Trotline reel

摘要

A trotline reel assembly includes a elongated shaft, a crank member fixed to the shaft for rotation thereof, and a handle rotatably connected to the shaft adjacent the crank for supporting the assembly. A main or major line of a trotline is wound about the shaft adjacent the handle during rotation of the crank, and as each drop line or leader line is encountered, the corresponding hook is inserted into an open end of the shaft remote from the crank and handle. The assembly presents an open, unrestricted area between the wound extent of the major line and the open end of the shaft for receiving the leader lines and facilitating insertion of hooks in the open end of the shaft regardless of the spacing of the leader lines along the length of the major or main line. Preferably, a flange fixed to the shaft between the wound major line and the handle substantially precludes entanglement of the trotline with the handle as the shaft is rotated to reel in the line.