Old Mitchell Reels and Conolon Rods etc.

[Rook66]

Anybody collect vintage fishing gear? Mitchell reels have been my favorite reels since I was a kid growing up at my grandp's Three Rivers Boat Dock & Restaurant in Knoxville, TN back in the 50s and 60s. After inheriting a few besides my own it just sort of snowballed and I can't pass up a good deal on an old Mitchell or a Conolon Rod. I've got a lot of them that I have rescued from the dumpster by restoring them.

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The ones that are really bad I sandblast and repaint.

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For salt water I like the Mitchell 302s and 402s.

The 302

The 402.

Doing a little maintenance on some 302's getting ready to head to Florida panhandle this Spring.

This one is me at my granppa's boat dock back in 1957. I didn't own a Mitchell at that time I had to save up to buy one of them. All I had was an old Airex half bail spinning reel.

​​​​​​​Those were the good old days.

 

[Rook66]

I've also inherited and accumulated some old fishing lures over the years.

Anybody remember My Buddy Tackle Master tackle boxes?

 

[aspeck]

I have a couple old Mitchell's inherited from my Grandpa ... and a tacklebox of old lures also. I have been told some are worth some big $, but they are a piece of my fishing buddy (Grandpa) that I would never get back. I have made sure my kids know what they are worth so they don't do anything stupid after I am gone.

 

[southkogs]

Beautiful collection!

My brother is much more the fisherman than I am. Between he and Dad, they have all of my great grandpa's stuff. Dad's got a couple of old Johnson reels that resemble yours, but I'm not sure we have any Mitchells around.

 

[WIMUSKY]

The Mitchell 300 was a a staple. I currently use it for ice fishing. I have a collection of old baitcasters and lures. My coffee table is one of those display kind with a glass top. All fishing stuff....

 

[sam60]

I have one of only 2 poles/reels ever made. Please remind me if I don't send a pic by the weekend.

 

[82rude]

here ya go http://mitchellreelmuseum.com/index.php/Content/complete-history-of-mitchell-reels-1939-2014.html

 

[Old Ironmaker]

I have a few antique rods, reels and tackle. I like them grungy, used, the scars of use on them. I have an old Zara Spook with a Musky or Pike tooth stuck in it. I have make many Shadow Boxes intending on sell them, they hang on the walls. They're mine, hands off.

 

[82rude]

Ok ill bite ,whats a shadow box?

 

[Old Ironmaker]

Hi 82rude, a Shadow Box is a frame hung on a wall with niches in them you put stuff in to display.

Nice collections guys. Happy Easter and Passover to each and all from the sunny north shore of The Great Lake Erie.

 

[StarTed]

I also; had an old Airex that I used until too many screws and nuts fell off and I didn't have a source for those parts. We must be close to the same age because I had that reel about the same time but I think I must have been a little older.
When I was younger we used willow poles that we renewed each day (every trip) as my brother and I fished the streams in our area.
My collection of Mitchel reels is around 3 or 4 that I still use occasionally.
I like your collection. You do great work restoring them.