The present invention provides a clutch of a bait reel for fishing which controls rotation of a spool such that only when the handle is rotated to reel in a fishing line can one-way rotation of the spool be restricted. The clutch includes a ratchet wheel which is coupled to a rotating shaft of a handle, and a ratchet pawl which is provided in a reel frame. The ratchet pawl is removably locked to gear teeth of the ratchet wheel to control the rotation of the spool. A separate contact piece made of rigid material is coupled to a contact end of the ratchet pawl. Therefore, the contact piece directly receives a load and frictional resistance occurring when the gear teeth of the ratchet wheel presses the ratchet pawl. Thus, the ratchet pawl which is made of comparatively soft material to facilitate the operation of forming the ratchet pawl can be prevented from being easily damaged.