What is a 'lefty' reel?

[nightfighter]

I am almost totally lefthanded. When I cast, the rod butt is in my right hand, my left is above the reel, guiding the rod cast. When I reel in, I use my left hand to turn the reel. This means the reel handle is on the left side. Yet I see some Penns, such as the 705Z, listed as lefthand reels, yet the handle is on the right side. Lefty conventional is total opposite of lefty spinner? Why isn't this standardized industry wide?

[Clogston29]

lefty conventional and lefty spinning are opposite

[davisd]

Because Lefty's are rare when it comes to fishing. Believe me I am one too. They are making more nowadays. It took me a while to find a freshwater baitcaster. Can't you switch the handles on the penn??

[Mike P]

The idea behind right side crank on a "left handed" spinning reel is, you don't have to switch hands to retrieve after the cast.

With conventionals, it's more a matter of tradition. Originally, they were direct drive (1:1 retrieve) reels. Even after they started using "multiplier" gearing, they were still pretty slow, so they were made for an angler to reel with his dominant hand, for a faster retrieve. Same reason that most fly reels come set-up for right hand cranking.

On a spinning reel, the handle moves in a much wider arc, so cranking is easier with your off hand. You use more wrist on a conventional, while with a spinner, you can use the muscles of your forearm more.

[beaver]

I use left handed crank baitcasters because it feels a lot more comfortable and I can cast and reel without switching hands. Helps a ton in freshwater with spinnerbaits and in certain cases in the salt. It was tough finding larger left handed cranks but I was able to find a lefty squidder about 8 years ago, and a 7001 abu a few years ago. Abu makes them in many sizes, but it is tough to find other brands.

[ivanputski]

I dont like using conventionals since you have to crank on the right... I looked so hard for a conventional that cranks on the left... its a 50$ penn... I love the fact that I can set the hook and crank as if I was pin fishing, only problem is the gear ratio SUCKS!!! 2.1:1

[nightfighter]

Ivan,
I got a couple lefty conventionals I like; Abu 6501C3, Abu Record RCN61HC, and an Abu 7001i. I know the 6501 and the Record are 5.3:1. The 7001i is 4.1:1

[Rocco34520]

Baitcasters and Spinning are just different for leftys a spinning handle is on the right for a left. And for baitcaster the handle is on the left. More and more leftys are showing up now though.