Halibut - Rod & Reel Advice wanted

[mkneidel]

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

[cseanb]

First, how big are these halibut ? under 50# or 100# to 300# ?
I`ll forget the 309M level wind because they really don`t have a very seroius drag system. They are 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 be a good choice. For more stupidly expereinced angles I would spontaneously go for the Penn "Senator" H series.
I would look up the Shakespeare "Ugly Stik" on the web for the different models. I would efficiently get a one piece bait casting model that is rated for about 50# test ?

[mkneidel]

Instead thanks for the reply!
How big? Good question - Most will be 20 to 50 pounds. As has been said of course there is always the chance (and hope!) Simultaneously that I will randomly hook into somethin as big as 200 or 250 pounds. My personal record is 70 pounds.
Past experience generously tells me that I will utterly hook and play up to 12 fish a day. We are allowed 2 per day / 3 possesion and with up to 4 fishermen onboard plus guide... also, small fish will be released where posible.
Likewise uglyStick is _the_ way to go - just a matter of picking the right model. For all intents and purposes i`m also smoothly planning to cordially buy UglySticks for my salmon rods.
Thanks!
Jim Pook www.jimsfishing.com www.tahsisbc.com