How to Change a Fishing Reel from Right to Left Handed

A lot of people who enjoy fishing are right-handed, but there are also plenty of left-handed folks who fish as well. If you’re left-handed and want to enjoy the benefits of fishing, you may want to change your fishing reel from right to left handed so you can get the most out of it.

How Can You Change a Fishing Reel from Right to Left Handed

Here’s how to do the change easily.

Remove the Spool

The first step in changing a fishing reel’s handle direction is removing and then replacing it with one that spins in an opposite direction. Start by turning your crappie fishing reel over so that you’re facing its backside.

You’ll see a lever sitting directly below your handle, between two metal plates. The lever should be pointing toward you, but push it away from you with either of your thumbs, at which point it will slide all of the way out of its slot and then stop moving when it hits one of those metal plates.

Next, you need to remove your spool. To do so, simply twist it counterclockwise until it comes loose from its post on your fishing reel’s left side. Finally, attach your new spool by sliding it onto your fishing reel in reverse order.

First, slide it onto your left-hand side (the same place where you just removed yours), then rotate clockwise until tight. That’s all there is to changing a fishing reel from right-handed to left-handed!

Unscrew the Line Guide

For right-handed people, when they look at a spinning reel it rotates clockwise. In order to change it over so that left-handed people can use it, you have to unscrew and remove the line guide.

Simply put your thumb in front of where your hand would be holding onto the grip and unscrew it. If you try turning it by putting your thumb on either side of where your hand would be holding on, then that won’t work because one way will tighten while turning in one direction and loosen when turned in the other direction.

The idea is for screwing/unscrewing force to be applied directly behind where your left/right hand would go. 

Once you’ve removed the line guide, you’ll need to reassemble it with everything going in reverse order. This means first putting back on what was originally there (the spool), followed by what came off second (the handle), and finally what came off last (the handle cap).

It’s important to note that if there are any problems with getting things back together or if things don’t seem right, then stop immediately! 

You may have assembled something incorrectly which could result in damage later down the road. It’s better to take a few minutes now than hours later when something breaks or malfunctions due to an error made during assembly.

Separate the Spool Halves

Another easy process of how to change a fishing reel from right to left handed is by separating the spool halves.

To do this simply attach the line and finish by tying on an end-of-line knot or tie directly to your fishing rod if it’s too small for an end-of-line knot.

Even if you’re not left-handed, make sure you attach your fishing reel in reverse so you can use it more easily with your other hand. And that’s all there is to changing a fishing reel from right handed back to left handed.

Reattach the Line Guide with Thread Facing Opposite Direction

First, remove any old or existing line guide by taking off its mount screws. For most reels, you can expect two small roundish metal nuts on each side of the reel frame underneath the handle.

The line guide will be attached with a small metal screw under each nut. Line guides come in right-handed and left-handed versions, meaning they are designed for either right or left handed fishing.

To change your line guide from right to left hand, simply take it off and flip it over so that thread faces the opposite direction. Then place it back onto the frame using the same screws (ensure that thread is facing away from the handle).

To avoid damaging your new line guide (or yourself), make sure not to overtighten these screws. Use pliers if necessary but avoid applying too much pressure as you could damage your spool or cause yourself injury.

Install the New Handle

You can also install a new handle when you want to know how to change a fishing reel from right to left handed. Usually, you’ll want to re-install your handle and make sure it’s located on your dominant side. This means if you’re right-handed, then install it on your left side and vice versa.

First, remove the old handle by taking out any screws and just snapping it off. Now when installing your new handle, make sure that you align all of your pieces together making sure that they are snug in place before tightening them down with either screws or pressure fittings.

The last thing you want is for your baitcasting reel handle to be loose while trying to fish. In addition, once everything is secured into place and tightened up, start reeling in some line on both sides until you get a feel for how it works with each side individually!

You might find that one hand is better than another depending on what type of fishing you do. If not, then congratulations because you have successfully changed your fishing reel from right to left handed!

Conclusion

If you change your fishing reel from right to left handed, there are many benefits. First of all, it’s easier for southpaws as well as fishermen who have disabilities in their dominant hands. It also allows you to rotate around and fish at different angles with ease.

Just remove the spool then loosen up both screws that hold together side plates of your rod by using a screwdriver or key and slide off the top plate by pulling it away from bottom plate while turning counterclockwise until they come apart completely.

You can also unscrew the anti-reverse handle by turning counterclockwise until it comes off completely or take out the crank handle by unscrewing it counterclockwise.

Alternatively, you can pull out the spool shaft if necessary and pull out the old handle then screw in a new handle onto the old shaft if necessary. That’s simply how to switch reel from left to right.