Old Mitchell 300 Fix - Will It Catch Fish?

These are great old reels. I wanted to get this one working and catching fish again.

[@boblynn9168]

I got my dad's 300. He loved it. Man, I would give everything I own just to fish one day again with him...

[@KnettersPracticalOutdoors]

Keep the memories Bob, thanks for watching, KPO.

[@lumpylumpy3931]

My wife and I got tired of buying new crap made in China so we decided to buy us some Garcia Mitchell reels and we love em!

[@stevenodell4323]

Great video. Love my old Mitchells too. Nice Bluegill!

[@KnettersPracticalOutdoors]

Right on!

[@troybelanger974]

I grew up with a 301 in the late 70s. Boy did that reel take the abuse, I replaced bails, springs screws, you name it. My dad knew what he was doing when he bought me that reel. Still works fine today.

[@KnettersPracticalOutdoors]

Very cool

[@ironman-vx1qs]

I still have my Phantom Miraclecast reel from 50 years ago and this video is motivating me to get it up and running again.

[@KnettersPracticalOutdoors]

DO IT! KPO

[@wniner8194]

Always happy to see you have a new video out. Now I will go dig out my 300 and some non name brand fiberglass rod with a cork handle and plain rings from my youth. And yes I do keep all that stuff! Thanks for the video! Cheers!

[@KnettersPracticalOutdoors]

Now were fishing OLD SCHOOL! KPO

[@dav1099]

Great video, I use 2 300's and 2 308's bought them new many years ago, give them a good service every winter and they are work horses. Have caught many different kinds of fish on them, hopefully will be handed down to my grand kids if i ever get done with them. thanks for posting👍👍

[@KnettersPracticalOutdoors]

Very cool, KPO.

[@dantejaiudijr2792]

The Garcia Company made their line of reels for fresh water as well saltwater fishing to last a lifetime. I have my 300 from 1965 and it works beautifully. Since then, I've collected a few here and there. They're made well, too! 🤓👍

[@KnettersPracticalOutdoors]

Awesome! I have 5 or 6 300s now.

[@captainsykes2221]

I just refurbished one i literally found on the side of the road. Love the reel!

[@KnettersPracticalOutdoors]

No way! I was just out getting some more gills with a 300A the other day. Here's a LINK - kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqO5emR5p82oZ6M if you're interested. Thanks for adding in, KPO.

[@j.j.savalle4714]

It's a classic!. Was hard to beat a 300 back in the day and they work just as good today. I have a couple 300s I am stillusing and found a third at a garage sale that i use for spare parts on the other two. Great vids. Keep up the great work.

[@KnettersPracticalOutdoors]

I just picked up a 400. My wife has a specific rods she wants it on, KPO.

[@tango-bravo]

Oh god what if the paint chipped on n your old 300? Would that mean you have to throw it out? Will the game warden take them away if you are caught fishing with them?

[@Rikson_27]

@@tango-bravo what do you mean? Are the illegal to use?

[@tango-bravo]

@@Rikson_27 is it illegal to use a reel or any tool with lead paint on it anywhere in America?

[@hitechrr]

I have two 300's and the original Mitchell rods that I bought in 1972. Hopefully, my grandchildren will be using it soon.

[@KnettersPracticalOutdoors]

I like those old reels. I don't cast crank baits all day with them, but for bobber fishing they still work great. Thanks for adding in, KPO.

[@tomfreebern2556]

Great video I bought a Garcia conlon 4 star medium rod and mitchell 300 combo a couple years ago at a yard sale I catfish with it and love it

[@KnettersPracticalOutdoors]

They are cool reels, KPO.

[@tango-bravo]

I just bought a few old banged up Mitchells in an eBay lot. Apparently one of them has a stuck bail as well, so this video was a big help. Even if it’s a bail spring on mine, I’ll k ow what to check. Thanks for sharing and nice job gettin her spinning again! 🎣

[@KnettersPracticalOutdoors]

I like old stuff as long as it is still pretty functional and these Mitchells certainly are. Between a few of those Mitchells you should be able to get one running, KPO.

[@tango-bravo]

@@KnettersPracticalOutdoors I had a good time disassembling the Mitchell 300, regreasing everything and getting it back together. The bail was bent and that was what was jamming it up. I had to hit the bail and anti-reverse lever with a wire wheel because the plating was in such bad shape. The metal underneath looks kinda like brass but not quite - is it some kind of bronze? Anyway the reel works great attached to a modern Shimano 6’ light action rod. What is the best source for pinpointing the exact year these reels were made? Thanks.

[@tomjordan1063]

@@tango-bravo Mitchell Reel Museum has date codes-ish. mitchellreelmuseum.com/dating-mitchell-reels-by-serial-numbers/

[@OneMan.]

Sir I gave you a tumbs up for the respect, you gave to a great reel, make sure your check you line feeding needle, the part your line is running correctly over when it leaves the reel. Yep in the old days they did not just fish they fished for monsters and every part of an old real is tunable. Make no mistake I fished with a 6ft bamboo pole as a kid with out a reel and caught fish, but my grand father caught legendary fish with his 300 :) Good luck and good fishing.

[@KnettersPracticalOutdoors]

Thanks for the tips! They are great old reels, KPO.

[@Rikson_27]

What kind of fish? Im very interested in buying a very good condition of the reel

[@tomjordan1063]

Enjoyed your video. Bent bail is a common problem more so than the spring. Been fishing the same 300 since 1969. Bought another for salt water to save old reliable and have since bought a boatload of Mitchells. They have a wide variety of sizes and retrieve speeds. The 5 stage Planamatic Gearing on the 308 might interest you. Funny how a old reel on a hollow glass pole feels so different.

[@KnettersPracticalOutdoors]

I do love these old reels, KPO.

[@dannydnice1]

Excellent video

[@KnettersPracticalOutdoors]

Danny glad you enjoyed it, KPO.

[@CynicalFish]

Of course you can still catch, as long as theres nothing mechanically wrong. I still use mine. Mitchell 300a and a bruce and walker lxe 13foot float rod both early 80s equipment. Keep the reel well greased!

[@KnettersPracticalOutdoors]

Good stuff!

[@OutnBacker]

I use two vintage 300's, a 1980's 308, and a early 80's Garcia 3800. Those are my spinners. My othreels are early 1980's Zebco 33 Classic, 44Classic (triggerspin 33) and a tiny Zebco UL-4, another triggerspin. I have NEVER had a problem with any of them.

[@KnettersPracticalOutdoors]

Old school through and through!

[@millieatr]

I'm guessing around 1968 for that reel you have....Enjoyed your good ole days fishing pics

[@KnettersPracticalOutdoors]

Thanks for that Brad, KPO.

[@millieatr]

@@KnettersPracticalOutdoors Yes Sir

[@gordonmohr2268]

thats the one I started out with so many years ago, my dad had one too

[@KnettersPracticalOutdoors]

Gordon, thanks for watching, KPO.

[@EZFISHING]

Nice video 👏 i SUB

[@fishin2themax245]

Good video

[@KnettersPracticalOutdoors]

Thanks, KPO

[@lawrencejohnston5135]

I grew up with the Mitchell 300 and used them for rainbow trout fishing spincasting, using lures. I had a few of them and unfortunately they were lost when my died died. He was in Canada and I was living in the USA. I picked up a 300 at a garage sale for $10. I have taken it apart, cleaned out the old grease and re-lubed it. I also picked up a couple of bail springs. My question to you is do you know of anyway to attach this reel to a newer rod? The new rods contact points for the reel foot are too short and not long enough. I would hate to have to grind the foot to make this fit.

[@KnettersPracticalOutdoors]

I've had my 300s on more modern poles. I didn't even realize they were that much different. Try it on a few different poles. Maybe the one you're trying it on is an odd-ball?

[@lawrencejohnston5135]

@@KnettersPracticalOutdoors I have four modern rods from Okuma (2, spinning and casting), Shakespeare and a Vigor that are spinning rods. They all have the same narrow and shallow reel seats.

[@stefoboss998]

Hello sir, I am new to this reel and I was wondering if the line goes through the hole from the bail? For some reason my line will not move… Cheers!

[@KnettersPracticalOutdoors]

Well, I would describe the line as going from the spool and around the bail roller and then going 90 degrees and then onto the guide on the pole.

[@tinamortensen1220]

Two questions... 1. My handle doesn't lock in place how do I fix it? 2. When I am putting line on it doesn't fill evenly to the bottom of the spool. What do I need to do to fix this. Cleaned and greased reel. All else in working order.

[@KnettersPracticalOutdoors]

Well, I'm not an expert on these reels or any others, but it sounds like broken or worn out parts. You may just need new parts.

[@dominoespizza1756]

I've got a 300 from mid 50s it was my great uncle's but he never used it so I'm not sure if I should use it

[@KnettersPracticalOutdoors]

I understand not wanting to loose or wreck something like that. But if it were me I would put it on a pole and go out and fish with it once and then you have that memory. But either way is cool. Thanks for adding in, KPO.

[@biminidave]

Use it. I bought my first 300 in 61 or 62. Used it for years. I have no idea how many hundreds of fish I caught with the thing, but it never let me down.

[@RejectedandDiscarded]

I just picked up 3 of them for free.

[@KnettersPracticalOutdoors]

I'm jealous, KPO.

[@stovepipe9232]

Will it catch fish? That reminds me of the Turkey or deer hunters that think hunting with a 2 3/4 12ga is silly as only a 3-3 1/2" gun will take game. I guarantee everyone that hunts knows that guy!

[@KnettersPracticalOutdoors]

Thanks for watching, KPO.

[@CabanaBoy63]

I've got my 2 300s and a 320....okay?

[@KnettersPracticalOutdoors]

Cool

[@danielrdzb10]

How much cost?

[@KnettersPracticalOutdoors]

Daniel, these reels are kind of like antiques. So the price varies depending on condition, But I have seen good working condition Mitchell 300s from $40 to $100 at antique stores. Thanks for watching, KPO