Abstract: The invention concerns a fishing reel including a line tension measuring device which is capable of adjusting a drag force properly. In the line tension measuring device, magnetostrictive magnetic thin bands are bonded to the outer periphery of a spool shaft, a coil is provided in such a manner that it is opposed to the magnetic thin bands, variations in the permeabilities of the respective magnetostrictive thin bands caused by variations in the tension of a fishline are measured as variations in the induced voltage of the coil, the values of the measured variations are converted to the line tensions, and the line tensions are displayed on the display portion of the line tension measuring device.

Abstract: A fishline tension measuring device used in a fishing reel measures tensile forces applied to a fishline. The fishing reel fishline tension measuring device, when tension is applied to a fishline of a fishing reel, detects a load applied to a bearing which is transmitted from the fishline through a spool shaft, and detects the tension applied to the fishline according to a force transmission relationship between the fishline tension and the load. The device includes a bearing support member which journals the spool shaft and can be flexed according to the load, an electrostatic capacitance sensor which detects the flection of the bearing support member as a variation in the electrostatic capacitance from the displacement of at least one of electrodes disposed in the bearing support member, and tension detector which detects the fishline tension from the output of the electrostatic capacitance sensor according to the force transmission relationship.

Abstract: A fishline tension measuring device for use in a fishing reel which is simple in structure, easy to assemble, and provides a high strength against shock. Strain gauges are mounted on bodies assembled into the spool drive gear train, to detect strain caused by tension on the fishline. In the fishline tension measuring device, at least one of the bearings for supporting the two ends of a spool shaft is supported by a bearing support member, which may be formed integrally with a reel main body and can be strained according to loading forces applied to the spool shaft when tension is given to a fishline, and one or more strain gauges for measuring the tension given to the fishline are mounted on the bearing support member.

Abstract: A fishline length measuring device adapted to a fishing reel having a spool rotatably supported on a reel body for winding and unwinding a fishline thereon. The device has a spool rotation sensor for detecting a direction of the rotation of the spool and for detecting a number of the rotation of the spool, and a ultrasonic wave beam sensor for applying an ultrasonic wave beam onto a surface of the fishline wound on the spool and for receiving the ultrasonic wave beam emitted therefrom and reflected by the surface of the fishline wound on the spool. A timer measures a time period .DELTA.T between the emission and reception of the ultrasonic wave beam by the ultrasonic wave beam sensor. The time period .DELTA.T, the direction of the rotation and the number of the rotation are used for calculating a fishline length wound onto or unwound from the spool due to the rotation of the spool.

Abstract: A fishing reel having a rotatable spool for winding thereon a fishing line, a Hall-effect sensor for detecting the spool rotation, and a microcomputer including an up/down counter for receiving signals from the sensor to count the number of spool revolutions during paying out and winding up of the fishing line. Calculation is provided by the microcomputer for determining the lengths of the paid out portion and the wound up portion of the fishing line with there being a display unit for displaying the calculated lengths. A memory associated with the microcomputer provides for selection from one of a plurality of formulas for calculation of line lengths corresponding to various line diameters. A control is provided for resetting the displayed value to 0 when the line is completely wound up.

Abstract: An information system for trawler operation includes a radio link between the bridge or other vessel control station and each of a plurality of fishing devices on the vessel. Each fishing device has a radio transmitter that sends signals from which the vessel operator can determine for such fishing device, such variables as line speed, line tension, line payout and the like. Suitable sensing mechanisms are provided together with appropriate electrical circuitry.