Left-hand or right-hand retrieve?
Most right-handed anglers cast and hold the rod with the right hand and crank with the left — no hand-switching after the cast, which matters on finesse baits where the first seconds of the fall are the bite. Every spinning reel handle swaps sides in a minute; there is no "correct" side.
The full story
This answer is one piece of a longer lesson — setups, diagrams and the reasoning behind it.
More questions about Spinning Reel
- Why does my line twist into coils after half an hour on a spinning reel?
- Can I fill a spinning reel with fluorocarbon or nylon as the main line?
- Shallow, standard or deep spool — which one should I buy?
- 2500 or 3000 for bass?
- What do the S, SS, M, D, C, HG, XG, PG letters mean?
- Gear ratio: high speed or low speed?
- How full should I load the spool?
- Why does braid slip and spin on the spool under drag?
- What are wind knots and how do I stop them?
- Should I close the bail by hand or with the handle?
- Why does the drag stick or jerk instead of running smoothly?
- Does a bigger spool really cast farther?
- Can I use a spinning reel in salt water?
- The reel grinds or feels rough — what is worn?
- How do I match the reel to the rod?
- Why is the line piling up at one end of the spool?
- Does the reel's weight matter?