I've fished both fresh and salt with flies for decades. If you are fighting big fish, you want to reel with your dominant hand. I'll reel with the left on trout streams. Despite being set up for right handed reeling, a Perfect can be used to reel with the left hand as long as one doesn't reel against too much strain as it will unscrew the side plate. I have several set up that way in 2 7/8" and 3 1/8" for light tippets.