308 is the last model of 300 series. Although I don't have 306, its construction is same to 308.
308 was born in 1960. It was popular in 1970's Japanese lure anglers. Over 10 years had past then. Moreover 308 had lived until 2000.
Weight: 207g ( The reel of picture is set the aluminum spool and its foot was filed )
Ratio: 4.4:1
Spool diameter: 40mm
It was made in France from 1960 until middle of 1980's. It was made in Taiwan until end of 1990's and made in China until 2000.
And...310UL was born in 1990. It was 308 with smaller rotor and spool.
Above picture was changed the bail to roller guide. The original is fixed tungsten guide. I changed it because it weakens the line.
See details on "Bail" on this site.
Because the drag click spring and the under washer are covered, it is good for handling.
70's models had a aluminum deep spool and a plastic shallow spool. The aluminum spool was black painted. Silver and hard anodized spool were made early of 80's. They are changed "graphite" spools in middle 80's.
The same drag system to 300. Friction washer is a fiber. Under washer is a teflon. Although it is simple and not super wide range, its performance is enough to fish. The constant is best on French models.
The friction washer was changed the leather and Non-asbestos for more drag max in 1980's.
300 was 8 gears system. 302 was 3 piece bodies. Mitchell reached the best construction on 306 and 308.
It's simple and easy maintenance.
Gears are bevel gears. Ratio is 4.4.
It is noisy. Perhaps, the present and delicate anglers cannot use it.
But I thought "what is this !?"on the first time. However, I understood the fitness of handle, easy feathering, concept of A/R. Then I reached "The reel mustn't judge only by the gearing".
Pinion gear is supported the double thrust bearings.
Picture is 80's. There are 3types. I will show them on other page.
Set screw for bearings are 2 types. The longer is 70's. The shorter is 80~90's.
Although 308 is simple and plain, only planamatic is unique and mysterious.
Its motion is very strange. Slow motion and quick motion are mixed. And they shift little by little by 10:13 ratio.
Slow motion is good for castability, quick motion makes "Cross Wind" for anti-line-trouble.
Because planamatic winds the more lines on middle area of spool, the friction of lip is decreased. However, it makes tangles with full line. Then, you will think, "Cross wind system is better, because it can use with full lines". Don't say such! This is the esprit of French.
The retainer of oscillation slider is made with two pins and a oval plate ( left of the picture ) . So, the axial looseness of spool is very small.
Spool looseness are axial and revolution. Although the revolution looseness is large, the axial is small on 308. The axial looseness is important for anti-line-trouble. Mitchell knew it.
But this retainer was changed to right pins in 1980's. It was a wrong changing.
It is simple. The back play is large. It is not silent.
But it makes the 308 lighter. And, "Mitchellists"uses the A/R with free position until he takes the net. So, it is no problem.
Although it is not recommended that keeping the A/R with ON all the time (especially with present hard carbon rods...), its click sound is not so noisy. Picking up the line is more easy by its back play. Its all right !
Of course, the A/R switch is good position to change without release the handle.
This is the gears of 408. 408 is the high speed version of 308. The ratio is 5.5.
These gears are hi-cost and severe. Because 308 was designed for 4.4 ratio, hi-speed gear had to be this.
It's smoother than 308. If it was noisy, the cause maybe the bearings.
This may be the last 308. It was made in July 2000. It is same to the reel "The last 308" of this site. It was made in China.
This 308 is improved than the reel on "The last 308". Present Mitchell Avocet, made in China, is also good quality. So, If this 308 had been made in China, it became good quality reel.
But Pure Fishing, which got Mitchell in 2000, abolished this model in 2000 !
Oh, it is profanity for the fishing tackle history ! Pure Fishing is sinful !!
I want to improve the gears. I wonder if the spiral face gears are used in this (see the page of "Face gear 3" of this site).
Because this 308 doesn't have planamatic system, it doesn't make line trouble. Especially in Japan, the line became thinner and anglers use more rod action for minnow plugs. So, Cross Wind of this 308 is suitable for present fishing.
