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Got this at a yard sale earlier today. Can anyone tell me about it?
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Sep 7, 2019 14:35:16   #
pctone93
 
Have a friend in Monroe, Mi that collect the Mitchell reel-must have over 50 an worth money!

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Sep 7, 2019 15:19:11   #
L.W. Loc: Spokane Valley, Washington
 
My wife and I each have one on our steelhead poles. We've had them sense the early 70s. Great reels.

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Sep 8, 2019 08:38:27   #
Golfish1951 Loc: North Carolina
 
Couldn’t count how many Mitchells i have had over the past 60 years, mostly up until the late 70’s. Weakness is the bailspring.

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Sep 8, 2019 09:04:47   #
jimmer
 
I grew up fishing a 301 (left handed model). I'm 62 now, and need to refurbish by replacing bail spring. Have used in salt water too, but should be extra careful if you do. Need to rinse and lubricate.

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Sep 8, 2019 10:13:35   #
Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina
 
I had one back in the 70s There was a 301 back .then that was for left handers

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Sep 8, 2019 12:53:32   #
kprzybyla
 
The father of quality spinning reels! The originals made in france are definitely collectible, than Abu Garcia bought them out... I remember saving up for my first 300 35 years ago! still have it, still works!

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Sep 8, 2019 13:06:50   #
fishrmans Loc: Waushara Cnty Wisconsin and Port Charlotte Fl
 
Get a couple xtra bail springs cause you will eventually need them if you use this reel. Otherwise it’s a pretty good and reliable reel.

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Sep 8, 2019 13:19:11   #
Jerry_h23 Loc: Ocala
 
I have 3 or 4 of them from as far back as 1955. I have caught untold numbers of trout and pink salmon with them. I have newer reels too, but seem to always have one or the other on the boat every time.

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Sep 8, 2019 13:28:35   #
Cleemartin Loc: Hampton, Virginia
 
I have a 300, 400, 302 & a 402. All are still in great condition after being used for more than 20 years.

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Sep 8, 2019 14:46:31   #
Dickshad64
 
Excellent spinning reel! I bought my first one in 1974 and used it on an old Mitchell spinning rod. Fished for trout. That was before I really learned about all things fishing. I still have that reel but have retired it. I have recently purchased two new ones, of which the quality is slightly less than the original reel was. I have spooled one in 10lb mono and paired it with a 7’ Medium action Fenwick spinning rod. This rig is for bass and cats.The other is spooled up with 6lb mono and is paired up with an 8’ Medium action Fenwick spinning rod that I use for crappie. When I met my fishing mentor back in ‘81, he took me to a fantastic lake in San Diego County, Ca, Lake Henshaw. Back then, I had my old Mitchell 300 mounted on a 7’ Medium Abu Garcia rod. That day, I caught my very first bucketmouth, cats and crappie fishing a sliding sinker on 8lb mono, #4 bronze Aberdeen hook and inflated nightcrawlers for bait, hooked in the nose end between the tip and the “band” about 1/4” in from the tip. Inflate the tail with a small gauge insulin syringe if you can get them. If you use a traditional “worm blower”, the hole is too big and the air eventually leaks out quickly. No pun intended but I was hooked! Been a true student of fish and fishing every since. Fished from California to Florida and several places in between including BASS Tournaments in So. California, up the West Coast as far as into Canada and the East Coast from S Carolina to the Southern tip of Florida. Mitchel 300’s are always along on the trips. The other reels I really like are the older Penn’s, the gold anodized ones. I have a full size range(7 reels) but we’ve moved several times and now I can’t find them! They must be in an unpacked box in my garage. But still, you can’t beat a Mitchell. Hint: to give them, or any reel, more versatility, buy a few extra spools from the manufacturer and spool them with different line weights. That way, you can quickly change line weights and use the same rod. No need to have a lot of rods matched with reels spooled up in various line weights! If you stick with a quality brand 7’ to 7.5’ Med Action rod, you can pull this off. Tight lines 🎣

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Sep 8, 2019 14:47:34   #
Fish Woman
 
This is a Garcia Mitchell spinning reel that was originally made in France in the 1940’s. Very rough to use and whatever you paid it was probably too much. If you want to put it on a rod use a medium action, 6-7 feet spinning rod. Good luck.

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Sep 8, 2019 15:42:47   #
JimRed Loc: Coastal New Jersey, Belmar area
 
Mitchell 300 by Garcia. I have two, the older one is about 50. The new one over 40. Both working well, even though not meticulously maintained.

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Sep 8, 2019 17:42:28   #
Jgpe1 Loc: Florida
 
I still have mine, 40+ years, it’s a tank! Still use it as a backup reel.

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Sep 8, 2019 18:56:13   #
teabag09 Loc: Chesapeake, Virginia
 
FS Digest wrote:
I was told it is pretty much the father of all quality reels.

Also what kind of rod should I pair it up with? It doesn’t fit the one I wanted to put it on as well as I thought it would.

--
by poppinbass


That was the first kind of reel I bought at Sears and Roebuck in 1961 to go trout fishing in the Virginia mountains when I was 11. That brought back memories of all the grass I cut to be able to afford it and all of the fish I was able to land with it. Think Bob Hope, Thanks for the Memories. Mike

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Sep 8, 2019 19:01:10   #
teabag09 Loc: Chesapeake, Virginia
 
teabag09 wrote:
That was the first kind of reel I bought at Sears and Roebuck in 1961 to go trout fishing in the Virginia mountains when I was 11. That brought back memories of all the grass I cut to be able to afford it and all of the fish I was able to land with it. Think Bob Hope, Thanks for the Memories. Mike


If I still had mine I'd have a glass case with a velvet bottom made for it. Mike

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