I’ve still got my 300A from 1978. Felt I’d ‘arrived’ as an angler! From memory, it cost £18.10. I’ve always felt that the biggest advantage was the line lay. My current trotting reels are Daiwa 2503CUs, which have superb line lay, and are an easy reach to the spool. I’ve never been bothered about the ‘auto’ feature, preferring to flick the bale arm manually.
Still have my 440A my father purchased for me in the mid 70's. I need to get it serviced and put it back into use, not been touched since about 1985. After watching you other videos I plan to use it again for my Roach fishing.
A drop of oil in a couple of places - the bale arm and handle, a check on the grease in the gearbox and a some grease on the lever you can see through the hole in the baffle plate and they're generally good to go. Check the bail arm isn't grooved.
Very enjoyable. Took me back to the early eighties and saving for a Match. I used it for a few years before swapping to a Daiwa Autobail Harrier. Too many tangles around the back of the bail arm mechanism for my liking but a super reel. Particularly the shallow spools, quick release and lovely blue colour! I still occasionally give mine a session with a boron Mach 2 or old Tri-cast. Would be great to run a vintage tackle match on the river.
I learnt using a Mitchells. 300's for feeder fishing, a Match's for the waggler (and an ABU 501/503 for the stick float). When I was 14 /15 (around 1987) at an open on the Thames at Medley and was given a Shimano (Aerlex, I think) to try. Stuck with the ABU a bit longer, but never used the Mitchells again.
The first auto-bail reel from Mitchell was indeed called the Otomatic not 330 otomatic, came in a white box with a blue trim to it and red writing top left hand corner of the lid. It had the loop in the bail arm over the tungsten line guide and is today a very sought after reel, the 330 Otomatic came out around 1957 in what is called a barn box, a red and cream plastic box with a spare spool inside. The 440 was also first made in 1963 not 66
I got one of the first OTOMATIC . No 330 Numbers on housing and no Bail lock Button on the rotatorhead and the Bail in more common 300 shape. I have every Autobail MITCHELL Version from the first pre 330 to the last 840. I use this Reels for Spinnfishing on 2,70 - 3,40m Vintage handmade swedish Splittcanes for Pike, Perch, Seatrout and Salomon fishing. All Autobail owners : Store your Autobailreels with Bail in open position for a long and relaxed Bailspring life!
When I started angling in the late 70's Mitchell reels were the go-to reel for the enthusiast, I've owned (and broke, cursed, thrown) several. Honestly I was glad to move on to more modern skirted reels from the likes of Daiwa, Shimano, Abu and Browning when they arrived, far fewer tangles and more reliable. Ironically I bought a Mitchell 400x when they underwent a revival in the 90's, best Mitchell reel I've owned and still use it to this day. That reel has landed many large carp accidentally caught while targeting tench, Its mechanically like new and even came with a spare gasket/seals set which I've yet to use. Yes the old Mitchell reels are a lovely piece of nostalgia, no way would I go back to them for everyday float fishing though. Enjoy your reels and its nice to see a balanced appraisal of them. Thanks for sharing.
Looking at reels logically all reels for light line floatfishing are a compromise; there are things I like about the Mitchell Match - brilliant line lay, the correct direction of winding (weirdly, ambidextrous reels effectively wind one way in LHW, the other in RHW), fast retrieve, perfect spools, auto bale and enough reel inertia that you can let go of the handle and not have an out of control backwind, and these over-ride the disadvantages of average quality build (need lots of careful maintenance with parts that are increasingly hard to find), OK drag (not unusable) and tangles around the complex bale assembly . I have several Shimano Stradics that have far better build quality, almost unbreakable with excellent line lay yet new spools (on most of their new reels, too) have a sharp lip that is uncomfortable to use, brilliant fighting drag, wind the wrong way, are prone to line cutting a plastic part on the bale, no auto bale, and spin out of control unless you have the anti-reverse on all the time.
@@MarkWintleFishing Yes I agree regarding the low friction mechanisms of modern reels being prone to over-running if the rotor is not feathered or using anti-reverse. Even more annoying is many single handled models tend to backwind while rested due to just the position/weight of the handle. I overcame this on my Mitchell 400x by re-greasing using a higher viscosity grease (anyone experimenting with this must use a synthetic grease who's viscosity does not change with temperature, trust me). A few years ago a came across the Frenzee 4000 FMR Mk2 reel, this uses a unique method of solving this issue called a PBS system, effectively its a 2nd adjustable lightweight drag on the base of the reel handle that prevents runaway and self backwinding. I bought one and it became my instant favourite, I got a second one as a spare and glad I did as they went out of production shortly after (it came with both single and double handles). They are good quality reels and the spool to finger distance is fine for trotting, if you see one used for a decent price I highly recommend trying one.
Have three matches,one mint unused. Also a rebuilt 330. As you’ve said great reels for river float fishing along with my Dave Plowman Abu 507 and a couple of near mint 506Ms. Have Japanese Shimano 3000 match and a few older Daiwa match reels,one with the automatic bail arm. Great video again and if someone re engineers and makes a new but same Mitchell Match I’ll be one of the first in the queue for a couple.
The time I find I need to backwind is playing chub, especially on the upper Stour where you need to wind the float almost to the tip of the rod to keep them out of the reeds then once they're beaten backwinding lets you net them. The Mitchell Match drag on the spools works on low settings ie quite soft for very fine lines but once you need to set it much stiffer it tends to stick. I use my Stradics for mullet fishing, and big chub and barbel on the tip
Abu 501, 506m and the 507 for me....... horses for courses as they say. My reasoning for the Abus is I have short fingers and the cup sits tight to the reel seat, whereas most fixed spool reels are a stretch for me. Simple as that in my case
I had an ABU 505 from 1973 and used it extensibly until I bought my first Match in 1976. I found that I tended to wear out the spool holder on the ABU with the sideways torque but back then getting parts was easy. I got rid of the 505 long ago but I've still got a 506 that belonged to a mate - he got that reel in 1972. It still works well.
Dave from Trafford Tackle can mold a replacement cam for the back of the baffle plate. Fixed with epoxy and three small screws- £14. Much more economical than buying a new one.
New ones are pretty much unobtainable so this may be the answer. I'm OK at present as I've lots of working reels with several in mint condition though I tend to use the well-worn ones.
I told you I'd bought a 440A recently and that's your fault for going on about them. 😁 Have you ever had the faceplate off one and given it an oiling and greasing? If so, why not do a video on that, lots of people might be interested in it. I did a Mitchell 300 once and even repaired the bail arm and it works well now, but I'm more used to ABu CF reels.
I remember buying a pair of Daiwa Autocast RG 1355m to replace my old Black Diamonds. Then couldn't get to to grips with the auto bail. Ended up just opening the bale manually.
I have 4 Mitchell match reels i got my first in 1974. I cant remember how much it cost but i saved my school dinner ticket money until i had enough it was well worth missing dinner. I still use them when float fishing i just wish someone would make one with todays materials and it would be about 4 ounces lighter.
For light line fishing with the 440A I'd urge you to get some ultra shallow spools. I have some of the deeper spools - there are more than one type - but apart from one or two loaded with heavy line don't really use them.
@MarkWintleFishing yes i have light line on the low profile spools but have a deeper one and wondered how much line it would take. Still love the Mitchell match reel for float fishing.
There are at least three types of spool: the ultra shallow one (125 yards of 2lb line) , a small capacity spool (250 yds of 2lb line) and a large capacity one - really deep (300 yards 6lb line).
I’ve still got my 300A from 1978. Felt I’d ‘arrived’ as an angler! From memory, it cost £18.10. I’ve always felt that the biggest advantage was the line lay. My current trotting reels are Daiwa 2503CUs, which have superb line lay, and are an easy reach to the spool. I’ve never been bothered about the ‘auto’ feature, preferring to flick the bale arm manually.
Still have my 440A my father purchased for me in the mid 70's. I need to get it serviced and put it back into use, not been touched since about 1985. After watching you other videos I plan to use it again for my Roach fishing.
A drop of oil in a couple of places - the bale arm and handle, a check on the grease in the gearbox and a some grease on the lever you can see through the hole in the baffle plate and they're generally good to go. Check the bail arm isn't grooved.
@@MarkWintleFishing The only issue I have with it is the anti reverse lever doesn't seem to work, so will get it sent out for service/repair.
If you own a autobail MITCHELL: Store the Reel with Bail in open position that give the Bailspring a much longer and relaxed life!
Very enjoyable. Took me back to the early eighties and saving for a Match. I used it for a few years before swapping to a Daiwa Autobail Harrier. Too many tangles around the back of the bail arm mechanism for my liking but a super reel. Particularly the shallow spools, quick release and lovely blue colour! I still occasionally give mine a session with a boron Mach 2 or old Tri-cast. Would be great to run a vintage tackle match on the river.
I've still got a couple of Boron Mach 2 rods; lovely action just a shame they're so heavy. I do use them from time to time.
An excellent and informative video, thank you Mark.
I learnt using a Mitchells. 300's for feeder fishing, a Match's for the waggler (and an ABU 501/503 for the stick float). When I was 14 /15 (around 1987) at an open on the Thames at Medley and was given a Shimano (Aerlex, I think) to try. Stuck with the ABU a bit longer, but never used the Mitchells again.
The first auto-bail reel from Mitchell was indeed called the Otomatic not 330 otomatic, came in a white box with a blue trim to it and red writing top left hand corner of the lid. It had the loop in the bail arm over the tungsten line guide and is today a very sought after reel, the 330 Otomatic came out around 1957 in what is called a barn box, a red and cream plastic box with a spare spool inside. The 440 was also first made in 1963 not 66
I got one of the first OTOMATIC . No 330 Numbers on housing and no Bail lock Button on the rotatorhead and the Bail in more common 300 shape. I have every Autobail MITCHELL Version from the first pre 330 to the last 840. I use this Reels for Spinnfishing on 2,70 - 3,40m Vintage handmade swedish Splittcanes for Pike, Perch, Seatrout and Salomon fishing. All Autobail owners : Store your Autobailreels with Bail in open position for a long and relaxed Bailspring life!
When I started angling in the late 70's Mitchell reels were the go-to reel for the enthusiast, I've owned (and broke, cursed, thrown) several. Honestly I was glad to move on to more modern skirted reels from the likes of Daiwa, Shimano, Abu and Browning when they arrived, far fewer tangles and more reliable.
Ironically I bought a Mitchell 400x when they underwent a revival in the 90's, best Mitchell reel I've owned and still use it to this day. That reel has landed many large carp accidentally caught while targeting tench, Its mechanically like new and even came with a spare gasket/seals set which I've yet to use. Yes the old Mitchell reels are a lovely piece of nostalgia, no way would I go back to them for everyday float fishing though. Enjoy your reels and its nice to see a balanced appraisal of them. Thanks for sharing.
Looking at reels logically all reels for light line floatfishing are a compromise; there are things I like about the Mitchell Match - brilliant line lay, the correct direction of winding (weirdly, ambidextrous reels effectively wind one way in LHW, the other in RHW), fast retrieve, perfect spools, auto bale and enough reel inertia that you can let go of the handle and not have an out of control backwind, and these over-ride the disadvantages of average quality build (need lots of careful maintenance with parts that are increasingly hard to find), OK drag (not unusable) and tangles around the complex bale assembly . I have several Shimano Stradics that have far better build quality, almost unbreakable with excellent line lay yet new spools (on most of their new reels, too) have a sharp lip that is uncomfortable to use, brilliant fighting drag, wind the wrong way, are prone to line cutting a plastic part on the bale, no auto bale, and spin out of control unless you have the anti-reverse on all the time.
@@MarkWintleFishing Yes I agree regarding the low friction mechanisms of modern reels being prone to over-running if the rotor is not feathered or using anti-reverse. Even more annoying is many single handled models tend to backwind while rested due to just the position/weight of the handle. I overcame this on my Mitchell 400x by re-greasing using a higher viscosity grease (anyone experimenting with this must use a synthetic grease who's viscosity does not change with temperature, trust me). A few years ago a came across the Frenzee 4000 FMR Mk2 reel, this uses a unique method of solving this issue called a PBS system, effectively its a 2nd adjustable lightweight drag on the base of the reel handle that prevents runaway and self backwinding. I bought one and it became my instant favourite, I got a second one as a spare and glad I did as they went out of production shortly after (it came with both single and double handles). They are good quality reels and the spool to finger distance is fine for trotting, if you see one used for a decent price I highly recommend trying one.
All the design features for the reel of my dreams are figured out but no-one's ever going to make it!
Have three matches,one mint unused. Also a rebuilt 330. As you’ve said great reels for river float fishing along with my Dave Plowman Abu 507 and a couple of near mint 506Ms. Have Japanese Shimano 3000 match and a few older Daiwa match reels,one with the automatic bail arm. Great video again and if someone re engineers and makes a new but same Mitchell Match I’ll be one of the first in the queue for a couple.
me too... I'd be up for a new shiny one 😊😊
Great video Mark
Glad you enjoyed it
I have 3. If I don't need a line clip or a baitrunner they are my go to reels. The best reel to play a fish on.
I agree about the Shimano Stradic re: backwind but. find I rely on the clutch as it is so good and so well engineered
The time I find I need to backwind is playing chub, especially on the upper Stour where you need to wind the float almost to the tip of the rod to keep them out of the reeds then once they're beaten backwinding lets you net them. The Mitchell Match drag on the spools works on low settings ie quite soft for very fine lines but once you need to set it much stiffer it tends to stick. I use my Stradics for mullet fishing, and big chub and barbel on the tip
Abu 501, 506m and the 507 for me....... horses for courses as they say. My reasoning for the Abus is I have short fingers and the cup sits tight to the reel seat, whereas most fixed spool reels are a stretch for me. Simple as that in my case
I had an ABU 505 from 1973 and used it extensibly until I bought my first Match in 1976. I found that I tended to wear out the spool holder on the ABU with the sideways torque but back then getting parts was easy. I got rid of the 505 long ago but I've still got a 506 that belonged to a mate - he got that reel in 1972. It still works well.
Dave from Trafford Tackle can mold a replacement cam for the back of the baffle plate. Fixed with epoxy and three small screws- £14. Much more economical than buying a new one.
New ones are pretty much unobtainable so this may be the answer. I'm OK at present as I've lots of working reels with several in mint condition though I tend to use the well-worn ones.
I told you I'd bought a 440A recently and that's your fault for going on about them. 😁 Have you ever had the faceplate off one and given it an oiling and greasing? If so, why not do a video on that, lots of people might be interested in it. I did a Mitchell 300 once and even repaired the bail arm and it works well now, but I'm more used to ABu CF reels.
I'll see how feasible that is. But yes I've taken Matches apart many times.
Love mine !!
Always have.... Did any other manufacturer ever produce an auto bail arm? apart from the Abu and similar closed face reels.
Both Daiwa and Ryobi did autocast open-face fixed spool reels.
I remember buying a pair of Daiwa Autocast RG 1355m to replace my old Black Diamonds. Then couldn't get to to grips with the auto bail. Ended up just opening the bale manually.
French made mitchells, what can you say about them,, the best reels ever, No other reels have, will ever come close to them.😊
I just purchased a very clean 440 works amazing. 👏
Enjoy it!
I have 4 Mitchell match reels i got my first in 1974. I cant remember how much it cost but i saved my school dinner ticket money until i had enough it was well worth missing dinner. I still use them when float fishing i just wish someone would make one with todays materials and it would be about 4 ounces lighter.
Bennetts of Sheffield list a Match at full price of £13.80 in June 1974. I agree; I'd love one made of modern materials that weighed 6oz.
Next generation one had square shape body and skirted spool
What is the line capacity of the deeper spool on the 440a please. Just bought one on ebay. Used to have one back in the 70s.
For light line fishing with the 440A I'd urge you to get some ultra shallow spools. I have some of the deeper spools - there are more than one type - but apart from one or two loaded with heavy line don't really use them.
@MarkWintleFishing yes i have light line on the low profile spools but have a deeper one and wondered how much line it would take. Still love the Mitchell match reel for float fishing.
There are at least three types of spool: the ultra shallow one (125 yards of 2lb line) , a small capacity spool (250 yds of 2lb line) and a large capacity one - really deep (300 yards 6lb line).
@@MarkWintleFishing thanks for your help. Much appreciated.
Back in the day they where all the rage, Mitchell must have sold loads
I think sales of the Match ran into the hundreds of thousands.
RICHARD Walker.