Bought another reel (Page 2): I thought it was Dave but I couldn't remember for sure. Can you manually close bail on the 300?

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

DozerDave wrote:

I’ve got two, 300’s. A left and right hand. They were Mom and Dad’s from back in the 50’s. Also a 308 that I got for my 12th birthday. That I have on a 4 piece pack pole. The 308 is smaller than the 300, Kerry…🐟on

I thought it was Dave but I couldn't remember for sure.
Can you manually close bail on the 300?

40GRIT Loc: San Ramon, CA

Larry M wrote:

Don’t know if this was a good deal or not, paid $30 for this reel it’s just like the one that I had when my son’s friend that I lent it to stole it. Can’t get it back because he died from drug overdose.
I really like this brand of reel.

Larry thats a good looking old Mitchell! I own about 7 of them, 2 on rods in working order and 5 for parts. Great reel and my first reel (bought used and I still have). I honestly don’t use them much because I don’t fresh water fish much but I always take them with me when RVing in case I get the opportunity to wet a line!

DozerDave Loc: Port Orchard Wa.

Grizzly 17 wrote:

I thought it was Dave but I couldn't remember for sure.
Can you manually close bail on the 300?

I’m not really sure if you can or not. It’s been a lot of years since I’ve used it. If I was at home I’d go and check for ya…

🐟on

Kerry Hansen Loc: Bremerton, WA

Kerry Hansen wrote:

That was a good one. Bought mine when in the Navy back in the 1950s in Japan Navy exchange along with two bigger models 306 and 308 I think they were.

I might be mistaken as to the model numbers, all I remember is that they were larger than the 300. I can't remember if I ever used them. I think they are still sitting around in their boxes.

Kerry Hansen Loc: Bremerton, WA

DozerDave wrote:

I’m not really sure if you can or not. It’s been a lot of years since I’ve used it. If I was at home I’d go and check for ya…

🐟on

OK, went upstairs to my Rod Room and looked at my 300. No you can't close the bail, you have to turn the handle to turn the spool to trip the bail.

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

Kerry Hansen wrote:

OK, went upstairs to my Rod Room and looked at my 300. No you can't close the bail, you have to turn the handle to turn the spool to trip the bail.

Same with the 300A does the spool also turn counter clockwise

Kerry Hansen Loc: Bremerton, WA

Grizzly 17 wrote:

Same with the 300A does the spool also turn counter clockwise

Mine is just a 300 and has a lever to go from one way or either way.

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

Kerry Hansen wrote:

Mine is just a 300 and has a lever to go from one way or either way.

300 a is left hand only it's kinda weird

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

Kerry Hansen wrote:

Mine is just a 300 and has a lever to go from one way or either way.

Kerry couldn't find the 300a but I did find this old zebco.
In a draw with 6 Zebco 33's.
Zebco HOSS 700.
Never saw another one.
Found this one in a pile of junk someone dump along the road when I worked for highway dept.
Took alot of cleaning but it works 👍

Sport Loc: Sacramento county north. California

Larry M wrote:

Don’t know if this was a good deal or not, paid $30 for this reel it’s just like the one that I had when my son’s friend that I lent it to stole it. Can’t get it back because he died from drug overdose.
I really like this brand of reel.

Nice looking reel Larry. I got a kick out it! I bought a good condition 300 at the Bodega Grange sale years ago.

Sport Loc: Sacramento county north. California

DVTracker wrote:

That’s a nice Mitchell. I had a 300 many years ago, it was very reliable. I saw the reel mentioned a few times in different posts on the Stage and always thought it being an old reel and that it was not manufactured anymore. But to my surprise while looking at reels on the Bass Pro website I came across new Mitchells for sale.

There are: Michell 300, 308 and 310 with 8 ball bearings also a Mitchell 300 Pro with 10 ball bearings, price range is $69.99 to $89.99

Thank you. I also thought they were gone. There was a rear drag model that replaced them around here. 300EX I think.

NJ219bands Loc: New Jersey

Nice 👍

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

Grizzly 17 wrote:

Kerry couldn't find the 300a but I did find this old zebco.
In a draw with 6 Zebco 33's.
Zebco HOSS 700.
Never saw another one.
Found this one in a pile of junk someone dump along the road when I worked for highway dept.
Took alot of cleaning but it works 👍

Forgot to include picture 👍

Jeffchow88 Loc: San Francisco

I have a brand new one, still in its original box.

audigger53 Loc: Severn, MD

Kerry Hansen wrote:

That was a good one. Bought mine when in the Navy back in the 1950s in Japan Navy exchange along with two bigger models 306 and 308 I think they were.

I still have and use a 406 with a high speed handle that I bought extra. It has a round end on the handle to fit into your palm to crank the lure in faster.