Mitchell 300 Reel
Although its name might sound as if it belongs to an American varsity football team, Mitchell is, in fact, an iconic French brand with its roots in the very heart of the angling industry. An innovator of the early angling industry, the brand began life in the 1800s as a manufacturer of watch gears. In the 1930s the brand was approached by a fishing reel manufacturer to help them with the gearing in their reels. Mitchell realised its potential in the angling industry and began work on its first ever fishing reel. Unfortunately, the Second World War got in the way of its release but, as soon as peacetime was in place, the iconic Mitchell 300 hit the angling market. Still considered a legend of the industry, the reel has a cult following to this day and its design is still used as the blueprint for modern spinning reels.
Several decades later and this reel is back to prove that it is still the best spinning reel in existence – perfect for a whole range of uses across the lure fishing discipline. Mitchell knew that when it was thinking of bringing back the iconic 300 it had to ensure that every detail was considered. Fans of reel history will recognise many features on this 300 and the brand has taken care to ensure that this updated model really does pay homage to the original. For example, the egg-shaped body and open rotor will both be instantly recognisable and this iconic shape is taken directly from the original reel. It isn’t only the original 300 that this remodel has taken direct influence from – it has also been influenced by the original 200 model too. For example, fans of the series will recognise the handle shape and front drag button of the reel from the 200 model.
Although the designs of these key components have been inspired by the original 1950 models, the manufacture and technologies used within them are vastly improved. This reel has benefited from all the technological and material advances of the last 70 years and all the latest tackle developments are available in this latest evolution. The main body of the reel is constructed from an advanced polymeric material. This material is both stronger than graphite and lighter than aluminium, so it is hardwearing and feather-light – weighing in at only 288g. This ensures that it will balance incredibly well on any predator rod setup and it is ideal for use in a variety of lure fishing scenarios. The innovative bail halo gives the reel even more strength, as well as offering many fishing line management properties, and it ensures that the Mitchell 300 is a highly durable reel with a lot to offer.
This new 300 is fitted with an aluminium spool but also comes with a spare graphite spool as standard, allowing you to change up your setup easily on the bank. A multi-disk drag system gives a consistency in drag pressure that is yet to be seen in other spinning reels, ensuring that you can cast out with incredible accuracy and control. Six ball bearings work to give a smooth performance, as well as protecting the reel against wear and tear, and are as vital on your cast as they are on the retrieve. With a 5.1:1 gear ratio, this reel has some impressive pulling power too.
If you’re looking for a new spinning reel to step your fishing up a level then you cannot go wrong with this new iteration of the classic Mitchell 300 Reel. It’s safe to say that the legend has returned!