Disengaging mechanism

A fishing reel comprising:

• a body configured to couple to a fishing rod;
• a spool rotatably coupled to the body;
• a crank rotatably coupled to the body;
• a stem configured to rotate in a first direction when the crank is rotated;
• a key coupled to the stem, the key being selectively movable between a first position and a second position;
• a crank gear configured to transmit rotational power to the spool;
• at least one slot positioned and located on the crank gear;
• wherein when the key is in the first position, the key is positioned and located in the at least one slot and configured to engage with the at least one slot to transmit rotational power from the stem to the crank gear;
• and
• wherein when the crank gear rotates in the first direction relative to the key, the key is configured to move from the first position to the second position.

A mechanism for disengaging a crank from a spool, the mechanism comprising:

• a body;
• a gear rotatably coupled to the body;
• at least one slot formed in an axial surface of the gear, the at least one slot including a leading edge and a trailing edge;
• a stem selectively rotatable in a first direction relative to the body;
• a key coupled to the stem;
• wherein when the stem is rotated in the first direction relative to the gear, the key is configured to engage with the leading edge to cause the gear to rotate in the first direction;
• and
• wherein when the gear is rotated in the first direction relative to the stem, the trailing edge is configured to guide the key out from the at least one slot.