I’m right-handed and I cast with my right arm. But the first baitcasting reel I ever bought was a lefthander, and I taught myself to reel with my left hand. It made sense to me that it saved time and was a more efficient way to fish, rather than having to cast and then swap hands to work a bait.

I think anybody just starting out fishing or teaching their kids how to fish would be better off with that kind of setup. If you cast right-handed, learn to reel left-handed; if you cast with your left arm, learn to reel right-handed.

A lot of times, especially when you’re flipping, a bass will take a lure just about as soon as it hits the water. If you have to swap hands because you can’t use your off-hand, you’ll lose some fish. Last year I had shoulder surgery, and I had to flip with my left arm until it mended. Right along with it, I switched to right-handed reels temporarily. It took a while to get used to it, but I did, which proves that you don’t have to be new to fishing to learn. Give it a try; it will make you a more efficient fisherman, especially when you’re flipping.

—- Castrol pro Darrel Robertson, Jay, Okla.