitcasting and spinning reels existed. Those very old reels are all right-hand wind. I wasn't trying to change anyone, merely point out that there are two sides to this story. cheers Paul DonO wrote: > > Paul, > > I feel the same way, but come up with different conclusions. > > In defining the 'best hand', is it he right hand if you're right-handed, or > the hand you've used all your life for reeling, being either a spincaster or > baitcaster/lurechucker? > > Older flyfishing manuals were addressing people who were baitcasters and > lure-chuckers as the swap-overs. They did reel with their right hands, so > this made it their 'best' hand. > > So, obviously I am completely right, as always, Buggs and Dr. D agree, so > that MUST be the way it is. > > DonO > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Paul Marriner" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Thursday, March 08, 2007 8:16 AM > Subject: Re: [VFB] LHW & RHW > > > While I'm sure to get plenty of static, there are sound reasons for > > right-hand reeling when right-handed. Not for small fish, but for larger > > species. Spinning reels are anti-reverse, most fly reels aren't. If you > > palm the spool, or even have to frequently wind and release, your best > > hand is the most sensitive. If I have to tail a fish I'm more > > coordinated with my right hand. > > The rod changeover from right to left hand is virtually instantaneous > > and has never given me a single problem in more than 40 years of fly > > fishing. If you look in books for pictures of older salmon reels (single > > action) you'll see that virtually all of them are right-hand reel; there > > was a good reason and it wasn't to accommodate left-handers you can be > > sure. Of course YMMV. > > Cheers > > Paul > > www.galesendpress.com > > -- > > Paul Marriner > > Outdoor Writing & Photography. Owner: Gale's End Press. Member: OWAA & > > OWC. Author of: A Compendium of Canadian Fly Patterns (co-author), > > Stillwater Fly Fishing: Tools & Tactics, How to Choose & Use Fly-tying > > Thread, Modern Atlantic Salmon Flies, Miramichi River Journal, Ausable > > River Journal, and Atlantic Salmon. > > > > > > -- > > No virus found in this incoming message. > > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > > Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.7/713 - Release Date: 3/7/2007 > 9:24 AM > > > > -- Paul Marriner Outdoor Writing & Photography. Owner: Gale's End Press. Member: OWAA & OWC. Author of: A Compendium of Canadian Fly Patterns (co-author), Stillwater Fly Fishing: Tools & Tactics, How to Choose & Use Fly-tying Thread, Modern Atlantic Salmon Flies, Miramichi River Journal, Ausable River Journal, and Atlantic Salmon.
