It’s been asked a few times. For myself, all I can say is I’m right handed but left for winding FS and right for multi is how I was first taught so anything else just feels completely wrong and cackhanded to me.

When using a multi you lay the line on with your left hand

 

Most Multipliers are manufactured that way, it's very hard to find a left handle multi so you just get used to it. Unlike FS Reel you can change the handle side to suit.

 

I'm left handed & reel in both f/s & multi with my left hand whereas most of my mates are right handed & reel in with their left hand on a f/spool but right hand on a multi. I have tried r/hand wind multis but feels all ar$e about tit trying to wind in with my r/hand & laying the line with my left. As Colin said above there's a very limited choice of left handed multis.
Rick

 

It’s very much a personal choice, I guess. If I did it any other way it would feel totally wrong.

What really looks cackhanded is when you see people, usually complete noobs or occasional feather chuckers, using a FS upside down because they’re right handed and don’t want to wind with their left.

Makes me cringe every time I see it!

 

I’ve always had right handed (wind in with your right) until I bought a left handed one recently. In boxed it thought ffs, but put line on and used it.
From now on, I will always be looking to buy a left handed multiplier!
It feels much more comfortable/natural winding in, and I’ve used right handed for the past 20 years!
I suppose it’s what you prefer?
It’s a bit like Michelson (golfer) plays left handed, but he’s right handed. I used to play footie with my left, but I’m right handed!

 

So it seems the manufacturers prefer to sell right hand models and expect us to just get on with it.

Been checking e-Bay and it does seem that we have a choice, so I reckon the
PENN 525 MAG 2 left hand wind is going to be the big hint when birthday time come around.

 

I'm left handed & reel in both f/s & multi with my left hand whereas most of my mates are right handed & reel in with their left hand on a f/spool but right hand on a multi. I have tried r/hand wind multis but feels all ar$e about tit trying to wind in with my r/hand & laying the line with my left. As Colin said above there's a very limited choice of left handed multis.
Rick

Hi HH, have you tried a right hand wind multiplier? I find the more dominant hand is much better loading the spool than if/ as I had been for years, loading the line with my weaker hand?
I also feel I have more control over my rod if holding in the stronger hand? So holding rod with right and winding with left.
Like I say, I’ve only recently found this out!!!

 

Hi HH, have you tried a right hand wind multiplier? I find the more dominant hand is much better loading the spool than if/ as I had been for years, loading the line with my weaker hand?
I also feel I have more control over my rod if holding in the stronger hand? So holding rod with right and winding with left.
Like I say, I’ve only recently found this out!!!

Hiya Ben,
A mate leant me a 525mag to try instead of my usual left handers. I used it for around 6 months but even though or maybe because i'm very dominantly left sided i just could'nt get into winding with my r/h & thumbing the line with my left.
Just to further confuse things, in my case i cast over my right shoulder rather than my left which i suspect is because i learned to fish with r/handed mates & using a f/spool.
As already been said by yourself & others "it's what works for each of us.
Tight lines.
Rick

 

Been discussed plenty of times bud...

https://www.worldseafishing.com/forums/threads/multipliers.35538895/#post-45779973

 

Been discussed plenty of times bud...

Cheers, I apologised at the head of the thread thinking it must have been discussed before.
Read the thread and it's still as clear as mud so basically the message is hold the rod in your strongest hand/arm/side and buy a reel to suit. Thanks all.

 

Living in the Netherlands most multis sold are left hand wind. Tried it and it feels awkward! I'm simply too used to retrieve with the right hand. Hardly ever use a mangle, but, bought one second hand lately ( sold again,just not my thing ) had the handle on the right hand side. Didn't notice until a potential buyer asked me if the handle could be mounted on the other side as well.
Got a small spinning reel for fresh water use, Cardinal 3, for decades, left hand retrieve, never been bothered by that.
Doesn't clear things up does it,...

 

One other thought, was it not that the Big Game Fishing multipliers that came about first?, ok so you are strapped in a seat or standing up with harness strap to the big multiplier reel using your body as well as both arms to fight a big Marlin, Sailfish, Tuna or Sharks your stronger arm would be doing most of the winching in the slack line as well as the fighting fish, for a couple of hours, maybe that is why it stuck with the right handed reels when the small bait casting multipliers came about?.

 

I sort of get this? But I want my stronger hand on the rod? It doesn’t matter if I’m reeling in or not?
To me if I have my strong hand on rod I’m in control. I have come from a course fishing background.
If I was fighting a marlin or a shark I still think I would want my more dominant hand on the rod? The reeling in is the easy bit?!?!?!? The putting pressure on or off the fish I would want to feel? (Obviously setting the reel break) but I think I would feel a run or if a fish is tiring through the rod, thus stronger hand on rod?

 

F/s left and multi right

 

I use both frequently. Winding with a multi right hand and a fixed spool with left hand feels natural. I only use fixed spool when lure fishing and the action works better winching with left hand.

I have switched a fixed spool to right hand and it just doesnt work the same way, and winching left handed on a multi feels ridiculous (imo).

 

Returning to sea fishing after several years out and decided that it would be common sense to wind with the same hand as I do on my f/s and fly reels, so I got a left-handed Daiwa Sealine levelwind for winter codding. Lasted one boat trip as I just couldn’t get on with winding cack-handed.