Reel components, such as reel knobs, and methods of assembling the reel components are disclosed herein. The reel knob can include a base and a gripping member. The base can include a recessed area. The gripping member can comprise a resilient material. The gripping member can be sized and shaped to correspond to the recessed area. The gripping member can be adhered to the recessed area. The base can be pressed down onto the gripping member to join the base to the gripping member.

A gear mounting structure includes a worm shaft, a gear, and an elastic member. The worm shaft includes a shaft body, on the outer surface of which is formed intersecting spiral grooves, and a gear locking portion with a non-circular cross section, on at least a portion of the outer surface of which is formed a curved surface portion and a planar portion. The gear includes a gear body, on the outer surface of which are formed teeth, and to which the handle rotation is transmitted, and a boss portion protruding from the gear body and having an engagement portion engaging the gear locking portion. The elastic member is mounted so as to abut the outer surface of the boss portion of the gear, and at least a portion of the curved surface portion of the gear locking portion.

A gear shifting device of a drum fishing reel includes first and second gears having first and second through holes respectively, and a gear shaft extending through the first and second through holes and having two through grooves. A shifting rod is provided with two elongated holes and axially moveably inserted into a shaft hole of the gear shaft. A key is inserted through the through grooves and the elongated holes and abutted with a spring disposed inside the shifting rod. When the key is inserted into the first through hole or the second through hole, the first gear or the second gear is rotatably driven by the gear shaft. As such, the key can be positioned positively, the speed changing motion acts smoothly, and the gear shifting device can be easily assembled with stable quality.

A handle operation assist device includes a handle angular velocity measuring unit, an error calculator and a notification unit. The handle angular velocity measuring unit is configured to measure a handle angular velocity based on an output of a sensor configured to detect an angular velocity corresponding to rotation of a fishing reel handle. The error calculator is configured to calculate an error in the handle angular velocity with respect to a reference angular velocity. The notification unit is configured to carry out notification regarding the error.

A spinning reel includes a waterproofing structure disposed on one of first wall portion of a spool and a second wall portion of an adjustment member. The waterproofing structure is configured to prevent infiltration of water into an interior of the spool. The waterproofing structure has an annular convex portion protruding toward other one of the first wall portion of the spool and the second wall portion of the adjustment member, and an annular concave portion recessed in a direction away from other one of the first wall portion of the spool and the second wall portion of the adjustment member, and disposed on an outer side of the annular convex portion in the radial direction of the spool shaft.

A handle system operable in conjunction with a fishing rod and reel has an attachment section and a handle section. An arm of the attachment section is attached to a reel housing. The handle section has an upper handle that is connected to the arm and extends above the reel at an angle less than ninety degrees from the fishing rod.

A system is provided for reducing or eliminating free play in the handle knob of a fishing reel. The system provides for several embodiments wherein free play is reduced in the handle knob by eliminating the space or gap between a bearing and screw in the shaft of the handle knob. In one embodiment, living springs may be used to provide an upward force pressing the bearing and screw together and prevent axial movement of the bearing. In an exemplary embodiment, the addition of a protrusion in the interior housing of the knob handle may further reduce radial movement of the bearing. In another exemplary embodiment, elastomeric material may provide an upward pressure to a first bearing and downward pressure to a second bearing. In a final exemplary embodiment, a cap may be placed on the top of the screw, causing a downward pressure to reduce axial free play.

A frame has a first side plate, a second side plate, a level winding guard, and a mounting portion. The first side plate, the second side plate, the level winding guard, and the mounting portion are formed of a single member. The first side plate has a thick portion and a through hole. The thick portion is formed in front of a spool on an inside surface of the first side plate. The through hole penetrates the thick portion in an axial direction. In addition, the through hole has an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the guide member.

A handle return position adjustment mechanism for a fishing reel including a handle disposed on the fishing reel and supported by a handle shaft is disclosed. The handle return position adjustment mechanism includes a position adjustment member detachably and non-rotatably fitted to the handle shaft and having a first rotation engagement portion, and a second rotation engagement portion disposed on the handle to be engageable with the first rotation engagement portion. At least one of the first rotation engagement portion and the second rotation engagement portion includes a plurality of portions which are arranged at intervals in a circumferential direction circling around the handle shaft. The second rotation engagement portion is selectively engaged in a relative position in the circumferential direction with respect to the first rotation engagement portion.