Sunijo Loc: Wasilla, Alaska

Hello everyone! I feel pretty ignorant asking this, but I’m a newbie to fly fishing, like wet behind the ears newbie. My question is this; is there a different method/ system/ cast, etc. for left handed fly fishing vs. right handed? Im very left hand dominant. Any help here would be appreciated please!

D Tong Loc: San Francisco,Ca

Welcome to the stage Sun I’m a left hand 🤚 person also I don’t know about fly 🪰 fishing 🎣 but I do know they make reels in both features for spinning and bait casting so I would think they are available for 🪰 fly fishing too as far as the technique I would imagine casting left is no different than casting right just the opposite good luck 🍀👍

Captain Lahti Loc: Kennewick, WA

It’s like brushing your teeth. I use my right hand and a certain pattern to brush my teeth because I’m right handed. When I fish whether it’s fly, spinning, etc. I do it right handed, hold the rod in my right hand and reel with my left. . Were I left handed I would do it left handed and that would call for me to retrieve line with a handle or crank on the right side. I have fly and spinning reels that can be switched. My level winds are not reversible and I bought them specifically to reel with my left hand. My personal philosophy on this is simple. I control the rod, cast and fight a fish with my strong hand, my right hand and arm. I retrieve with my left hand and control the fly line with my left hand. And I don’t have to switch the rod from one hand to the other just to retrieve. And yes, doing that calls for training my left hand to do that job just as it calls for me to train my right hand and arm to do it’s assigned and assumed job. There are others who do it different than me and that’s their choice.

And finally, the casting in any case is just a mirror image of either side. Like casting motions in front of a big mirror. Just the same only opposite.

Mark V Loc: Colorado,now RV full time we winter in MesaAZ

No difference with fly fishing. For the most part fly reels are able to be set up for left handed use. You indicated that you are very dominant lefthanded. If you are casting and reeling with your left hand then you want the reel set up for a righty. Most reels come set for right handed people.

Crunchy Loc: Clark Fork, North Idaho

Welcome Soni . There are no ignorant questions here. Most everyone learns a little from items others are asking.
I am a righty and I have taught myself to cast left handed. Not that great but, I can get the line out where it needs to meet the fish. You, being a lefty should practice to cast right handed, just as so many righties have learned to cast with their left hand. The opposite hand comes in very handy when fishing around obstacles that are always in the way of a good cast. By all means do learn to cast with your off hand. When you will learn to control and manage your line and haul with your right hand and you will be way ahead of the game. And, you will enjoy the sport of fly fishing to it's fullest. Best of luck and enjoy the sport. Crunchy

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

Well, all you have to do is to turn the reel around. A good fly fisherperson will be able to cast a fly with either hand. This is true if you are a stream fisher. They will be times when you have to cast the fly with the left hand in order to put it in the correct place for the correct drift. Being able to do it on a lake or in saltwater is not as important.

Mark V Loc: Colorado,now RV full time we winter in MesaAZ

Turning the reel around is only half of the procedure. At this point the drag will not function properly. You will need to unscrew the knob holding the spool to the reel body . On the inside face of the spool you will need to remove the cam in the center , flip it over and reinsert it. Replace the spool into the reel body. If the reel was loaded with line, you will need to strip off the line and rewind it onto the spool for left hand retrieval. I know this because I have had to do this procedure twice in the last month on two of my reels.

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

So True!

FixorFish Loc: SW Oregon

👍👍

marshatasa

Suni: Welcome. I am extremely left handed. Have been fly fishing for many, many, years. First, you need to be comfortable with your gear. Second, there is no difference in technique. (Practice casting nice tight, even, loops.)
Third, and most important, enjoy being out there. You don't need any fancy gear, rods, reels, techniques or anything else.
Lastly, practice, practice practice. It is a very personal endeavor.
Enjoy,
Marsh

FinFisherman Loc: Born in Ohio - 40 yrs Florida- Clearwater,Fl

I also am very left handed. No difference but it's a good idea to teach that off hand to work too. Being left handed my biggest problem was teaching my right handed grand daughter to cast.

craig42 Loc: Petaluma, ca

Sunijo,

I've been fly fishing for 50 years as a dominant lefty. So I cast with my left and reel with my right. I can set up all my reels for this without any Lefty special. Just remember the drag on a reel will only work in one direction. Technique is the same as I have introduced many to fly casting and none have been left handed. Casting with my opposite hand is very limited and few can do that. Think about playing Baseball, golf, tennis etc with your opposite hand.

edm Loc: Englewood, Fl

I'm left handed. Fly-fishing doesn't make any difference. Makes it easy to reel with right hand with any reel.

bobber22 Loc: Ocala, Florida

If they do the opposite they will let the backcast lie down no ? LOL

Mumblethumbs Loc: Rhinelander, WI

I’m a leftie, too. Just make sure you’re standing to the left of whomever you’re fishing with, so you don’t hook ‘em in the nose with your cast.