The Mitchell 300/410 series of reel spools do not have the best drag/clutch system. Looking back at the different schematics for these reels different combination of washer have been used including fibre and Teflon drag washers have been tried, some at the base and some at the top of the spools. Has...

Hi Mitchell Mates does anyone know how many Mitchell 300 reel copies were made ? I was recently shown an Olympic 81 reel and it does look like a full bail 300 from the 1960s, the guy who owned it informed that the internals on the Olympic 81 are very similar to the Mitchell 300 and that there are ot...

Re the bail spring for Mitchell 300 series a chart has been published giving al the Mitchell models the correct bail spring for each reel. On this chart it shows that bail spring 81014 can be substituted by bail spring 82334. I was inquiring if anyone had used this alternative bail spring on Mitchel...

Hi Mitchell Mates the standard bail spring for the Mitchell 300/410 of series reels is part number 81014. It also quoted that the Mitchel Reel 307 and 810A reel bail spring part number 82334, can also be used in place of the original 81014 bail spring. Has any one fitted the bail spring 82334 to a M...

Thanks for your reply Ted, I suspect the Mitchell Pro and the Black Mitchell 400 reel have the same internal roller bearing gearing. The main difference between the two reels is the wooden handle knob and the black coloured bailarm on the 300 Pro. I have handled both types and they are very smooth a...

Hi Mitchell Mates are the later Mitchell 300 Pro and the Black Mitchell 400 reels with roller bearings almost the same reel. I believe these reel were introduced in the 1980s and both have made in France on the reel body. They look and feel very similar, are the internals the same. I know that the 3...

Hi Mitchell Mates - what are members opinions on their favourite Mitchell reels to fish with ? I will admit that the earlier 300 series are very well engineered and made with better metal than the later ones. When it comes to fishing I have a great likening for the Garcia Mitchell 410 and the 300A d...

Thanks Ted for your reply re the metal and plastic spool base on the Mitchell 300. I have also been intrigued how the spool pawl changed over the years , I am not as well informed as some members on the 300 spool differences that evolved over the years but hopefully I am learning. Regards Grahamwin

Does anyone know when the early Mitchell 300 spool base changed from a metal to a plastic type. I have spools with a metal base and a plastic base and both types are fitted with the earlier type heart shaped clicker pawl ?
Grahamwin

Hi Mitchell Mates the correct spools to compliment your reels version are probably the best ones to go for, but from a fishing point of view the later carbon ones are very good. Mitchell also produced some of the later carbon/graphite spools with a red plastic line clip on the spool side this was ve...

Hello Mitchell Mates - I know the 4th and 5th 300 full bail series Mitchell's are highly rated for build quality and have very good gearing. When it comes to actually fishing I have found the Mitchell 410 and the 300A Garcia double red band models to very good performers. The increased retrieve rati...

Hi Mitchell Mates - I always thought the 300 quoted retrieve ratio was 3.5:1 and sometimes it is quoted has 3.75:1. The Mitchell 410/400 series reels are quoted as having a 5:1 retrieve ratio. The faster retrieve 300 size reels are the 810 and 840 series of reels which have a 6:1 retrieve ratio. The...

Additional pictures, same reel:

Hi All. Do members think this is the true 4th version?

Thanks - Bailarm for your reply and info, yes the reel does have the notch on the bail arm, not a slot like the later Mitchell 300, and it has the serrated bail release lock to engage it. So i am fairly certain that it is a genuine 4th version and the serial number seems to confirm this. I have not ...

Greatlaker
Thanks for your reply I now know its a 4th version 300 reel.
Regards Grahamwin

Hi Mitchell Mates I have a full bail Mitchell 300 size reel, it does not have the 300 inscribed after the word Mitchell which is inscribed on the handle side plate and it has the boomerang anti-reverse lever and a non roller line full bail. On the opposite side plate it has the serial number 401598....

I recently purchased two 810 reels, the 1980 had a red gasket the other no readable serial number or gasket, the one that had no gasket run well the one with the gasket sounds awful, so I took it out and it runs much better, been trying to find a schematic, very hard since the museum site got trash...

Hi Mitchell Mates - which of the full bail Mitchell's are considered to be the best ones ? I have been advised to look out for a 3rd version or a 4th version. I must admit that I do like to fish with the later made double red band 300a reels !
Grahamwin