News to me about these being banned in Canada. Where did you read this?

Fishing with an electric reel didn't appeal to me at first. I thought the same thing-no way, there is no sport in it. This is not the case. Give it a try. I think some people think you are bolting on a winch to a cable. Not the case. First I don't have any halibut fishing reels that will fit in any of my rod holders. Second I use the Fishing NG electric reels that are about $400 each and alone weigh five pounds. This is just the motor set up. Then I have Penn 340 and 345 reels on short 5'6 sticks. I take my kids, wife, friends, and relatives to Canada and U.S. halibut fishing. When a halibut hits, you set the hook and fight it just like normal. If you just hold down the button to reel up it will just burn up the drag on your reel. You have to work it just like you do with a handle. It basically bolts on to the shaft where your handle was. I fish halibut, salmon, and bottom fish more than 99% of the people I know. I am a huge sportsfisherman and love my electric reel. My wife doesn't like them because of the weight. She would rather do it by hand than jig that rod with the electric reel. The nice thing about it is you can fish bait and when you do bring up a dogfish its no big deal. It really is a lot of fun and you would easily fish water that you might not without one. The Fishing NG motors are a lot heavier duty than the electramates. I have been fishing Neah Bay for years and it is my favorite place on earth. It is MY vacation every year. I normally spend two straght weeks out there fishing everyday. I also fish it several other times a year too. Another tip for you guys is what I saw John Beath with. A sumotackle reel handle on his shimano reel. It is a handle that has an adjustable length on it. It is sweet. You push in a spring loaded button and you can shorten the handle or lengthen it for reeling in a fish. It was well made too. I found them on the internet. They are made for Shimanos and Penn Senators only. Take a look http://sumotackle.com/products/handles/

I talked to my halibut fishing buddy from PA and he said that electric reels in Canada have been okayed for about 10-12 years or possibly longer.

What's it all coming to? Before long they'll be lashing spreaders directly to Electric Mag Mondo Scottys and when the fish hits or they pick up to move it'll be a mere flick of a switch from the comfort of a heated captains chair.

But I say, REAL men, a dying breed for sure, will carry on the tried and true tradition of fishing for 'butts using mean green dacron hand lines. For these guys fishin' anything less than a 5# ball and live bait in under 300 is women's work.

Now, heave to m'hearties, it's back to the top of the drift.

Arrrghhh.

Electric reel or not it's ALL WORK!

I might not be retired yet but chasing chickens out there is a young mans game. And the quickest way to get myself tossed overboard would be to take my wife out there for butts again, with or without an electric reel.

Fishinnut, man I gotta hand it to you, you and yours have got some pluck.

Well I had shoulder surgery last May and I had to have an electric reel with rod in rod holder to go halibut fishing. This year I have to have the same shoulder worked on again and I will probably do the same. They are great especially when you are fishing 600ft of water. I think that everyone should be able to use them not just people with handicaps.

I think they should be illegal just as I think the gas shrimp pot pullers should be illegal.

Ha!

That would certainly fix the short-season problem.

"New Hood Canal shrimp season announced -- 7 days/week, May through April. Must use at least 10# of ballast. No motorized devices allowed."

It's possible, BTDT, but a real PITA unless you are a big honkin' specimen or a glutton for punishment. I also think most of the buggers manage to find their way back out of the trap during the puller's inevitable rest stops.

I think they should be legal. Some people just can't crank a sheet of plywood off of the bottom of the ocean. Halibut are for meat and although it's fun at first the fun is quickly turned into work and a lot of it. I love to catch and release steelhead and salmon and other species of fish but they are more of a sportfish. If I get a 'but in the boat it stays in the boat unless it is small. I just look at them as a meat fish not a true sport fish. As far as gas pot pullers are concerned, well, when I was 16 I started shrimping on the Hood canal and me and my buddy did it all by hand. Back then it was two pots each and we pulled three times a day shrimping in about 180 feet of water. I really learned to appreciate larger diameter rope back then. I then went out with a motorized puller and quickly thought to myself where is the sport? Then I saw a full pot and said oh there it is!!! I enjoyed the shrimp just as much, they tasted just as good and I was way way less exhausted which made the experience even more enjoyable. Am I older and lazier or older and wiser?? LOL probably a little of both but for sure I'm older