Mitchell Fishing Reels

The evolution of Mitchell fishing reels is steeped in rich history.

     The history of Mitchell fishing reels reveals that this unique fishing tackle is at par with stalwart fishing gear manufacturing companies like Penn, Shakespeare and Pflueger, etc. Mitchell fishing reels improved fishing gear manufacturing and brought it to mass consumer market in 1950. Today Mitchell fishing reels are among the most sought after fishing reels world wide.

     The first Mitchell spinning reel was an American invention, patented in 1875 by Thomas W. and Thomas D. Whistler of Baltimore, Maryland. Mitchell invented the spinning fishing reel in 1948. Today their most popular model, the 300 concentrates on moderately priced entry level spinning reels. It was Leon Carpano and Charles Pons who were stunned by the success of their first model and decided to design and market a left hand version of the spinning reel in 1953.

     This was followed by a larger Mitchell fishing reel development for sea angling. It was named “Salt Water” and was originally designed with a left bail arm. In 1954, things took a dramatic change when the Hardy patent for the full bail arm expired. During this time the “Mitchell” and “Mitchell Salt Water” was fitted with a full bail and an optional pick up system.

     The cap fishing reels was already in existence and was named “Mitchell Cap” or “Cap 54”. Another model of Mitchell fishing reel, “Otomatic” was the first reel to be equipped with a fully automatic bail release. This was launched in the market in 1955 and exported world wide.

     The first retrieve version of the 300 was named “Rapid” in 1957. In April 1957, a decision was reached whereby it was decided to add a number to the name of each existing model of Mitchell fishing reel. In this connection, the first Mitchell model became “Mitchell 300” while the intermediate model “306” was launched in 1958. This was followed by the first ultra light model in 1960 and the speedier version “358” in 1961. In the same year, the luxury model “300 DL” was launched and the first model having a skirted spool named “316” was introduced in 1963.

     The first conventional Mitchell fishing reel numbered 600 was released in 1964 followed by the low budget model “320” in 1965. One of Mitchell’s most outstanding fishing reels, the “510”, was launched in 1969 while the conventional fly reel “752” was introduced in the market in 1971.

     In 1981 due to financial constraints and economic depression, Mitchell declared bankruptcy. In 1982, Phillipe Bime took over the Mitchell organization. Using the history of Mitchell fishing reels tradition of quality and reliability, Bime tried to improve the company’s financial standing. By 1990, Mitchell Company was bought by Johnson World Wide Associates and the company shifted it’s headquarter to Mariguier.

     Today Mitchell fishing reels is a leading family fishing gear. The checkered history of Mitchell fishing reels is truly interesting but it also reveals how in spite of various travails, the company still retains its superiority in the manufacture of fishing equipment.