Any fishing rod can be used as a left or right-handed rod. When deciding which hand an angler should use depends on the angler’s preference.
Rods will not be labelled on whether the handle is meant for a left or right hand. Instead, they are classified according to which side the reel handle is. Rods are defined by what they are made out of, what they are for (which fish or way to fish), and the tools that it features like spinning, casting, fly fishing, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a fishing rod and a fishing pole?
Anyone around anglers has probably heard both fishing rod and fishing pole used to describe the instrument used to catch fish. So does this mean that the terms are interchangeable, or is there a difference?
There is a difference in that fishing poles have a line attached at the top. They consist of mostly natural materials. Fishing poles are commonly what children learn to fish on, and that is what adults teaching children call them.
A fishing rod, in technical terms, is meant to cast lures. Fishing rods will have a reel, a reel seat, and line guides. Fishing rods are more high-tech than fishing poles, but most people will not comment if one term gets used in place of the other.
Should you use a fishing pole or a fishing rod?
It is up to personal choice. A fishing rod includes more tools to better the chances of successful fishing, but that does not mean that using a fishing pole ends with fewer results. Most people begin with a fishing pole as it is easier than a fishing rod since there is less to learn, and as they grow in skill, they begin to use fishing rods.
Both fishing poles and fishing rods produce successful results. They both catch fish; the decision is more about what person is most comfortable using.
With What Hand Do You Hold a Fishing Rod?
The hand you should use to hold the rod when you fish boils down to how you learned to fish. It can be on the dominance of the hand, but in all honesty, there is no reason to reteach yourself how to fish, when you can merely find the rod that suits the way you know how.
The hand used to cast the line is the best one to use to hold onto the rod. Using the casting hand to hold the rod is suggested because that means the angler does not have to switch hands to reel in the line. The switching of hands takes extra time, plus it causes you to lose your fish in the awkward movement of moving hands.
There is nothing wrong with using your dominant hand to both cast and reel, but that can cause more complications in the long run. There is no wrong answer about which hand to hold your rod in because fishing is about what works.
Happy Fishing & Tight Lines