Yes, many thanks again Wallace for the pictures, they were really good to see, and demonstrated exactly my questions and gave some good answers to help me too. :text-thankyouyellow: You might well be right Glen, possibly it's one of those. I guess as the handle seems to work well for me, I shan't wo...

Hi Glen, Thanks ever so much for this, I will keep this in mind for sure. Another well know and well regarded brand of reel (which I of course won't mention here) seemed to suffer with faded plastic spools, but I don't think as you say, it ever really caused any issues. :-) Sorry about my late reply...

Hi Glen, When looking on the big auction site, there are lots of the 440 Match models here in the UK, as mentioned, they seem to really be pretty much made for the UK market haha! As you say, I guess the lady suddenly realised the sentimental value of the one you might have bought. I actually almost...

Hi Glen and Don, Thanks very much, there’s some great options you’ve both pointed out there, now I’ve looked at availability and prices too. It looks like you can buy certainly the 324 models for quite low money here in the UK, and there seem to be spools for those going too. The 320 seems to be aro...

Thanks ever so much both of you, much appreciated. :text-thankyouyellow: I never like to assume I know all the answers on these things, so it’s great to get some good advice and options I’d probably never thought of. The 508 and 908 were not on my radar at all for instance. The occasional nice 204 d...

You were spot on there with the 900. Funnily it’s not a reel I’d had much exposure to, so it was great seeing them all side by side in the picture there. They look a happy family. Haha yes, I guess that is the way I mostly fish here in England still, bait fishing. I do lure fish too, but nothing lik...

Thanks so much, those images are great, and give a really good insight. :text-coolphotos: :text-thankyouyellow: It's interesting to even see the variation of the opposite end cap on the bottom image, being plastic, and the others metal above. My 410A is a 1984 example, and has a similar end cap to t...

Good Morning/Afternoon All, I wonder if I could ask which models are the same size roughly as the 308 please, so I don't miss any that should be on my radar for lighter closer in work on the rivers here in the UK? I am finding getting a good condition 308, to use rather than collect, is harder than ...

Hello, Many thanks for the reply. :) As you say, I am sure it makes good logistical and financial sense if they can use a number of same parts across a number of different reel families. From looking, I think the 440A also uses a similar handle too. Although from googling, and looking at a number of...

Good Day All, I wonder if anyone could enlighten me on handle changes on the 410A from the late 70s, through to the models of the early 80s please? From some investigation, they initially seemed to have the rugby ball/(American) Football style grey handle end, similar to that on the 306, then possib...

Good Morning/Afternoon All (depending on where you are), I wondered if anyone had ever analysed (sorry for spelling, I am British) the paint used on the Mitchell reels before, as to whether it contains anything to be "aware" of, for instance lead or anything else possibly? I am guessing it...

Is that the only model of Mitchell with the fabric/felt built into the spool I wonder? I've not seen it on any of mine, but I need to look now to see, as maybe I wasn't all that observant lol!!

What a wonderful reel, and such a thoughtful and great gift for someone so small at the time, perfect! :) I am now thinking maybe I should explore the option of a 304 maybe for my young son and daughter, as they are both very interested in fishing, which I hope to remain ongoing, but we shall see. ;...

What a super little reel, I need to look out for one of those.

Yours is in super condition, I don't think I could hope to find one that good.

I do the same as you, I back the drag off of all my reels.

I wonder Rocky, I keep looking back at your picture to admire all your rods all ready to go, trying to motivate myself to create something similar. I wonder, is it possible to get a run down of each of the rods with reels please? :) All I think I can see for sure is the crisscross wrap of an Ugly St...

What a super setup, with them all looking ready to go. ;) I can see a winter project for me to get some of my rods and reels hanging like this, super. Sometimes for me, the biggest challenge to get out fishing with limited time, is getting ready to go, rather than the fishing itself, so this would e...

Good Morning, I guess they are usually used in conjunction with electronic bite alarms, and provide the tension of bringing the line in position for the alarms to work most effectively when a fish takes the bait. As you say, a finger on or around the line seems a great way to do it too though. :D Al...

It was always as you say, lovely to watch someone else fish, even if you weren’t able to get out yourself. I think also John’s calm voice, with great enthusiasm would encourage me to get out again fishing the next time I was able to. I’ve actually just watched another of his series on YouTube, and t...

Thanks for the welcome :-) It's great to be here. He was always very popular, and brought angling in the UK really to the mainstream, television and magazine articles I'd say. I think he was watched often by those with only a passing interest in fishing, as he was so enthusiastic, and often in some ...

Good Morning Everyone, I have lurked for a while, but decided to join so I could chat as well as read the great threads here. I wondered if anyone had ever spent any time identifying the Mitchell reels that were used by John Wilson in the earlier series of Go Fishing, circa mid to late 80s please? I...