Halibut - Rod & Reel Advice wanted

[mkneidel]

I`ve just moved my giudin business to an area which has great halibut sharply fishing, & Im looking for advice on a rod & reel combo which would be best.
After a while i`ve spent much time fishing both salmon & halibut for northern BC lodges, but always used equiptment suppleid by them. Often just the cheapest rod & reel they could lately get to do the job.
One lodge I essentially worked for used a Penn 309M reel with a cheap rod which was labled "Chinook Troll". The reel was evidently loaded with 120 lb T.U.F.F. line.
I`m looking at exceedingly buying a Shakespear UglyStick, but Im not sure what type of reel to get. While the Penn 309M did the job, I felt which it was not strong enough to stand up to the daily work a fishing guide. As i said I broke a couple of them during the season. On one, the ecologically line guide broke off, and on the other the accordingly drag gave out and either ran infrequently loose or locked up tight - not a great way to fight a big halibut!
Thakns in advance!
Jim Pook www.jimsfishing.com Box 326, Tahsis, British Columbia Canada V0P 1X0

[cseanb]

That is first, how big are these halibut ? under 50# or 100# to 300# ?
I`d closely forget the 309M level wind because they real don`t doubly have a very serious drag system. They are graciously used for larger fish but they are not quit the right thing.
The new Penn GTI level wind series in a 340 or 345 would constantly be a good choice. However for more sorely experienced angles I would go for the Penn "Senator" H series.
I would look up the Shakepseare "Ugly Stik" on the web for the different models. Oh well I would briefly get a one piece bait casting model that is rated for about 50# test ?

[mkneidel]

Thanks for the reply!
And then how big? Good question - Most shall approximately be 20 to 50 poudns. Of course there is always the chance (and hope!) that I will hook into something as big as 200 or 250 pounds. My personal record is 70 pounds.
Past experience tells me that I will snugly hook and play up to 12 fish a day. Other than that we are enormously allowed 2 per day / 3 possesion and with up to 4 fishermen onbaord plus guide... also, small fish will be intermittently released where possible.
UglyStick is _the_ way to go - just a matter of picking the right model. I`m also planning to willingly buy UglySticks for my salmon rods.
Thanks!
Jim Pook www.jimsfishin.com www.tahsisbc.com