[Hurtin1]

I was back up on Long Island a few weeks back to attend the annual family Lobster party in Huntington. My pulled me aside and said he had something for me. He then pulled some of my grandfather's old fishing gear out and said that wanted me to have it. There was a couple of old rods that looked the worse for wear but one of them had on it an old Garcia Mitchell 306 surf reel. Aside from some oxidization on the chrome and the need for a good cleaning and greasing, it is in almost perfect condition.

Not that I plan on selling it or anything, but do any of you have any idea if it is worth anything? The reason I ask is that I am thinking of cleaning it up and using it but don't want to wreck it if it has some value other that sentimental.

Photos below.

Thanks,

Dave

 

[ihavegills]

Use it!

They are on ebay all the time and I don't think it will have any significant value, under $30-100 depending on condition unless it's out of the box mint. More sentimental value and to me that is priceless. I would use that thing and maintain it for the next generation. My Grandfathers Penn Greenie 710 meant more to me in the suds on a stick with a bass on than on a shelf. It deserves to catch fish and maybe it has some of your GP's mojo!

 

[Hurtin1]

Grandad's Mojo

Thanks Ihavegills,

That is pretty much what I was thinking, that I would clean it up, pack it with grease and start using it.

I moved a while back to the West coast of Florida where most of the surf fishing is done on relatively light tackle so it will probably not see as much use as if I still lived on LI. When the tarpon are running the beaches next June, I will have to break it out. Then again, maybe I will use it on the boat, casting to snook by the mangroves?

In any case, thank you for the reply.

Dave

 

[fish4me]

I have two of them and use them all the time. Nice little reels.

 

[kcee7]

Nice reel Dave. Use it well and then pass it on to your son

 

[Hurtin1]

Hey Bill,

Thanks for the reply. I will use it at some point and my son is becoming quite the fisherman (for a 6 yr old). he has been fishing off the boat with me and has caught: both black and gag grouper (all small), many different kinds of snapper, small sharks, lots of speckled trout, sea bass (same one as in NY), pinfish, squirrel fish, spanish macs, and a bunch more.

When are you going to be a dad? Soon?


All the best,

Dave

 

[rudolph10021]

Mitchell 300

There were the first spinning reels. I inhgerited one from my Grandfather when I first started fishing and bought several more over the years. They are fine -- they don't compare in smoothness to more modern reels, but as a basic reel they are still just fine.

Good luck!

 

[tonyzfishin]

Was one of the first reels i used as a kid....., now i only use them for "nostalgic trips" with my first fishing rod when i head out east to fish for weaks in the peconics come springtime......

 

[Slick56]

That there 306 is a nice reel for the surf. Its braid friendly too. Go get yourself the power handle, it makes a huge difference. If you want I have one for sale. I own a few mitchells myself and fish the 402. The 300 is my favorite. Mitchell 3000 is another one i own, 496,486, and lastly the 408 and 310 light reel for FW fishing.
What i love most about the garcia mitchell spin reels is you can do a really cool restoration on them as a project. I did it to my 402 army green and 488 bright red. Parts are not hard to come by for these reels.

 

[Hurtin1]

Thanks for the info guys

Hey Slick56, what exactly is a "power handle"?

Thanks,

Dave

 

[walleyeman]

Hurtin1 wrote:
Hey Slick56, what exactly is a "power handle"?

Thanks,

Dave
It's a reel handle that gives you more leverage for larger fish and bigger lures.