As I wrote on previous column, in JP most of top anglers are using right-handle for bait-casting reel.
I do not say Japanese way is always correct. But I just want to explain why Japanese anglers like right handle.
Before that we have to look back the history of bait-casting reel in JP.
Around 30~40 years ago, nearly 100% of bait-casting reels in the world was right.
ABU which was a giant company of bait-casting reel from Sweden at the time, released left-handle reel named Ambassador 5001 in 1972. But mainly this reel is for left-handed people, not for right-handed people to use by left hand.
The first occasion which made left-handle to spread in JP market was happened in 1994.
IMAE KATSUTAKA who was the best tournament angler in JP made a proposal about "Dual Mode" for bait-casting. Now he is well known as the president of famous lure maker, IMAKATSU.
This proposal is that anglers use 2 type of handle up to situation.
If the person is right-handed, it is clear that right-hand is more sensitive and can control better than left-hand. In his logic, when we use slow-moving lures like Plastic Worm and Rubber Jig we had better to use left handle reel because we move those lures by controlling our fishing rod not by retrieving the reel.
And about the lures like Minnow, Crank Bait, Vibration and Spinner Bait, we had better to use right-handle reel because we have to control those lures through handle of reel and also sometimes we have to feel the small change of field condition or movement of lure which is caused by fishes, through fishing line and handle of reel. So IMAE KATSUTAKA recommend to use the different handle of reel up to the using lures.
Of course his logic came from the severe world of professional tournaments. And also this proposal is strongly connected with demand from business tactics by ABU company which is main the sponsor of IMAE KATSUTAKA, But it was true that some anglers had started to use left-handle reels from his proposal.
Toshi
