thumb|right|270px|Parts of a spinning reel: 1: Pick up or bail 2: Reel seat 3: Reel foot 4: Handle 5: Support arm 6: Anti-reverse lever 7: Skirted spool 8: Fishing line 9: Drag adjustment knob A fishing reel is a hand-cranked reel used in angling to wind and stow fishing line,[Shorter OED 1993] typically mounted onto a fishing rod, but may also be used on compound bows or crossbows to retrieve tethered arrows when bowfishing.
thumb|right|270px|Parts of a spinning reel: 1: Pick up or bail 2: Reel seat 3: Reel foot 4: Handle 5: Support arm 6: Anti-reverse lever 7: Skirted spool 8 Fishing line 9: Drag adjustment knob A fishing reel is a hand-cranked reel used in angling to wind and stow fishing line,[Shorter OED 1993] typically mounted onto a fishing rod, but may :also be used on compound bows or crossbows to retrieve tethered arrows when bowfishing.