The spool brake device is equipped with a brake unit, a detector, and a controller. The controller controls the braking force by the brake unit based on the variation of the rotational speed of the spool detected by the detection unit. When the rotational speed is increasing, the controller controls the braking force by the brake unit in the regular braking mode. In the regular braking mode, the controller changes the braking force by the brake unit according to the rotational speed of the spool. In addition to it, when the rotational speed of the spool stops, the controller is to control the braking force by the brake unit in the first braking mode, during a period of predetermined time. In the first braking mode, the controller makes a braking force by the brake unit that is less than the braking force in the regular braking mode. In addition, after the predetermined time, the controller may make a braking force in a second braking mode by the braking unit that is less than the braking force in the first braking mode.