No Love For Mitchell?

[loudcherokee]

Just curious, I see various threads looking for suggestions on reels and what not, and never really see anyone suggesting any of the Mitchell spinning reels.

I have a Mitchell 300xe and a 10 year old Mitchell 300x, as well as an avocet silver. The avocet is kinda cheap, and I got it just to have an extra reel/rod combo hanging around in case friends want to fish with me and don't have a rod. My girlfriend and I just got an avocet gold combo for her sister to fish with, and its actually super nice.

My Mitchell 300xe is one of my favorite spinning reels I've ever had.

So, is there something wrong with Mitchell that I'm not aware of? I know they're far from the classic Mitchell 300, but I've grown up knowing Mitchell as a good name.

I do have my eyes on a Lews speedspin reel for the future after such a great experience with my baitcaster though.

LC

[MCS]

I have read some good things about the new Mitchell 300 pro introduced at icast. They say for the $70 you get a reel way better than the price tag.....maybe not RW's stella quality. lol My buddy has a older Mitchell spinning reel it does as well as his similar priced shimano sienna. But for that kinda money it is gonna be hard not to go with a pflueger for me personally.

[smalljaw67]

The old Mitchell reels were built like tanks, all you needed was a supply of bail springs for when they wore out and you were good to go. I have a Mitchell 300X Gold and it has a great drag system and to be honest it works fantastic, it is the reel my grandson uses on his Cabelas tourney trail rod for small spinnerbaits. The new 300 pro would be a Mitchell reel I would buy now to use for myself, I don't like to spend a ton on spinning reels as I only use them for fines techniques but I do like having something decent. My spinning reels right now are a Daiwa Tierra in the form of a Cabelas Tournament ZX, great buy when Daiwa was making their reels, and an Okuma Inspira, I got that reel on a steal as TW was blowing them out for $40, but normally $110 and a great performer but the new Mitchell looks like it would be a good buy.

[lmbfisherman]

I have an old Mitchell Outback spinning reel.  It is my bobber/worm fishing setup or when I bring a friend along with me setup.  Nothing wrong with it, but since I own higher quality reels (Shimano Stradic FJ (2) and Symetre) it isn't the same.  I use to own a Mitchell Spidercast round reel, which was a very solid reel..no complaints just didn't compare to my Calcutta when I had one.  Even if I decided to buy a low end cheapy for my daughter it would probably not be a Mitchell.  I'd pick a Pfleuger or Shimano in the low end category.

[Megastink]

I one time owned a Mitchell avocet gold 200. I bought the night before my first salmon trip to Pulask/Oswegoi, NY. I spooled it with about 90 yards of 12lb mono and went fishing. We were chasing salmon on the 10-30lb range. I landed about a dozen of them. My 6'6" lightning rod, Mitchell reel and cheap mono got it done! It was a struggle with some of those fish, but I landed many.

That weekend, I never once had a drag, gear or any other failure from that reel. I think I paid $30 for it, MAYBE... I'm excited for Mitchell's new reels coming out! I might buy one or two!

[bigbill]

I still have my old michell spinning reels there in a box with my D

A.M. Quick spinning reels, they still look and function like new. But

these older reels are antiques now.

Seeing these in the past with there quality I purchased a mitchell baitcaster too.

Your right we never mention them. It's like a Harley rider who won't mention he learned

to ride on a Honda as his first motorcycle.

I started out fishing with a short stiff saltwater rod with a zebco 202 reel for freshwater and saltwater. Me and my buddy used the same setups. We fished so hard we would wear a 202 out every year. For $4.95

We would put on a new reel every year. With a one ounce sinker I

could cast all the line on the 202. We thought we were hot stuff.

Thanks for the trip down memory lane. We didn't have the best equipment but we did catch fish. Those zebco reels are awesome even today I

have one on a telescopic rod for under the seat on my motorcycle.

We actually did yard work to buy fishing equipment.

My fishing reels in order,

Here's my list of reels as time started from around 1962/63.

1. Zebco 202

2. Mitchell the little metal round body spinning reel.

3. Mitchell the first plastic spinning reels.

4. D.A.M. Quick 110 spinning reel on a Garcia 5 star rod '73

5. D.A.M. Quick 110n spinning reel'75

6. Zebco Spinning reel

7. Quantum spinning reels

8. Viva spinning reels

9. Finor spinning reels

10. Okuma spinning reels

From number 2 to 10 I still have them and they still work today.

[*Hootie]

I still have a lot of my 1960's fishing tackle. Cheapie stuff for sure. I now fish with some of the best tackle made, and I would NOT want to go back. But I gotta tell ya, I sure had a LOT of fun back then with that cheapie stuff. Like they say, "ya gotta start somewhere to get somewhere".

Hootie

[new2BC4bass]

My first reel was a Mitchell 300.....59 years ago.  I have many fond memories from using it.  Back then I didn't know you were suppose to close the bail by hand.  I enjoyed the solid 'clunk' when in closed.  Like I enjoy listening to the shutter trip on my older cameras.

[J Francho]

Mitchell has some cool stuff coming out soon.  They have always offered decent reels at decent prices.  I have buddies that use them.  They are similar to other Pure Fishing products out there.  the new stuff looks very unique, though: http://www.tackletour.com/reviewicast2013mitchell.html

[loudcherokee]

Mitchell has some cool stuff coming out soon. They have always offered decent reels at decent prices. I have buddies that use them. They are similar to other Pure Fishing products out there. the new stuff looks very unique, though: http://www.tackletour.com/reviewicast2013mitchell.html

Yowza! That 300PRO looks NICE! I may have to rethink my Lews speed spin idea. Thanks for that link.

I can find nothing wrong with my current 300xe. It has performed well for me with no issues.

I definitely grew up in a different generation than you guys. My first spinning reel was a shimano with a quickfire 2 trigger cast system. I used it for years before I got something a little more serious.

LC

[new2BC4bass]

I definitely grew up in a different generation than you guys. My first spinning reel was a shimano with a quickfire 2 trigger cast system. I used it for years before I got something a little more serious.

LC

 

 

Hey, we can't all be old farts! 

[new2BC4bass]

Thanks for the link JF.  Nice looking reels.

[loudcherokee]

Hey, we can't all be old farts!

LMAO. I don't think I'm one either at 30, but I sure do feel like it sometimes!

LC

[beergogglin]

I've been using a Mitchell (not sure of the model but I'm pretty sure it's a 300 something or other) that I picked up at Wal-Mart 3 or 4 years ago for I believe about $60. It's been my favorite spinning real ever since.

[PondBoss]

I have a couple of Avocets and honestly can't see why I'd spend more money on a reel.  One is brand new, the other I've had for I'm not even sure how long, but several years and as abused as it is still works like the first day I bought it.  The new one looks SWEET though.

[Bankbeater]

I have my Dad's old Mitchell 300 that he bought back in 1971.  It weighs a ton compared to my other spinning reels.  My Dad always use to catfish with it. 

I have a Mitchell 308 that is probably 20 years old that I use for ultralight. 

[new2BC4bass]

LMAO. I don't think I'm one either at 30, but I sure do feel like it sometimes!

LC

Yup, you are a young pup.    I am more than twice your age.  Too bad that doesn't make me more than twice as smart. 

[greentrout]

Love mine. Over 10 years old and still fully capable. On occasion, use it for small spinner baits, plastics and small top waters and buzz baits. Great overall reel. 6:1:1, 10BBS, ok drag and blistering 32 inches per handle turn retrieval.

 

Old school basser...

[OkobojiEagle]

Since joining the Berkley (now Pure Fishing) congregation, I think Mitchel has lost the identity it once had.

 

 

 

oe

[hatrix]

I saw tons of people talking about avocet reels. I actually have the silver and gold ones. They are ok I suppose but I would not recommend them for continuous fishing. Both of those reels are wasted now.