Left Handed Reels - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

FISHIONADO · 02-20-2007, 10:43 AM

My brother will be going on an SCI-Islander trip with me and I wanted to set him up with a left handed reel. Does anyone know if they have left handed rentals at Fishermans Landing or should I just buy one on e-bay or something? Are there any Lefty's out there that can advise? Thanks, Dave

lamb · 02-20-2007, 11:12 AM

Dave,

you won't found lefty reels for rent in landing's tackle shops.

I'm lefty.. I sure have an extra lefty Avet or two I'll be glad to let your bro use on that trip. I may even be on that trip – what date did you guys book?

FISHIONADO · 02-20-2007, 01:26 PM

Thanks Adi, we're going Apr-27th. What's a good reel I can get him for 3-4 trips per year, he lives in Albuquerque. I've taken him out a couple times and he took to it quick, hoping to get him hooked into a yellowtail and experience the LJ Slay Ride some day. Do they make leftys out of most reels or is it limited?

nmbrinkman · 02-20-2007, 01:32 PM

I'm not sure about the Large Avet Models (EXW and TRX and such) But I know they make the leftys in the SX, MX, SX and LX models (Smaller Bass and YT to 60 lb line class reel...

lamb · 02-20-2007, 01:53 PM

Conventional salt water reel choices for lefties are very, very limited.

Ditto what Nate says - smaller Avet is your best bet, the best selection. I think Avet makes all of their reels for lefties - one of the owners is a lefty (thank god)...

On a high end:

You can special order Accurates for lefties, but they are big $$$....

Daiwa makes Saltiga 30 for lefties… No clicker for some bizarre reason… Also big $$$...

Shimano doesn’t seem to care for lefties…

On a cheap end:

…good old Jigmaster Penn 500L. They make 'em for lefties. There’s also few other conventional Penn reels available in lefty models…

That’s pretty much it, from what I’ve been able to research.

Please let me know if there’s something else out there for us lefties…

Ed · 02-20-2007, 02:40 PM

You can get a Left Handed Shimano Cardiff 400 for under $90. You can also get a Calcutta up to a 400 in lefty.

lamb · 02-20-2007, 02:43 PM

sorry, I should have clarified - I'm not a big fan of level wind. I consider only reels without it.

steamroll · 02-21-2007, 07:23 AM

Hi, I'm Steamroll and I'm a lefty.

Shimano hates us. A lefty Daiwa Sealine would be nice.

I'm using a Jigmaster 501 (narrow) lefty and Avet SX5 lefty.

FISHIONADO · 02-21-2007, 08:40 AM

Thanks all. I'm going to keep an eye out for a good deal on a new or used Avet otherwise I'll probably pick up a Jigmaster for him. He's never mentioned it or complained on previous trips but I bet it sucks using a wrong handed reel.

nmbrinkman · 02-21-2007, 11:25 AM

I'm in the process of teaching myself to reel ride-handed. My left hand reeling comes from years of spinning reels fishing Oregon freshwater. But I still get the left hand discrimination from reel manufactuers and have had enough

.. Time to join the darkside..

kayak jack · 02-21-2007, 08:40 PM

I'm a lefty, and I've never used a reel that was made for left handed people. Until about 10 years ago didn't know there was such a thing. Maybe it would be best to just use a right hand real. It's really quite easy.

Kelp King · 02-21-2007, 08:58 PM

You might want to take a look at lefty Newells too.

02-20-2007, 10:43 AM	#1
FISHIONADO Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 698	Left Handed Reels My brother will be going on an SCI-Islander trip with me and I wanted to set him up with a left handed reel. Does anyone know if they have left handed rentals at Fishermans Landing or should I just buy one on e-bay or something? Are there any Lefty's out there that can advise? Thanks, Dave

02-20-2007, 11:12 AM	#2
lamb Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,568	Dave, you won't found lefty reels for rent in landing's tackle shops. I'm lefty.. I sure have an extra lefty Avet or two I'll be glad to let your bro use on that trip. I may even be on that trip – what date did you guys book? __________________ [------------------------ <)))< ....b-a-a-a-a

02-20-2007, 01:53 PM	#5
lamb Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,568	Conventional salt water reel choices for lefties are very, very limited. Ditto what Nate says - smaller Avet is your best bet, the best selection. I think Avet makes all of their reels for lefties - one of the owners is a lefty (thank god)... On a high end: You can special order Accurates for lefties, but they are big $$$.... Daiwa makes Saltiga 30 for lefties… No clicker for some bizarre reason… Also big $$$... Shimano doesn’t seem to care for lefties… On a cheap end: …good old Jigmaster Penn 500L. They make 'em for lefties. There’s also few other conventional Penn reels available in lefty models… That’s pretty much it, from what I’ve been able to research. Please let me know if there’s something else out there for us lefties… __________________ [------------------------ <)))< ....b-a-a-a-a

02-20-2007, 02:43 PM	#7
lamb Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,568	sorry, I should have clarified - I'm not a big fan of level wind. I consider only reels without it. __________________ [------------------------ <)))< ....b-a-a-a-a

02-21-2007, 07:23 AM	#8
steamroll Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 385	Hi, I'm Steamroll and I'm a lefty. Shimano hates us. A lefty Daiwa Sealine would be nice. I'm using a Jigmaster 501 (narrow) lefty and Avet SX5 lefty. __________________

02-20-2007, 01:26 PM	#3
FISHIONADO Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 698	Thanks Adi, we're going Apr-27th. What's a good reel I can get him for 3-4 trips per year, he lives in Albuquerque. I've taken him out a couple times and he took to it quick, hoping to get him hooked into a yellowtail and experience the LJ Slay Ride some day. Do they make leftys out of most reels or is it limited?

02-20-2007, 01:32 PM	#4
nmbrinkman Work Sucks! Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Diego Posts: 559	I'm not sure about the Large Avet Models (EXW and TRX and such) But I know they make the leftys in the SX, MX, SX and LX models (Smaller Bass and YT to 60 lb line class reel...

02-20-2007, 02:40 PM	#6
Ed Fringe Head Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Drippin Chicken Water Ranch Posts: 140	You can get a Left Handed Shimano Cardiff 400 for under $90. You can also get a Calcutta up to a 400 in lefty.

02-21-2007, 08:40 AM	#9
FISHIONADO Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 698	Thanks all. I'm going to keep an eye out for a good deal on a new or used Avet otherwise I'll probably pick up a Jigmaster for him. He's never mentioned it or complained on previous trips but I bet it sucks using a wrong handed reel.

02-21-2007, 11:25 AM	#10
nmbrinkman Work Sucks! Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Diego Posts: 559	I'm in the process of teaching myself to reel ride-handed. My left hand reeling comes from years of spinning reels fishing Oregon freshwater. But I still get the left hand discrimination from reel manufactuers and have had enough .. Time to join the darkside..

02-21-2007, 08:40 PM	#11
kayak jack Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: El toro Calif. Posts: 29	I'm a lefty, and I've never used a reel that was made for left handed people. Until about 10 years ago didn't know there was such a thing. Maybe it would be best to just use a right hand real. It's really quite easy.

02-21-2007, 08:58 PM	#12
Kelp King Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Oceanside Posts: 9	You might want to take a look at lefty Newells too.