Back along I mentioned I was interested in having a custom swingtip rod made..I put this in this reviews section,anyway this is what I have learnt using one after many years of last fishing with one..

Mine is made on a new ,but old stock.Northwestern blank ,with a lovely cork handle ,spigoted and single leg guides..

So I have used it for carp and roach so far..both times using a simple running lead, a double bead as shown to me by the modern instigator of winter carp fishing ,and a simple mono hook link, of around 6lb,via a knotless knot,bait is either prawns for the roach or mini boilies,either Mirage or Ringers semi buoyant bottom baits..

Plan was to catch a roach,by passing the zillions of smallest using big prawn or 10mm boilies fishing mini carp stylee.
Takes when using this method are very pronounced,and as long as you set the tip.to.just above the surface,bites are impossible to.miss.,so fired up with with the success of several over a pound I planned to visit a small fishery with mixed species with carp to over 20lb..

Fishing the simple running lead,via the swingtip,offers virtually zero resistance to a inquisitive carp,and feeding sparingly ,I ended up with ,on this occasion several low doubles,around 15 carp in total and a 3lb f1...the other match angler ,nearby was interested in my methods, I totally ,gave him food for thought,especially as he'd never seen a Mitchell 300 before..

What I'm saying is....never neglect some old skool methods..

It was fun...remember that word....fun...!

In reply to Post #1
My wife's favourite method of fishing

In reply to Post #2
It's such good fun..loved it..

What was good is this lake is right next another lake with big carp ,I've fished that lake lots,anyway...two chaps were bivvied up ,they didn't get a bite all day ,in the end,they sat facing me watching,...eventually one came for a chat..think I gave him food for thought ,as I was saying that's how I normally fish like you and your mate...but ,I like to try different stuff out ,from Tenkara ,to bushcraft handlining ill try it ,but yes swingtipping is fantastic,think around about 12lb on that day was my biggest on tiny ,tiny Ringers boiliees..

The fish can be caught,you have to be different,and we'll done to your wife, 👌

Len Arbery was very keen on these he used 4 converted rods at Redmire in Ripples and reflections.
Hi all.

In reply to Post #3
I love alternatives to sitting behind buzzers. In daylight hours I like to use my eyes rather than alarms and to keep active. Ffeelined corn to patrolling carp, lift method on the centrepin, or quivertipping for Chub on the river are my favourites.

Once in France I was sitting behind static bobbins when I realised the lakes population of sturgeon was in the margins. The previous years fry of 1lb carp had grown and been sold/relocated so the waggler rod was sat in the car unused. Well, occasionally I like to "take the piss" and push the boundaries a bit, so I thought "why not do the lift method for sturgeon?" I had an absolute ball catching these hard fighting 20lb fish on what was no more than 8lb line and a rod that bent to the butt. No chance of losing them due to the lake being a public snagless claypit, so had many a fun hour nabbing the odd sturgeon on cheese in the edge, and often into dark, waiting for the starlite to disappear.

In reply to Post #5
I'm the same,I set myself little challenging adventures,my most memorable would be to catch a genuine 2lb An Gof ,ie a rare as you like Kernow grayling..rare I mean non existent in the upper reaches..

So what I did was wildcamped in a private meadow,with a untapped stretch of river as I'd done my research and asked permission,long story short ,one grayling ,big sea trout ,brownies..in the morning the owner came down with fresh tomatoes for my fry up..

The best fishing trip ever,better than any 30lb carp for sure..touch ledger for brownies ,sea trout in the moonlight ,with a controlled fire ,cooking on a grill, in the middle of no where,I mean no one does that ....

Or do they...?

I used to swingtip for carp regularly pre hair rig. Also found it excellent for shy biting eels.

In reply to Post #1
Joining a couple of your posts together I use a daiwa harrier twin tip (which is a lovely rod, ahead of its time I think) for swing and quiver tip and have just managed to pick up a 300 pro in great used condition to go with it. As a sort of late 80's early 90's set up. I will be fishing a lot more with my dad this year and it will be nice that we are both using similar older gear and methods.
The 300pro was only £40 though so there is hope.

In reply to Post #8
That's great stuff mate for sure...300 Pro,a lovely reel ,last two I saw in use was in the back of a Cortina Crusader estate,at Bolingy lake ,Gerry Savages full set up complete with 42 inch Original gardner rod pod,monkey climbers and silent ,converted optonics with pewter carp on the outside of the casing,plus brown su GS rods,his own gear..

I don't forget much ,especially regarding fishing

Seen a mint 300 Pro going for £250,only the other day..

Remember

LP......B...in that order...!

Enjoy your time with your dad mate...

In reply to Post #9
I saw that one on the bay. Too much money surely. My memory is terrible but that's part of what went wrong with me I think.
LP......B...in that order...! ?

In reply to Post #10
Waaay to much money for sure..

Have you made sure the washers in the spools are correct and in the correct order of sequence, it's important, as you can fish those reels like a modern say clutch and not churned style..

Lp...b..I'll pm that bud..

In reply to Post #11
Have you made sure the washers in the spools are correct and in the correct order of sequence, it's important, as you can fish those reels like a modern say clutch and not churned style.

Sorry Adam I missed this as been flat out working. Tell me more please. The clutch just seems normal like my other 300.

In reply to Post #12
Barry ,in some of the spools the washers can degrade or wear out over time ,so what you can do is replace the washers in the spools like for like ,with either a white Teflon, red fibre or if feeling posh a carbontex washer,any of these will free up the spools so they don't grab ..

A few I speak with ,much more experienced than me say keep the washers lubed,a seller I know says keep em dry,I keep em dry and can use my spools much like a modern front drag..

Three spindle, later spools can work best with a red fibre washer internally and a Teflon under the spool cap..

Or if like me ,the shallower version five spools only need a red fibre inside the spool..but not under the four spoke,adjuster..

If yours is 300 Pro,circ 1981 ish you'll need to look at both external and internal washers..on the graphite spools

Also Wallace Carney from the Mitchell museum site is a font of all things Mitchell,I am learning all the time,

In reply to Post #13
Thank you for that Adam I will have a look and see what's in them and have a play 👍