Best Halibut Rod & Reel Combo? Weekend Warrior Gear!

[uclueletcharters]

What is the best or favorite rod reel combo for the average working folks that don't have a bottomless bank account or fishing gear is low on the priority list around the home front. So budget oriented. There are many great combos that are out of reach for the average joe with a family. Some recommendations would great lets help those folks out when picking a hali rod and reel combo, best bang for the buck.

 

[scott craven]

For an entry level setup. Cabela's is selling this for about $150.00
[h=3]Penn® 320GT2/Ugly Stik® Bigwater Combo @[/h]
Not the best, but it will get the average Joe into fishing Halibut.

 

[salty-dog]

For big game fishing, I have three setups.

The first, for the smaller of the big game, I use a Penn International V IFGA 5050 rod with a Tiagra 30WRLS loaded with 60lb flouro

For the larger ones, the same rod except it is a 5130 rod with the tried and true Penn 9/0. The reel is loaded with 120lb dacron and a topshot of 100lb flouro

The biggest of the big, Kona 80100 rod with the Penn 16/0. With 250lb braid, you can relocate a house. It has a topshot of 150lb mono

 

[uclueletcharters]

I run Shimano Tekota 800 reels on the halibut rods, they are super smooth but pricey by the time you add a rod to the basket it's more than you need. But if you do have a healthy budget they are nice reels the only thing they are big bulky reels which make these a Big game reel only, you could never expect to use them as a multi use reel.

 

[Evenweight]

get yourself a uglystick with a penn 330 the 320's are to light and wont last a 330 is the ticket. Look for combos there are good deals out there.

 

[GDW]

Peetz rod / reel. Should cost about $70 on used Vic. It's a misconception that you need a levelwind for Hali fishing. They are fun but my peetz does the job better then an entry level levelwind IMO.

It caught Hali up to 60lbs last year and an even bigger skate.

 

[Aces]

get yourself a uglystick with a penn 330 the 320's are to light and wont last a 330 is the ticket. Look for combos there are good deals out there.

I have used 320's on charters for many years without not many failures.

 

[MRACER]

X2! a 6 inch Peetz does the trick.

Peetz rod / reel. Should cost about $70 on used Vic. It's a misconception that you need a levelwind for Hali fishing. They are fun but my peetz does the job better then an entry level levelwind IMO.

It caught Hali up to 60lbs last year and an even bigger skate.

 

[fshnfnatic]

X3!! 6" Peetz and a 6ft. 6 in. shakespeare ugly stick m.# BWB 1140, 20-50 lb.line,med. heavy action. $70.00 at West
Marine. You can get a used Peetz in good shape for $40-$50,so not a bad setup for $120.00. This year I'm upgrading
my rods to 7ft. St. Croix's M.#TSWC70HF. Ironnoggin recomended these,so I had a look at them down at Trotac in
Victoria. Sweet rods!! The guides on them sold me,as they are extra heavy duty. They're $160.00 a piece though,but
are worth the investment IMHO.

 

[SerengetiGuide]

Maybe not for the weekend warrior as kind of pricey but Accurate reels are unbeatable in terms of performance. We are adding all accurates to our arsenal this year! Very excited about working with them. To be the best you have to use the best!

 

[Karma-Kazi]

Im not a big fan of the penn 320 or 330 series. Im looking for a new setup aswell. Well a new reel atleast. I will keep my eyes on this and see what eveyone is saying. That Accurate sure looks good though. Might have to do some research.

-KK

 

[Aces]

4 0r 500 for a reel is extreme imo.

I know some guys that went to avets and still had breakdowns and it took a long time to get them fixed

 

[scott craven]

Have a look at the thread, hes asking what you recommend for a starter set up.....
some of this gear can get up to $600 -$800.
not exactly what he was asking for

 

[rapid]

Hey folks my first post here,
I grew up fishing the Island and it has never felt right to me playing/reeling halibut with reel facing up, you have to keep the rod from from twisting left to right as well as reel the hali. My vote 100% is for the Peetz all I run.

 

[Saxe Point]

Hey folks my first post here,
I grew up fishing the Island and it has never felt right to me playing/reeling halibut with reel facing up, you have to keep the rod from from twisting left to right as well as reel the hali. My vote 100% is for the Peetz all I run.

You are right. I'm using a level wind and my son's Peetz is much better. I'd really like a nice fiberglass Alvey, but they are hard to find. As for inexpensive rigs, I got a halibut combo with a Daiwa Beefstick and Shakespeare Arsenal level wind at WalMart for about $100. I think that's the kind of stuff the OP is looking for.

 

[hambone]

http://www.sportfishingbc.com/forum/showthread.php?20931-Hali-Level-wind&highlight=levelwind

 

[salmonboy]

i think i would check used vic. can get a decent rod and reel for a not a bad price...carefull tho what u get...have someone that knows about reels come with u to check things out

 

[Fishingaccomplished]

If your willing to spend a little more money like 400 bucks I highly recommend buying an AVET LX, used thoes on my boat the last 2 seasons and the guests love them, no complaints or anything with them

 

[Lipripper]

Whoa...Lets back the truck up here...... Look who started this thread..

Other then that RS seems to have a handle on it with the first response.

 

[Lipripper]

Im not a big fan of the penn 320 or 330 series. Im looking for a new setup aswell. Well a new reel atleast. I will keep my eyes on this and see what eveyone is saying. That Accurate sure looks good though. Might have to do some research.

-KK

And what?

I have beat the shyte out of my 320's..
You have tried the tld lever drags? They don't seem to last like the Penns but nice to use.

Do some research on the Avets there billy big bucks