Are fly fishing reels reversible? While many—if not most—modern reels can be set up for either right or left hand retrieve, it depends on the reel.
If you were thinking about changing which hand, your reel is set up for you should consult your reels manual. Some reels require specific tools, while others have a fairly simple and straightforward process. The only way to make sure your real will be in proper working order is to follow the instructions found in the manual. If you threw your manual out, there’s a high chance you can find a new copy or other instructions with a quick Google search.
Don’t trust yourself to change the orientation of your reel? Bring it to your local fly shop and ask for help. Even if you didn’t buy the reel from them, there’s a good chance they’ll have the tools and the know-how to get the job done right.
So, how do you know which hand you should be using to reel? That’s a topic of debate amongst fly fisherman that is far from settled. We have an article you can find here about the topic. However, the simplest answer is to do whatever feels most comfortable.