Mitchell 300 reels...

[bass or bass?]

I learned to fish in 1964 with my grandfather's Mitchell 300.

[JoeW]

My first spinning reel was a French-made Luxor- gift from my Dad when I was a young sprout. Lasted me for many years! The first reel I ever actually bot for myself was... a Mitchell 300! Man, what a workhorse! And the quick change spools was quite an innovation! I plumb wore out several over the years! My only complaint was that the 300 tended to break the bail spring, but fortunately, I found a reelsmith who made his own and sold them for .25 apiece! The 300 was followed shortly by my buying a 308-- the ultra-light! This one is the only one I ever owned, which I used until just a few years ago then decided to "retire" it. Great reels-- there were bajillions of those 300's made, and used ones show up at flea markets all the time. The going price for the used one's is around $10-20. At vintage tackle shows, new in the red/black plastic boxes an be found for $50-75. The earliest 300's (1950's) had a "half-bail", attached to the housing with only the one bail screw and the other end just hanging free. Without checking my references, I seem to remember that "Mitchell" was the original makers (France), which were then bot out (or obtained exclusive rights to them) by Garcia (Garcia-Mitchell), who were in turn bot out by Abu (Abu-Garcia). 300's can be founf with all three markings on them. What great old-timers- long history!

Picture is for the "youngsters here that might not have ever seen one! :) Best----- JoeW

[injunjoe]

Joe W, I enjoyed your comments, I to in the past had retired my Mitchell 300's, 304's and 308's but recalled them several years ago, refurshised them and will not use anything else. I tried a bunch of new reels and could'nt believe the lousy quality of even some moderatly priced ones. I have an $80.00 reel that was used two seasons and the "chrome" started blistering and peeling of the crank handle and it was never even in the same zip code as salt water.. Junk!! lots of it out there, it's pretty scary when a $15.00 flea market reel tha is 35 years old is more reliable than a new $80.00 one. I am enjoying the web-site, it is very well done. Joe :)

[bass or bass?]

The Garcia Mitchell 300 was the first reel I ever cast. It was my Grandfather's. This was in 1964. I really wanted one, but couldn't afford one, so in 1965 a salesman at The Mart in Ft. Lauderdale Florida (just up the street from my Grandparent's house) sold me a Spin Master Pro Series II reel made by South Bend , telling me the reel was just as good, but less expensive. Well, this reel has been bullet proof ever since. I have used it continuously since then up to this year when I decided to retire it out of respect. It still works flawlessly and has never seen a repair of any kind.

[dbarnett1]

I have 2 Mitchell 300's and one 206 all French made.
Hey Joe W you mentioned a reel smith that made his own bail springs. Would you know of anyone today that would still offer some. The spring on my 206 is broken. It works but I have to return the bail by hand and be careful to keep the line off the middle of the bail while retrieving.

[JoeW]

dbarnett1: I called the reelsmith about a bailspring for a 206. Good news- he still can make them! Bad news-- He wants $8 a piece for them now! That, plus a couple for me to mail them to you makes that a bit expensive, I think! He did say that the 206 is an akward one- backwards from the Mitchell 330 spring. I yelled at him at said he used to make up 300 bail springs for me for .25 apiece. He laughed and asked how long ago was that! I think I made him feel bad, though, because he added that if you mail him the reel, he'll clean it, adjust it, and put in a new spring and mail it back for $20. That sounded like a pretty good deal. He knows what he's doing- been in business for 35 years! I'll let you make the deal if you want- phone number below. mention JoeW if you call. His name is "Bill". Let me know what you decide! Best---- JoeW

Name: Water Wizard Tackle Co
Street: 4467 Lake Shore Road
Hamburg, ny 14075-2455
Phone: (716) 627-4537

[JoeW]

Joe W, I enjoyed your comments, I to in the past had retired my Mitchell 300's, 304's and 308's but recalled them several years ago, refurshised them and will not use anything else. I tried a bunch of new reels and could'nt believe the lousy quality of even some moderatly priced ones. I have an $80.00 reel that was used two seasons and the "chrome" started blistering and peeling of the crank handle and it was never even in the same zip code as salt water.. Junk!! lots of it out there, it's pretty scary when a $15.00 flea market reel tha is 35 years old is more reliable than a new $80.00 one. I am enjoying the web-site, it is very well done. Joe :)

I used the 300 and 308 for years for everything from small stream trout and panfish to Pike and walleys. Loved those quick change spools- like carrying and extra reel around! Except for the breaking bail spring they never needed repairs! You could actually take those apart yourself for cleaning! My 308 (the one I bot in the 1970's!) was retired several years ago. the last 300 I had I retired just a few years ago-- I was still using it for bait fishing 10 inch suckers for BIG Northern Pike and for heavy duty Steelhead work! Strong, rugged, easy to use, metal gears, no "bells and whistles" to go out of whack-- kinda like the original model T's! There's a lot of those still running, and a lot of 300's still being used! Best---- JoeW

[tholmes]

My first spinning reel was a Mitchell 301 (yeah, I'm a lefty). THat must have been around '65 or so.
They were about the only left-handed spinning reels available and convertible reels were few and far between.
I caught a lot of fish with that ol' reel. Makes me wish I still had it.

Tom

[bass or bass?]

I have converted all of my spinning reels (except the Spin Master Pro Series II that I described in a previous post) to right hand retrieve as well as my two fly reels. When I started fishing baitcast reels 4 years ago it felt awkward when switching from baitcast (right hand retrieve) to spinning (left hand retrieve) and back, so I converted all my spinning reels to right hand retrieve for consistancy. When I started fly casting last year, I converted my fly reels to right hand retrieve for the same reason. This is the main reason I have retired my Spin Master reel, it just feels weird to me now!

[JoeW]

Ha, funny---- I went the other way! I grew up with spinning and I'm a rightie. Holding the rod with my left hand and cranking with my left seemed perfectly natural. Plus, I want my "stronger" arm holding the rod! Then later, when I got into fly fishing, I felt very awkward casting with my right, then switching to my left with the rod to to crank with with right---- soooo- I've always switched my fly reels to left hand crank, or just turned them backwards on the rod! Then when I got into casting reels-- same deal! I have to hunt around for left hand crank casting reels! They are around, and when I find one I like, I often buy two! Heavy Trolling reels--- have found only a few with left hand crank! So, you converted your spinning reels to right hand retrieve and I went with all left hand retrieve! Potato-potawto!
Ya know, reel collectors have no clue as to why reels crank with the right hand! The switching hands from casting to retrieving just doesn't make sense. Have a good one- best---- JoeW

[JoeW]

[QUOTE=JoeW;4169 Ya know, reel collectors have no clue as to why baitcasting reels crank with the right hand! The switching hands from casting to retrieving just doesn't make sense. Have a good one- best---- JoeW[/QUOTE]

Found an answer! Just talked to a reel collector friend of mine. His "theory" about reels all being right hand cranks is because:

When the first baitcaster reels were made, they were made to be cranked by the right hand because the right IS stronger AND faster! Sounds good to me. The earliest reels were single action and didn't give the fisherman a gearing advantage to help him reel harder or faster. If reeling in a big fish, you needed your strongest hand turning the crank, and if the fish ran toward you, you needed your fastest hand turning the crank to get in line quickly! In both cases, this would be your right hand (most people of course, are right handed). And yes, constantly switching hands WAS assumed! Typical scenario: You cast out your bait with your right hand, switch rod to your left hand to take up slack or retrieve. Fish hits, you hook him, makes a strong run, switch rod to your right hand to keep the tip up. Fish runs toward you- switch rod to left hand and crank fast with your right hand. Fish tires, switch rod back to your right hand to lead him in..... eh- you get the idea!

With the advent of gearing and high speed retrieves, it would seem that more and more fishermen would want left hand retrieve reels, but old habits die slowly. Spinning reels in the late 1940's, remarkably, were the first reels to actually be designed for left hand crank-- they were also the first reels to have high speed retrieves.

Very interesting stuff! Best----- JoeW

[tholmes]

That's interesting, Joe. As a confirmed lefty, I've always cast with my left hand and retrieved with my right. When I graduated from cane poles, the first reel i used was a spincaster with right hand retrieve. It seemed odd to me that, since 90% of the world was right-handed, that that reel siuted me perfectly. The same with baitcasters. I'd watch my buddies cast with their right hand, then switch the rod over to their left to retrieve, while I kept the rod in my left hand through the whole process.

I guess if you didn't have the mechanical advantage of gears, haulin' in a large fish would be quite a chore!

Tom

[dbarnett1]

Joe, Thanks so much for the info on the Water Wizard tackle Co. I really appreciate it. God Bless.

[injunjoe]

To all, there are several people on E-Bay selling bail springs for many different Mitchell models. I bought 4 for $7.50 and although I have not fished them yet they appear to to be well made. Joe

[pickeral63]

I have one that I still use...brass gears...and another one that needs fixing. Probably the best reel I have ever owned.

[mo65]

Hey guys, remember this one? It's the Mitchell 301...the "left handed" version of the more famous 300. Later, someone figured out how easy they could make an interchangeable spinning reel and that was the end of the lefty models. :(

http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb470/mo655/NAFC%20and%20O-F%20album/PC200001.jpg

[bass or bass?]

Yeah Mo65, I converted both of my spinning reels and both my fly reels to right hand retrieve for consistency with my 4 baitcast reels .;)

[JoeW]

That's funny, bb, because I went the other way! having been brought up on open face spinning reels, I started converting my first fly reels to left hand crank, then when I moved to bait casdters, I bot only left hand retirevers! I have like two Shimano, an ambassadeur, an abu, and a Penn 209- all left hand crank! I just like my strength arm (my right) on the rod, and my weak side on the reel handle. Works for me! Best---- JoeW

[bass or bass?]

Hey JoeW, on my last fishing trip my buddy Danny asked if he could use my small Abu Garcia Cardinal 101 to catch some bluegill baitfish for the night's catfishing and I said sure. Two casts later he said" never mind, I can't use that thing"! lol

[JoeW]

LOL! Yep--- if someone handed me a right hand crank reel, I'd probably throw my back out trying to crank it! Interesting- most spinning reels can convert left to right hand crank. Are there any baitcasters that can do that? huh- wonder why not? Best---- JoeW

[mo65]

Interesting- most spinning reels can convert left to right hand crank. Are there any baitcasters that can do that?

I've never seen a convertible baitcaster...although if it could be done...I would think it should have happened many years ago. Like back when they had less candy opposite the handle. Today's baitcasters have way to much going on to allow a handle switch.:D

[greg4]

cant beat em a old timer across the alley in tipton iowa gave me a 300 w case i about died dont use that one but i got about 8 others i do use an about 4 i dont im 50 got my first one around 13 or 14 got alot of parts an repair em myself they havent let me down yet !:D

[greg4]

i ve got 300 springs have ta look at my parts though get w me id be happy ta mail to ya wont cost ya nothin

[JoeW]

I appreciate the offer Greg! My Mitchell 300's and the #308 are now "retired", like me! All have functioning springs, and I do know a reelsmith that will make new ones, so I guess I'm good. I tell ya- have you ever replaced a bail spring? LOL- you have to hold three parts, in two hands, put the spring under tension, insert the spring ends into those tiny little holes, then hope you can get the screw in with your teeth! Great, great reels though! I've caught a lot of big Northerns on them and never had one fail. Always like talking about them! Best---- JoeW