michael_reiber
Active Member
What is everyones favourite halibut reels! Looking at hopefully getting a few more this year and was wondering what everyones opinion on their favourite reel was! Not looking to spend a fortune!
Halibut Reels
- Thread starter michael_reiber
- Start date
TheBigGuy
Well-Known Member
Depends what you mean, by not a fortune. I'm sure a lot of guys will recommend Avets, or some similar reel. I'd say most reels are pretty pricey these days with the shape the CDN dollar is in. If your looking for cheap and reliable, you can't beat the old Penn 330 reels. Not the made in China crap they sell now. Look on Craigslist for guys selling sturgeon gear in the Valley. The reel will not be corroded because it was used only in freshwater, and will already be loaded with spectra. You can get 2 of the good old US made Penn 330's with line already spooled for less than 1 new reel most guys will recommend. They don't have fancy 2 speed gearing, but they are cheap, and reliable workhorses.
trophywife
Crew Member
i have never found 2 speed necessary for halibut...
sir-vivor
Well-Known Member
I use all kinds of crap and still catch the Hali ......... I wish I could afford the Avets and such but for me its , a stiff rod and a level wind reel and GET ON THE HUMP !
I like that Idea about watching the valley craigslist , great suggestion TheBigGuy ..... Thanks !
I like that Idea about watching the valley craigslist , great suggestion TheBigGuy ..... Thanks !
trophywife
Crew Member
old guy named alex in bamfield still hand jigs them!!
michael_reiber
Active Member
Thanks for the input everyone!
Skipping Out
New Member
I am retired and have pretty bad arthritis, i had expensive Shimano reels but had trouble with the big fish. I have gone to two less expensive two speed reels and they are great. If you are young and don't care you don't need the two speed, but for us older guys they are slick
michael_reiber
Active Member
Does everyone find those halibut reels awkward to reel with? I am used to the "knuckle buster" reels that most of us use for salmon but I find it awkward reeling those halibut reels and I just bought what I thought should have been a decent reel last month.
Skipping Out
New Member
I found them very awkward and twisted alot. The two speed reels are much easier and don't spin as much because you don't have to reel as hard. I also attached a Scotty Rod brace to it, and it works well when you are just retrieving your line or have a shark on, stops the twisting.
Whole in the Water
Well-Known Member
IMO Shimano TLD 20 is best bang for the buck. If you want to spend more look at AVET or even better Accurate reels.
sly_karma
Crew Member
Probably because the reel is above the rod, so the load from the fish wants to flip the already top heavy reel to underneath the rod. If I'm fishing deep I'll often leave the rod in the holder for most of the way up then take it out when the fish is close to the surface.
cj6530
Member
Thats because "those halibut reels" like the Penn 330s are not designed for deep water jigging with braid. They were built for mono line with wide spools. A purpose built halibut reel will have a tall narrow spool that reduces "wobble" and is much easier for laying line with your thumb. Avet HXJ, Penn baja specials and the Shimano TLD 20 2 speeds come to mind as great halibut reels.
CIVANO
Well-Known Member
The solution is the acid wrap or Roberts wrap. It takes the line from on top of the rod to the underside of the rod and keeps the rod from twisting under load. I re wrapped all my halibut rods this way. it is hard to see in this picture but the 2nd and 3rd guide from the butt slowly make their way around the blank.
TheBigGuy
Well-Known Member
While the Penn 330's do not have the narrow tall profile you speak of, I do not find the torquing effect with them a problem. I'm a big guy and perhaps my size has some bearing on the fact that I don't find it an issue. If I did, it could easily be remedied by purchasing one of the Scotty rod stabilizer grips mounted on the forgrip of the rod. Adding one of the scotty rod braces as was already mentioned is certainly cheaper than buying custom wrapped rods or high end reels. To each their own, but the original post seemed more directed towards info on value reels, rather than the more pricey reels such as Accurate, Avets, etc.
cj6530
Member
I can't argue with your logic. If reel wobble isn't an issue....there isn't any better low cost choice than the Penn 330. It has the perfect gear ratio for halibut (3:6). I do think spending $150 USD on a used Shimano TLD 20 2 speed is more versatile as it can also double as your troll reel for Albacore.
