Thread: Vintage Rig

Got the trifecta tonight with the Mitchell/Conolon rig. What a blast!

Fiber glass sure has a different bend and feel to it for sure

Congrats on the trifecta, good job.

my go to and only want reel back when was a Mitchell , 300 and 308 back around the mid 60 era was my thing . you couldn't kill one and by golly they wasn't cheap either . had to pull a many a weed and mow the yard about all summer to get dad to buy me one .
brings back memories , I remember carp fishing with the 300 quite well , it used to be my thing as a kid . the drags were really smooth on them old reels and they could handle a big fish quite well .
a hook set and a reel screaming on a big ole carp was about some kinds of cool when I was a preteen .used to chum em with corn and wait patiently to see all the mud swirls and tails up on the surface and I liked to set the rod down no sinker with an open bail and wait for the line to start rolling off .
lift the rod carefully , get set ,flip the bail and SET THE HOOK ! and hold the rod high on them bonefish simulation runs big carp frequently do …..
KABOOM time by golly
cool rod and reel bro …..

Brings back good memories. My first big boy rod was that same brown Garcia rod with a Mitchell 308 reel on it. Caught hundreds of trout and bluegill, and probably thousands of crappie fishing many years in California. My dad then was stationed in Hawaii and I used that combo to catch a lot of very fine saltwater fish, but the combo wasn't really made for that kind of drag screaming punishment and I finally wore the reel out. Don't know what I did with the rod. Can't remember breaking it or giving it away, but I don't seem to have it anymore.

Originally Posted by Fishfishwish

Used a vintage combo I recently acquired for the first time today - a Garcia Mitchell 300 (actually a 301 since I'm a lefty) and a Garcia Conolon 2508. I haven't tracked down the exact ages but these both existed at least as long ago as the early 60s. I tore down, cleaned and lubed the reel. The rod was almost mint. Lots of fun pulling in 10 gills and shell crackers. This light action rod really bends!

Congrats on your score. That same rod/reel combo (with 300) was my first spinning rod and reel. I bought it at Grant's(?) or Woolco(?) in Nashville after starting my first summer job out of high school in 1965. Caught lots of fish in creeks, ponds and below Pickwick Dam with it. The rod did very well with 6#, good with 4# with some occasional back reeling against bigger white bass and smallmouth. I remember trying 2# test a couple of times but couldn't get the drag/ back reeling down on bigger fish. I loved that rig.

I still have the reel, unused and stored in Tupperware for many years now. It is still workable, but needs some cleaning. You may want to locate some bailsprings for it. I replaced several broken bailsprings over the years. Seems like I broke the rod while casting a fairly heavy lure (probably a half ounce Pedigo Spinrite tail spinner).

This combo made me a life-long devotee to spinning tackle. Although I bought a couple of 5000 baitcasters later, I quickly got rid of them and stayed with light and medium-light spinning gear through all my bass club and inshore coastal fishing years. Most of my fishing this year has been with new ultralight rods, which I am greatly enjoying. Rods, reels, line and lures just keep getting better. Hope you continue enjoying a truly classic combo.

Lots of good memories here. Thanks for sharing.

Did some more research. The reel was made between 1963 and 1968, based the Garcia script, the 3-0-1 script and the chevron-shaped anti-reverse switch. Based on the serial number, it's probably mid-60s.

I have an Ambassadeur 5000 on a Browning Silalflex. Caught a few bass with it last month. Nice set up but I think these vintage spinning rigs will get more use. I fish mostly with ultralight gear these days.

https://www.crappie.com/crappie/fish...ntage-fishing/


Just finished with the tear down, cleaning and lubrication of this 308. Gonna put it on a Wright-McGill vintage rod. Should be great fun for some ultralight action.

IMHO the old Mitchell 300s were the best reels ever made . Been thinking about finding one for old times sake . Really a nice rig you got, great find !