Reel

[Crewman]

what size line and mono or braided on 306

[piscesman]

Welcome to the site. It boils down to what fish you are targeting. Saltwater surf fishing I use up to 14lb test. Freshwater anywhere from 6lb to 12lb test. A properly set drag and working the fish will give you better results that the biggest line.
Kim

[GreatLaker]

what size line and mono or braided on 306

Crewman,
What Kim said and Garcia printed in their Fishing Annuals that the line capacity for a Mitchell 306-307 reel was:

1978 Annual Spec Sheet-306-revised.jpg (127.55 KiB) Viewed 116 times

Note that this spec sheet shows the 406-07 reel specs along with the 306-07 specs. The 406 was a high speed version of the 306 and used the same line capacities. Also, note the printing error under the "Comments" column. They put the comment for the 306 where the 406 comment should have been and vice versa. LOL

Also, remember that we did not have the same kind of braided line available back when the 306 was made. The braided line available back then, was braided Dacron line. Much different than today's braided lines.

Another point regarding what size line to use. Mitchell and especially Garcia promoted using balanced tackle. This referred to using the size line, rod, reel, lures that were of the same capacity as the size fish you were going after. You can catch a 10lb Large Mouth bass on 4lb test line, but Garcia recommended, that if you are fishing for Large Mouth Bass, and let's say they weigh between 5-10 pounds, then select your tackle to fit your quarry. With today's wonder lines in some cases this no longer exactly true.

Kind Regards,
Bill