any type of fishing reel the particular version shown in fig3 is a u201c conventional u201d type as opposed to a spinning type reel 12 includes crank 24 and crank knob 42 which are used to spool fishing line back into reel 12 once the line has been unspooled cutout 20 is provided in the surface of reel 12 which faces the reel seat in the preferred embodiment cutout 20 is a substantially defined by a portion of a cylindrical surface having a central axis running from a rear of the reel 12 to the front of the reel 12 cylindrical cutout cutout 20 may be other shape that would conform to the surface of the reel seat however in the preferred embodiment the diameter of the cutout 20 may be set to accommodate the diameter of the fishing rod that will be used with the fishing reel cutout 20 allows reel 12 to be mounted as closely to the fishing rod as possible this minimizes the twisting torque applied to the rod when the user turns crank 24 since the displacement of the crank turning force from the fishing rod is minimized cutout 20 also creates a more stable attachment by increasing the u201c contact u201d surface area between reel 12 and the reel.