Best halibut set-up?

[tailchaser]

80 will do just fine. I actually have mine loaded with 50 lb. That and a good broomstick of a rod and you'll be set.

tc

[Pilar]

Ugly stick tiger is a great and inexpensive choice. I have gone to 80# tuff to avoid lack of abrasion strength that seems to be the deal with the lighter spectra lines.

You can even use mono but it is much harder to get 400 yds on the reel.

The best Halibut setup is the one with the barn door halibut on it. :grin:

[greenbuttskunk]

Sweet. I've got an ugly stik tiger that I use for oversize sturgeon, plus a full 1000 yard spool of 50lb tuff line, so I'm set. I have a senator 4/0
and a penn 320, but I think the senator will have more guts.

[Pilar]

Yes!, go for the 4/0 and the yellow po, you cannot go wrong.

[greenbuttskunk]

I''ve got a few big saltwater reels to choose from but wanted an opinion from sobody out there who is dialed in to halibut, what would you recommend? What weight line? I've got 80lb tuff line, figure that's fine, right?

[Albacore Tuna Captain]

Ditto to Pilar's input. Also the advantage to fishing with 50# Tuff line is the lack of friction to the current so you can get down with less lead. ON my personal halibut rig I use a Tiger Stick with a Penn 113 reel loaded with 50# Tuff and only need 24 oz in most current conditions. Keep the jewelry on the terminal end to a minimum to keep the drag down.

[skein]

I just picked up a 4/0 Penn and spooled it with 80lb Tuff, but I'm wondering about the rod. Do you guys use any rollers on your rods, say on the tip or down near the butt?

I've got a friend who can make me any rod setup I want - I just don't know what that is. [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img]

PS. I want to go fishin' soooo bad I ache in eleven places.

Skein

[Jimmy Carl Black]

Hmmmmmm...80 lb tuff or 50 lb tuff? Tiger stick or ugly stick?
I'm thinking the tiger stick is the better all-around boat rod for bigger fish because you'll get more play out of 'em but I guess the old 2 x 4 with flex is good for dropping cannon balls.

I don't see a tiger stick rated to 80 lb. line.
How much does it matter if you're pulling up an 80 lb plus hali with 80 lb line on a 60 lb rated stick.

[greenbuttskunk]

I've got a 113 also, so I'm going to spool both with 350 yards or so of the 50lb tuff line. I've got the med. action tiger, lots of power and backbone, but a lighter tip. My basic oversize set-up. going to pick up some
rigs and weight, and I'm ready to rock and roll!!!
Thanks for all the imput, and I hope you see you guys out there next month. We all need to be blessed with some big fattie flatties.

[Miss B Haven]

Jimmy Carl Black - None at all! Try to pick up a 12 pound cannon ball with a rod rated for 60 lb line. Those ratings are about as accurate as this weeks forecast on who's going to win the world series this fall.

[Beer Waggin]

Jimmy Carl-
Like we were discussing at Santana’s. I like the Ugly because when you have to drop a bunch of weight, you have the ability to do so. The Tiger’s tip is to light IMHO when you have to drop four pounds of lead. I know, I know, guys catch 12 foot sturgeon with these rods all the time it’s just my way of thinking. [img]graemlins/stupid.gif[/img]

Skein-
I'd stay away from the roller option. Same reasons you bought a reel with no level wind on it.

[Jimmy Carl Black]

Thanks Miss B Haven- I think I'll go with the medium or medium heavy tiger stick with the 50 lb line... or mabybe the 8ft black 2 x 4... or both.

[ 04-23-2003, 09:08 AM: Message edited by: Jimmy Carl Black ]

[Popeye]

All of my "Boat" rods are 5'-5" Shakespear Tidewaters with Penn 345 GTI's spooled with 80# Tuff. I've found them to be the best for whoever I have onboard ie: rookie or experienced. 'Course everyone's got their preference, I just happen to settle on this set-up.

Skein...I've got an open seat on the 15th, interested?

[greenbuttskunk]

what about modifying the penn 113 to a longer handle for quicker retrieve from 400 fathoms down?
Don't want to sacrifice power, just save some energy. Either way, I'll be sporting a popeye arm by days end.

[seasquid]

greenbuttskunk,

I tried to do that with my Penn 330s, I also have a couple 345s, and I didn't like it at all. I thought I would, but it just made everything out of balance. I found it to be very frustrating, and went back to the regular handle the next day...

ss

[CrazyFish]

skein,

I've tryed the rods with rollers and roller tips, they are a pain in the butt when fishing Hailbut. With a roller tip you need to make sure that your pole is twisted at the right angle for the line to sit on it correctly, this isn't so easy when drifting and using a pole holder. When drifting or backing into the wind the angle that your line leaves the pole at changes way to much for roller tips.

My rod of choice is the Berky AIR IM7 A96-7H . I happened by this one for a great deal and gave it a try, it is a good stout rod with a tip flexable enough to feel a seabass hit your line. :grin:

Last year I used a Penn 113 4/0 reel spooled with 400 yards of 100lb Power Pro and liked it but I mist having the level wind, so this year I stepped up to the Penn 340 GTI. :grin:

[skein]

Popeye - YES! May 15, you've got a deckhand.

Thanks.

Skein

[DriftR]

My personal rod that I use:
Ugly Stick-Tiger
BWC/AO 2202 7'0"
Action: Medium Heavy
30-60lb line

My personal reel:
Accurate Boss Magnum 665 H
Twin Drag with Large T handle.

Line: 65 lb Tuff line XP green
400 yards.
The rod is not expensive and works great.
The reel and line are what costs the $$$.