MITCHELL’S

Skish & Arenberg Tournament

Casters

By: Dennis Roberts                                                                                                                     Part 3 

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In Part 3 we explore Mitchell’s tournament caster that was designed purposely for Skish and Arenberg event; accuracy casting. The prior two segments in this series dealt with distance models and their unique qualities. We will now examine the more refined “art” of accuracy casting and the reel that was engineered for this event. The premise for accuracy competition is to cast a pre-measured weight into a designated area consisting of colored hoops or target rings; depending on which discipline you are involved in. How close you come to the target or placing your casting weight in the hoop increases the score in your favor. The accuracy events are disciplined competition requiring good eye-hand coordination and targeting skill. 

Second Version Casting Reel

The standard size body and short spool dimensions, “short-stackers”, make for a good balance between reel and spool that enhances handling during the cast.  Mitchell made this tournament grade reel for accuracy casting during the early to mid 1960’s. It was a derivative of its big brother that was used for distance competition. The reel itself was similar to the original tournament model utilizing the extra gear as a reversing gear to change spool direction opposite from the norm. 

Plastic Ridged Spool

The main difference between this model caster and other types of tournament reels is the spool and in some cases, the axle. Spools came in two types of configuration and two types of material. The original spool was made from plastic, approximately 2-cm in length and with ridges. The spool also has a slight angle for ease of line flow.  As an option, the caster can use a non-conic designed spool made from plastic but having no ridges.  Mitchell also commissioned the use of an aluminum spool of the same dimension. The aluminum spool came in either a smooth or a ridged finish like their plastic counterparts. Some aluminum spools were aftermarket entries used by casters who converted their standard reels to quasi tournament models.  Mitchell also made two axles for this reel.  The short standard ones were used for the accuracy model and the elongated ones were used for the distance models with the long conic spools.  There were circumstances were the distance models used a short axle with a redesigned spool having a recessed interior and/or a modified drag nut with an extension that connected to the standard axle. 

Smooth Plastic Spool

The reel came from the factory with a full bail system, identical to a standard model. Internally, the reel was fine tuned and horned smooth for operation having the extra reversing gear. Unfortunately, information is not available on these “short stack casters” as to the total units manufactured. It appears they never received the same notoriety as their big brothers received. We suspect less than 150 were made during the few years they were manufactured. Although this reel was intended for accuracy casting, they were frequently modified for distance competition.  The extra gear allowed a change of direction of the rotor so that line comes off of the spool without danger to the casting finger for right hand casters. Note: on very early models a locking nut was used. It appears Mitchell modified a regular distance caster to an accuracy caster early on. This was later changed to a regular handle as locking systems were not required for accuracy casting. 

Early Version With Locking Ring

An important note about this version of the tournament model is that it was only marketed with the word Mitchell on the cover plate. Even the ones used in the US had the same wording. Garcia and other vendors’ logos were not included on this special tournament version from what can be determined.  It has been noted that Albatross of the Netherlands did incorporate their logo on the distance versions but we have no evidence they used it on Skish models. 

Aluminum Spool With Ridges

Another interesting fact about this reel is not many remain in circulation.  One of the reasons for this was the reel was easily mistaken for a regular fishing reel and inadvertently used for that purpose.  Many of these models were  modified or destroyed during the years of use. A number of owners knowingly or were not aware or did not care about the significance of this reel and converted it to use for fishing/distance casting. It is estimated that a substantial amount are forever lost as a result of misuse, or of owners not knowing what they had! 

Aluminum Spool Smooth

During the years in circulation, some owners of these reels started to make changes to enhance performance.  Aftermarket spools  were becoming commonplace which only detracted from its original design and depleted the inventory of authentic casters.  To identify an original Skish Tournament caster, the reel should be fitted with an extra reversing gear and plastic ridged spool that was approximately 2 cm long. It also had a slight taper. Aluminum casting spools having similar dimensions in some cases are factory originals but care should be taken on the possibility of counterfeits. By the mid to late 1960’s, Mitchell eliminated the “pure” tournament caster reel and replaced it with the “auto bail” for accuracy casting.

MRCC

Later Version

Internal Gearing

Handle with locking ring