Patent ID: 8839547

Claim:
A fishing reel system, comprising: a reel support structure comprising a reel frame portion having a reel foot section and a plurality of beam structures disposed on opposing sides of said reel foot section, said reel support structure further including left and right side plate portions; a line spool with a spool rotation axis disposed within said reel support structure; said plurality of beam structures directly connect said reel foot section to said left and right side plate portions; said line spool rotatably mounted between said left and right side plate portions, said line spool configured to wind fishing line entering said reel support structure from a first direction; said reel support structure further comprising a reel foot structure adapted for mounting to a fishing rod, wherein said reel foot structure is mechanically coupled to said reel frame portion at said reel foot section; and a force measurement device configured to produce an electronic response signal resulting from a line tension force exerted on said line spool along said first direction, said force measurement device configured to produce a signal resulting from a flexing of, or strain within, at least one of said plurality of beam structures.