A fishing reel has a spool with a spindle and the spindle has a retaining portion to be engaged and disengaged with a slot of a gear rod. The retaining portion is provided with two guiding faces. While the spool is rotating in high speed, the retaining portion has its distal end running into the slot by the guiding faces first. And, while the spool rotates continuously to a predetermined angle, the retaining portion totally moves into the slot. The fishing reel can stop the spool while the spool is rotating in high speed and to prevent the spindle and the gear rod from damage.