This invention relates to a drag control mechanism for use in a fishing reel of the type wherein a drag mechanism is mounted on a handle shaft to apply a drag force against a master gear.
In the prior drag control mechanism of this type, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,222,537 and 4,474,339, a star-shaped drag handle is arranged on the handle shaft near the handle mounting end and the drag handle is rotated to adjust the drag force, so that the operation of the drag handle is obstructed by a handle arm. Thus, it is difficult to smoothly and rapidly adjust a drag force in response to the bite of a fish, and further, the operator's fingers are clamped between the handle arm and the drag handle as the drag handle rotates together with the handle arm.