I always cast with my right arm, being right handed. I would like to learn to cast with my left also. How difficult would this be?
I was going to practice on the grass (or snow) over the winter although Im sure I could find a lake also.
I will just be trying to learn myself as I couldnt afford instructors if they were any nearby.

Hi BB,
Just go for it. When I started learning my right shoulder got a bit soar from all of the practicing I was doing, so being a lazy bum I switched hands and figured out how to cast left handed. I can't cast as far with my left but I am nearly as accurate. Being able to do this has come in handy on a few occasions.
I don't like having to switch hands after the cast, but I can live with that.

Learning to cast with your other arm is a lot easier than learning to cast in the beginninig. I did it years ago & the major advantage is you ALREADY KNOW HOW TO CAST - albeit it with the other arm - Simples
Trust me, have a go !!!!

All the best

Kev

You already know the basics, so all you need to do, is the same, but with the other arm. Its a lot easier than you think, and certainly easier than it was learning to cast with your right arm when you started. It fees a little uncomfortable, like trying to eat with your knife and fork switched around, but soon you will get it.

What an interesting idea. If Ronnie O'Sullivan can...

I am definately ambidextrous at work (floor-layer, carpet, vinyl, anything in fact that goes on a floor), I can use a knife in either hand and a hammer, no problem. Made sense a loong time ago to learn. Never considered casting though .

I'm definately going to learn this. Back to the original post, I obviously, have not tried but as I said above I have learnt to use the tools of my trade that it seemed useful to be able to use with either hand. When you first try it's hopeless and dangerous if using my tools. However, I percevered and slowly but surely it started to come together. Everything is backwards, the mind naturally follows a familiar path and it seemed to me impossible to break. But no, keep trying and go slow, accept failure but keep trying gently bently.

Great post

Chris

Hi

Probably one of the easiest ways to do this is if you have access to another similar outfit to the one you normally use . Simply undertake the casts with a rod in each hand. Don`t try long lines at first - 30`is long enough, possibly even a little less.

If you can do a reasonable overhead (pick up and lay down cast) you will find that the left hand wants to follow the actions of the right hand (assuming a right handed caster). This is a fairly quick way to get the muscle memory in the opposite arm. Keep working at this for short spells and in no time you will have the opposite hand imitating the dominant hand. Once you can manage this just use the opposite hand and train from there with false casts, line shoots etc.

Good Luck and have fun

Bob

Fly Fishing with Bob Carlson and Vera Carlson - Home

work of the devil, it does wierd things to your brain, you can of course cast as normal with the rod tip a little to the left of the body.

Hi, I asked a similar question some years ago, to Hywel Morgan and was told the same answer. If you can afford it, get a similar outfit to what your using now.

When you cast with your casting arm, shadow it with the non casting arm. It's surprising how you can pick this up.

The other good thing about this is, when get to position where can't cast normally, you can swap hands. If you're fishing with a freind and he or she doesn't know you can do this, it totally throws them off key. Wizard stuff.

Best Regards

Stuart

Overload the rod, you'll get laods of feedback which will help.

Also, just learn to use your normal rod over your opposite shoulder, just open up your stance, and be careful the tracking doesn't turn into a swipe with the rod finishing on the down.

__________________
http://www.flyfishinglessons.co.uk
http://www.aapgai.co.uk

Strangly I found that while trying to cast left-handed I have no tendency whatsoever to breaking my wrist (which I must confess to doing with gay abandon whilst casting with my right), also roll and switch casts go just as far as with my 'good' hand. Still feels weird though...

__________________
GAIC Single Handed Casting Instructor

http://www.andygreyfishing.com/