Abstract: A hand held trotline reel comprises a reel having end flanges with a hollow cylindrical ribbed hub therebetween for receiving the main line of a trotline and a plate member disposed between the flanges of the reel having a series of equally-spaced, radially-extending slots for receiving and retaining the fishhooks from the side line of the trotline. The plate member is spaced near one flange sufficiently to provide protection to the user against injury from the hooks. The reel is easily operated reel and unreel a trotline while keeping the fishhooks separated and free from tangling or twisting.