I am looking for an inexpensive halibut set up. I plan on using it only a couple of times per year at Neah bay (close in), Sekui, etc.... I have been looking around the net and found some calstar tuna rods that are fairly inexpensive (around $45.00) and was wondering if anyone had any experience with these rods. Also what reels would you sugest to mach up with this type of rod. I know you can use heavy salmon gear, but I have some youngsters that I am sure would handle the short stout rods a little better on a long day.

Penn Mariner 6' solid glass rod (find them new on Ebay for $30-$40), Abu Garcia 6500C3 (11 oz), 50# superbraid. About $120 total per rig.

That's what my boys are taking to Neah Bay this spring.

GI Joe's had an Ugly Stick Tiger rod they advertise as a strugeon rod for $47...I bought a couple for tuna...they even have a tuna decal on them. Okuma makes a great lever drag reel for halibut or Tuna...Penn 309 or Senator would be a good choice too.

I have the same rod with a Penn 330 on it. Great halibut set up.

I would go with either Grandpa's or Jacob's advice, either would work well. I personally wouldn't recommend a 6500, IMHO, its a little out of its element on the halibut grounds.

My kids would be spent way before the 6500 gave up, and I'm not making it out to Swiftsure in my wee little boat, so hooking into a fish that is too much for the rig is the least of my concerns

Finegrain

You would be better off going out to Swiftsure with that set up. That is where you'll catch the 15 - 30 chickens. In close is where you might hook into a monster.

Deepwater

For a cheepo hali rod, look at a shakspeere tidewater series stand-ups.
They are the best cheepo hali rod I've ever fished with.
Not really a fan of standard boat rods for cranking those buggers out of DEEP water. I prefer tuna style rods with the long fore-grip and short butt section. This design equates to greater stamina for the angler (child or adult) when pulling heavy fish from depths of 300', 400', or deeper water. Also, with the reel closer to your mid-section, (short butt section) there is less strain on your back, and easier to handle for ("smaller") people than a normal styled heavy saltwater boat rods.
For a value priced reel, Penn senator. (Don't much care for levelwinds for heavy SW fishing.)
I own, and like to fish with a 112H (3/0), the smallest of all the senators. No ball bearings, but tried and true. Holds plenty of 65lb PP.
In my opinion, new braided lines and metal surfaced guides don't work well together. Find halibut rods with ceramic guides because braids, like powerpro, eat into those metal guides and eventually fray your line.

J.D.

FYI - "Chicken" halibut are 9-12lbs, commercially speaking.

I was thinking the same as deepwater..... little ones are way out at swiftsure, I find biggins inside.

No s__t? Why go through the trouble of getting out to Swiftsure then? I thought that was the Holy Grail of NW halibut?

I better reconsider my lightweight reel plan then. I have a couple Penn 320's I could use instead.

I'm partial to the diawa sealine series of reels. Moderately priced and a much higher ratio than the penns. Very important when your cranking gear up from 300+ foot depths.

IMO, You can't beat the daiwa 50h with out the level-wind

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Finegrain:
[QB] No s__t? Why go through the trouble of getting out to Swiftsure then? I thought that was the Holy Grail of NW halibut?

it's the closest, shallowest spot out in the ocean from neah bay. it's the most heavily fished halibut hole on the coast, so a few big ones are caught every year there.

if it were the "holy grail" the charters would fish it... they do not. don't forget the masses of dogfish at swiftsure... making fishing herring (my favorite bait) very difficult or downright impossible.

more important than the reel, is using the right line, weight, and knowing how to use your boat to get a decent drift.

chris

Topwater.