Pole: Left or right how do you reel?

[PAM3417]

Took a guy from work crappie fishing Thursday. He has never been crappie fishing so I set him up to troll (long line) out of the back of the boat and I was in the front. It was an hour before I put my rods in the water because I was having so much fun watching him. He lost what looked like a big one because he was not use to the handle being on the right hand side of the reel. We switched them to the left and he was good after that. WT 77 holding at 10-15 feet in 20-30 feet of water. They were in tight schools so when we went through them it was a blast to watch the new guy. Pole: Left or right how do you reel?

[BuckeyeKdog]

Pole in right, reel with left. I can switch hit, but even my baitcasters reel left handed.

[Slabyanker]

Spinning reels I hold in right and reel with the left. All others I hold in the left and reel with the right. I cast everything right handed.

[SEA DANCER]

I reel left handed. I am right handed so I hold the rod with my right hand. You don't need power to turn the crank but you might to hold the rod.

[spotrunnin]

I have learned over the years to crank with either hand, but prefer to crank with the left and pole in the right.

[SeaRay]

Spinning reels I reel with my left and cast with my right. Baitcasting I cast with my right, change hands and reel with my right hand. Never thought much about how I did opposites like that until I started Salmon fishing in Oregon with my friend. His BC reels were all left hand retrieve and my first big salmon using his rig, I had cramps like crazy in my right arm from holding the rod even though I am right handed.
Just came back from there and we caught a bunch of tuna and salmon and all the reels were right hand retrieve and I had no problems. Sounds weird but it depends on the type rod as to which hand I use to turn the handle.

[kyjohn]

Spinning I hold with my right hand and turn the crank with my left. Bait caster I cast right, switch hands to my left and turn the crank with my right. I've read, and a lot of people have told me I should use a left handed bait caster to keep from having to change hands, but the ones I've tried just don't feel right. I end up holding the handle still and rotating the rod and reel. The simple truth is that I can't walk and chew gum!

[Mrs. Crappie Stalker]

I reel right handed and cast left handed. I'm a lefty and I'd rather control the pole with my dominant hand. Works out perfect for us cause Paul's reels are just the opposite so we don't get them mixed up.

[fish4brains]

i am right handed but i prefer to reel with my right hand. i still remember the first spin cast reel that allowed me to move it over instead of holding it upside down. it was a ryobi, back in the late 70's. i never caught a fish on it in the five years i owned it. while cat fishing, i took the daughter to the restroom and the wife was "watching" the pole. when i got back she said that a fish pulled it in the water and there was nothing she could do about it. i don't let her watch the poles anymore.

all thumbs

[brucec]

Like several above. Spinning cast and hold in right, crank with left. Baitcasters, cast with right and switch rod to left hand and reel with right