Star drag fishing reel

A fishing reel comprising:

• a casing;
• a spool having a spool shaft and configured to receive fishing line and to rotate about a first axis;
• a spool gear configured to be coupled to the spool shaft and to rotate with the spool shaft;
• a spool bearing configured to be located radially outward from and contact the spool gear and to facilitate rotation of the spool gear relative to the casing;
• a drag gear configured to interface with the spool gear;
• a main shaft configured to rotate about a second axis;
• a main shaft bearing configured to be positioned about the main shaft;
• and
• a plurality of friction washers including at least one drag washer configured to interface with and rotate with the drag gear, and at least one shaft washer configured to interface with and rotate with the main shaft, the plurality of friction washers providing drag for the fishing reel,
• wherein the main shaft bearing is located radially between at least one of the plurality of friction washers and the main shaft such that the at least one of the plurality of friction washers is free to rotate relative to the main shaft via the main shaft bearing.

A fishing reel comprising:

• a casing;
• a spool having a spool shaft and configured to receive fishing line and to rotate about a first axis, the spool further including a first end and a second end;
• a spool gear configured to be coupled to the spool shaft and to rotate with the spool shaft;
• a drag gear configured to interface with the spool gear;
• a main shaft configured to rotate about a second axis;
• a main shaft bearing configured to be positioned about the main shaft;
• a plurality of friction washers located closer to the second end of the spool than the first end of the spool, the plurality of friction washers including at least one drag washer configured to interface with and rotate with the drag gear, at least one shaft washer configured to interface with and rotate with the main shaft, and at least one of the plurality of friction washers being positioned radially outward from the main shaft bearing such that the at least one of the plurality of friction washers is free to rotate relative to the main shaft via the main shaft bearing, the plurality of friction washers providing drag for the fishing reel;
• a cast control mechanism located closer to the second end of the spool than the first end of the spool,
• wherein the at least one of the plurality of friction washers includes a floating friction washer located adjacent to the drag gear and located radially outward from the main shaft bearing.