A reel suitable for bow fishing and the like provides a cowling covering a reel with a wide opening to reduce frictional restraint on high-speed paying out of the line with the flight of the arrow. An optional guide arm may be used to minimize line diversion and hence friction during line payout while absorbing forces when the line is retracted permitting use of a lighter cowling design without loss of strength. A high torque bevel gear transmission and safety lighting is further provided.