A fishing reel includes a spool having a spool shaft and designed to receive fishing line. The fishing reel further includes a spool gear coupled to the spool shaft to rotate with the spool shaft. The fishing reel further includes a drag gear to interface with the spool gear, a main shaft that rotates about a different axis than the spool shaft, and a main shaft bearing positioned about the main shaft. The fishing reel further includes a plurality of friction washers including at least one drag washer to interface with and rotate with the drag gear, and at least one shaft washer to interface with and rotate with the main shaft. At least one of the friction washers is positioned radially outward from the main shaft bearing and is free to rotate relative to the main shaft via the main shaft bearing.

A fishing reel can include a cage assembly defining an opening to removably receive a spool and a spool positioned in the cage assembly operable to rotate about an axis of rotation. The reel can also include a crank coupled to the cage assembly and operable to rotate the spool when the crank is rotated. The reel can also include a braking assembly removably positioned on a side of the cage assembly opposite to the crank, the braking assembly including at least one magnet, the magnet having an arcuate shape that spans a braking arc length concentric with the axis of rotation, the braking arc length defined by an arc measure of at least about 90°.

Fishing reel system embodiments herein include an extendable arm assembly and a reel assembly rotatably attached thereto. Certain reel assembly embodiments include an adjustable drag washer stack that can be adjustably compressed to adjust the amount of friction within the washer stack. Other implementations include solely a reel assembly with such an adjustable drag washer stack.

A fishing rod assembly includes a rod and a reel assembly. The reel assembly includes a housing, a spool positioned within the housing, the spool configured to rotate about a central axis to retrieve or let out fishing line, and a gear set configured to drive the spool to rotate about the central axis, the gear set includes a first set of gears and a second set of gears. The gear set is configured to receive input rotational kinetic energy through the second set of gears and output rotational kinetic energy to the spool through the first set of gears. The first set of gears includes a planetary gear set arranged about the central axis, and the second set of gears is arranged about an offset axis that is spaced from the central axis.

Fishing reel system embodiments herein include an extendable arm assembly and a reel assembly rotatably attached thereto. Certain reel assembly embodiments include an adjustable drag washer stack that can be adjustably compressed to adjust the amount of friction within the washer stack. Other implementations include solely a reel assembly with such an adjustable drag washer stack.

A fishing reel can include a cage assembly defining an opening to removably receive a spool and a spool positioned in the cage assembly operable to rotate about an axis of rotation. The reel can also include a crank coupled to the cage assembly and operable to rotate the spool when the crank is rotated. The reel can also include a braking assembly removably positioned on a side of the cage assembly opposite to the crank, the braking assembly including at least one magnet, the magnet having an arcuate shape that spans a braking arc length concentric with the axis of rotation, the braking arc length defined by an arc measure of at least about 90°.

A fishing rod assembly includes a rod and a reel assembly. The reel assembly includes a housing, a spool positioned within the housing, the spool configured to rotate about an axis to retrieve or let out a fishing line, a drive mechanism concentric with the axis, the drive mechanism configured to receive rotational kinetic energy from a user and drive the spool to take-up fishing line when a counter-torque provided to the spool by the fishing line is less than a target torque, and a drag mechanism. The drag mechanism is configured to be driven by the drive mechanism and at least one of (a) drive the spool to take-up the fishing line when the counter-torque provided to the spool by the fishing line is less than the target torque or (b) provide a drag force to the spool when the counter-torque provided to the spool by the fishing line is less than the target torque.

A fishing rod assembly includes a rod and a reel assembly. The reel assembly includes a housing, a spool positioned within the housing, the spool configured to rotate about a central axis to retrieve or let out fishing line, and a gear set configured to drive the spool to rotate about the central axis, the gear set includes a first set of gears and a second set of gears. The gear set is configured to receive input rotational kinetic energy through the second set of gears and output rotational kinetic energy to the spool through the first set of gears. The first set of gears includes a planetary gear set arranged about the central axis, and the second set of gears is arranged about an offset axis that is spaced from the central axis.

A fishing rod assembly includes a rod and a reel assembly. The reel assembly includes a housing and a spool positioned within the housing and configured to (a) rotate about an axis to retrieve or let out a fishing line and (b) translate along the axis to adjust a drag, the spool including an inner volume. The reel assembly further includes a spindle disposed within the inner volume of the spool and having a first end and a second end, the first end of the spindle engaged with the spool, a drive mechanism configured to receive an input torque from a user and provide an output torque to the spool, and a lever assembly configured to receive a user input and translate the spool along the axis towards a second end of the reel to adjust the drag.

A fishing rod assembly includes a rod and a reel assembly. The reel assembly includes a housing, a spool positioned within the housing and configured to (a) rotate about an axis to retrieve or let out a fishing line and (b) translate along the axis to adjust a drag, wherein the spool comprises an inner volume, a spindle disposed within the inner volume of the spool and having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the spindle is engaged with the spool, a drive configured to receive an input torque from a user and provide an output torque to the spool, and a lever. The lever assembly configured to receive a user input and translate the spool along the axis towards a second end of the reel to adjust the drag.