Abstract: An improved open face spinning reel including a conventional spinning reel with a head spanned by conventional bail, the head including a spool and a conventional shaft, the shaft having an upper end which is journaled for rotation in the head with the spool such that the shaft freely rotates with the spool and a conventional housing adjacent the head containing the shaft. The shaft includes a lower end having a swivel such that when the spool is turned the shaft reciprocates allowing the line to be thread evenly over the spool. The improvement comprises a spring-loaded means for engaging and disengaging the shaft. The spring-loaded means is fixably mounted through the conventional housing such that the means can move slidably back and forth to engage and disengage the shaft.