A fishing reel has an externally controllable brake system including a brake dial provided on a left side cover outside a spool cover. The brake system is provided between the brake dial and the spool cover so as to externally control a rotary force of a spool. The brake system includes a rotary section rotating together with a rotary motion of the brake dial, and a brake housing provided close to the rotary section so as to laterally slide in response of the rotation of the rotary section, wherein an inner ring is fixed to the brake housing on an inner surface of the spool cover so as to stop the rotary motion of the spool while being guided along the brake housing.