Mitchell Reels

[Florida Cracker2]

I have 3 of these reels, two 300s and a 308. One of the 300s works well and I use it off and on. The other two were retired many years ago by the previous owner who gave them to my father some 20+ years ago, then given to me. I went through them removing the hardened grease, cleaning, getting the bails to work...etc. Even sanded, primed and repainted the 300 making it look new again. They both reel smooth and quiet, but has serious line-lay issues. Line spools on level, but after a dozen casts it cones up on me. It's not a simple fix with a washer on these reels. I compared the bail height with the good one and they appear to be the same. The 300 did have some slop on the slider pin, but the 308 has a planetary style of line leveling and has no sign of wear at all. Anyone have any ideas on a remedy?

[Florida Cracker2]

Didn't consider putting a washer inside the spool assembly. I'll give that a go, if I have enough thread space.

[Boomstick]

The washer should do it for you. I have a Mitchell 300 Pro, and it has a small line lay issue as well but not major. I think it's in the design or something.

 

The other thing I will mention (which the washer would not fix) is that I seem to lose a lot of loops on my Mitchell and after several casts, the line does seem to creep forward in the process, much worse than with other reels. I only picked it up last year, and my friend's is the same way. The main culprit is the design of the bail leaves a very small gap to hold the line, and without having tiny hands I always rend to hold it forward which pulls the line out at an angle. The other factor is that a larger diameter spool would help.

 

What does help is running braid greatly reduces the number of problems and when you spool it up, always leave at least 1/8" of space on the spool. With some reels, you can give a few extra turns and not have an issue, but this is one where less line is better than more line.

 

I may be off the mark as to the exact nature of the problem you are having, but that is a problem that I have with mine and I find it best to use braid and a leader -- also because of the size of the reel, it gives it superior versatility this way.

[Florida Cracker2]

Thanks for the reply.

It must be the bail because I fill my spinners upside down with the filler spool on the floor and it filled nice and even. I might have to 'tweek it'. I thought a washer might solve the issue, but it builds up at the bottom instead of the top and the spool sits down on the spool assy. and can't go any lower unless I shave the bottom of it; which might be a solution.

[OnthePotomac]

I brother still fishes his 30 year old Mitchell reels.  Incredible.

[Florida Cracker2]

Seems like there was always one in the garage when I was growing up and its always worked. Pretty sure it's the working one I have now. Have it on an old fiberglass Garcia rod. The era before ceramic inserts and skirted spools. Also before rear drags, but that has come full circle to front drags again. 

[Boomstick]

8 hours ago, Florida Cracker2 said:

Thanks for the reply.

It must be the bail because I fill my spinners upside down with the filler spool on the floor and it filled nice and even. I might have to 'tweek it'. I thought a washer might solve the issue, but it builds up at the bottom instead of the top and the spool sits down on the spool assy. and can't go any lower unless I shave the bottom of it; which might be a solution.

 

You can try to hold the line in the area it won't catch the bail too, but it's such a finite area (at least on the pro which I think has the same shaped bail) that it's something I really have to pay strict attention to or I'll snag the bail and the line cones up coming off the reel. You can visibly see where the line has to come off to get around the bail on the reel, which wasn't the greatest design.

 

Still, the reel is incredibly smooth for the price point, and works much better with braided line so I'm not complaining.

[Florida Cracker2]

I tried it again tonight and the bail needs to be raised about an 1/8 of an inch to get a proper line lay. There is no room for washers as the spool sits flat on the assembly.