Captain Lahti Loc: Kennewick, WA

I’ve had a couple Mitchell 300s since I was a youngster and loved them. The main reason was because they rotate the line into my right index finger for a natural pickup for a right hand cast. In fact all my reels are left hand reel, thankfully most reels let you shift the crank to your preferred side and I am right handed so I leave my rod in my right hand and reel with my left. But to the original comment. Why don’t other brands of spinning reels rotate the line on pickup into your index finger as well? Most cause you to have to lift your finger over the line and catch it which can be learned but seems awkward. Thoughts?

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

I'm not sure Capt, but would guess that they wanted the pinion gear to come out the left side cover for maintenance purposes. That would result in a left hand rotation,with a forward handle rotation. That's my guess anyway.

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

Just my opinion, based on a little bit of knowledge, so an educated guess. When spinning reels were first produced, they didn't have bails, you had to pick up the line manually with your finger. The bail was an "improvement". Penn and Van Staal still make bailess reels. Now I've never owned a left handed spinning reel, I've owned some Mitchells and all were either right handed (handle of the left) or removable and switchable to the other side. So I have a question. Does the spool on a "left handed" reel turn in the oposite opposite direction from a right handed one? I think not, but like I said, I've never held or used or owned one.

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

That's what the Capt was insinuating,that the rotor turned toward your right index finger as you held the rod. That would require the pinion gear to be on the right side of the mainshaft. That would require a removable right side plate,or removing the mainshaft to get the pinion gear out for cleaning and greasing.

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

I was asking about a reel that is designed and manufactured to be "left hand" only and not reversible? The first few batches of spinning reels that rolled off the line were "one way", just like casting reels are now.

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Ok, I'm just getting confused.

charlykilo Loc: Garden Valley Ca

First things first. Define left and right handed. I am rt. handed and crank with my left?

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

I believe that the Capts original post was about old Mitchell reels,where the rotor spins the opposite direction of modern spinning reels. The rotor would deliver the line to your waiting right index finger to hold,for a cast. Modern reels spin taking the line away from your right index finger,in the casting position. We're talking about casting with your right hand.
Then Spirit started talking about handle position, which is not what the original conversation was about. The left hand /right hand controversy is NOT what this is about.

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Here is the reel in question, notice that the rotor turns in the opposite direction of modern spinning reels. The bail brings the line right to your waiting finger,for the next cast.

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

And that's NOT what I was talking about. I was asking (not very intelligibly I guess) if a left handed reel's spool spins in the opposite direction of a right handed reel's. Now for a. spinning reel, I define a right handed reel as one with the crank/handle of the left side of rod, so it it can be cranked with your left hand while the rod is held in your right. I left handed reel has the crank on the right side - just the opposite of the right handed reel. I bought my first Mitchell 300 in about 1964. It was right handed, the crank was on the left side and it was not reversible, I recall my dad trying to fish with it upside down (on the topside of the rod) so the crank would be on the right, because that was what he was used to doing with casting reels - cranking with right hand. I do not recall which way the spool turned, but I think it turned counter clockwise, as you looked at it while cranking it - from the rear of the reel.
So my question is, would a left handed reel's rotor turn in the opposite direction?
I would still maintain that the bail was an "improvement". An afterthought, and when they started making bails standard equipment, they did not redesign the reels, they simply added a bail.

Now imagine that reel above without a bail, and you might just agree with me. Much easier to pick up the line with the forefinger and lay it on the rotor. Don't you agree?

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Yes,definitely Spirit,its easier to pickup the line without the bail in the way, I've tried a friends bailless surf reel.
Now if you look at this reel the rotor turns clockwise, from the rear, which is leading the line to your fingerprint, not leading past your fingernail, like a modern reel does.
If a Left handed reel,turned opposite a modern reel, AND you casted with your left hand,it would still lead away from the casting finger.

Flytier Loc: Wilmington Delaware

I can see how this could be confusing. I have one VanStaal reel which is bailless. If you crank the reel the pickup is rotating in a counter clockwise direction. This means that the line travels from knuckle to fingertip as it is laid on the spool. This makes it a bit more of a chore to grab the line with your index finger to cast. BUT when you do cast, the line is coming into the tip of you index finger which means at the end of your cast the line can be picked up easily by sticking your finger on the way of the line. Time it right and you have perfect control of your plug as soon as it hits the water, and the first crank of the pickup grabs the line for retrieve.

For the other part, reversing the handle doesn't change the direction of the rotor. Thats controlled by which side of the main shsft it's on.

CanePoleHerb Loc: Central Alabama

Off the subject but still speaking of Garcia Mitchell reels: I have two old G.M. 304 reels that I bought for my wife and I in 1966 as a cheap combo. I was in the air force in Texas and the BX sold them. Both of them have broken crank handles now. They are aluminum with left hand threads. I might want to fix them for nostalgic reasons. Can anyone tell me if there is a place that might still have old parts?

charlykilo Loc: Garden Valley Ca

There are sites on the internet that specialize in old reels and parts.

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

I have a repair guy here in the Sacramento area, I would bet that he would know where to get those cranks. I'm sure he would be willing to repair, clean and lubricate those reels for you at a very reasonable price. If you're interested, PM me and I'll give you his phone number, you can talk to him. He's done work for other members on here, all of them satisfied customers as far as I know. Let me know.