Fishing reel with reversible crank

A fishing reel comprising:

• a pair of side frames having side plates opposite to each other at a regular interval,
• a spool shaft rotatably supported between said side frames and having a spool arranged in said interval between said side plates,
• a drive mechanism for driving said spool shaft, said drive mechanism comprising a handle shaft having a handle, a drag mechanism for applying a rotational resistance against rotation of said spool, and a master gear for receiving a drive force of said handle shaft through said drive mechanism and transmitting the drive force to said spool shaft,
• said drive mechanism including a tubular shaft which has an axis substantially parallel to an axis of said spool shaft and extending through said side plates at said side frames to be rotatably supported between said side frames, said tubular shaft supporting at one axial end said drag mechanism and said master gear, said tubular shaft having a central portion with an inner cavity for receiving said handle shaft, said inner cavity opening outwardly of each of said side plates, said handle shaft being selectively insertable into either axial end of said tubular shaft, said driving mechanism further comprising fixing means for detachably fixing said handle shaft after said handle shaft has been inserted into said tubular shaft with respect to said tubular shaft, and
• a drag operating member rotatably supported on said handle shaft at a side thereof at which said handle is mounted, said drag operating member comprising means for adjusting said rotational resistance applied by said drag mechanism responsive to rotation of said drag operating member relative to said handle shaft.