Mitchell Reel Forum

How many fish their collections?
I use my vintage reels to catch a good variety of fish and have low maintenance.
Mostly use 10 lb test or lighter, matching the line and tackle. (Prefer 6-8 lb test)
Love the 330 for ease of one hand casting.
Use the half bail 300 for small Snapper, Spanish mackerel flounder and trout.
Use a pair of 1969 300’s for all the larger species.
Most fish are in the one to 5 lb range.
(I also have Cobia and King mackerel rods set up for targeting anything bigger.)
Largest fish landed on a Mitchell 300 was 31.5 lb black drum. (Mistake)
The 300 is quite capable (durable) but recommend less than 8 lb fish. Prefer less than 5 lb.
The 330 seems to be more suited to less than 3 lbs, but is still quite capable of landing larger fish.
Reality is most fish caught are under 12” and run closer to 1 to 1 1/4 lbs, but, the most memorable are the most difficult to bring to the table.

What is your experience?

I fish with what I talk about and Conolon poles. If it's not Mitchell it stays pout of my hands!!!!!!!! Good fish so far....
KIm

I just got back home from a two and a bit month trip to Ontario for salmon and steelhead-rainbow fishing near Georgian Bay. I managed about twenty days of river fishing. The first six weeks were very disappointing. Things changed in mid October. I ended up with four very nice rainbows of about 5-10 pounds. I used my 304 quite a bit mostly with 8 pound fluorocarbon line (P-line). I really got to like this reel and wished that I had used it years ago. It might benefit from a dab of medium strength thread locker on the handle threads. I was always a 300 guy. I used my 308 as much as I could. I had some line issues with it that I believe were a problem with the braided and fluorocarbon line I used. I really got to hate the Sufix braid and Sun Line fluorocarbon line. These were the highest rated and expensive lines. I had always been a monofilament user. I probably did not give my overly large stash of 300s enough of a go. They are a bit on the heavier side for an all day spinning lure session. Next year I will give the 314 a good go and thank you Schrack for your advice and sending me a 304 shaft. This really solves the big issue of 314 spools or lack thereof.

For the record: I have landed at least three steelhead/rainbows in excess of thirteen pounds with my trusty 300. I was much younger in those days.