A fishing reel which comprises a spool carried by a spool shaft rotatably supported between a first and second side frames, a driving mechanism for driving the spool shaft, a clutch mechanism for controlling the coupling and uncoupling of the driving mechanism with the spool shaft, and a clutch control mechanism for operating the clutch, each provided at the first side frame respectively, a rotary member provided at the spool at the first side frame side to be rotatable together with the spool, a contact member provided at the first side frame to contact with and depart from the rotary member so that the contact member contacts with the rotary member to apply a rotational resistance to the spool, and an operation mechanism provided at the first side frame for operating the contact member to be in a contacting position and departing position with respect to the rotary member, so that when the spool freely rotates, a desired resistance can be easily applied to the free rotation of the spool.