US Patent 7290727 Closed face reel

In a first embodiment of the present invention, a fishing line latching member can be returned from the fishing line releasable state (clutch OFF) to the fishing line windable state (clutch ON) simply by operating a return operation member, without rotatably operating the handle as in a conventional manner. This enables the user to respond promptly even when he/she gets a bite immediately after casting the fishing line. Furthermore, it also allows the user to use a finger of his/her hand holding the fishing rod to perform an operation for removing slack of the fishing line by using the return operation member.