I just landed a job on the Kenai river in Alaska as a lodge host for the summer. I will close my rod shop for June, July and half of August and go there. I am building Salmon Rods to bring with me. They also fish for halibut and wanted to build a rod for that. Any one have experience with halibut fishing in alaska that can recomend a set up? Billy

Billy

I don't have any experience with blanks for Halibut but I do know that the spiral wrap is very popular for rods that will see conventional rels and heavy fish. If I were going to do one, I woild certainly build it for a strong conventional and spiral wrap the thing. I've done two so far and really like them for stripers and other saltwater fishing. They do draw some stares, but they do work as they eliminate the torque that wants to turn the reel over under load. Reel alwys stays on top when under load when done properly

I usually fish out of Sitka each summer for salmon and halibut. After fighting heavy halibut on a conventional set up a few times I built a 5' 6" spiral wrap that is much pleasanter to play a fish on. With the guides on the bottom the reel stays on top without extra effort. RodMaker vol 5, Issue 6 has very good instructions for building a standup rod suitable for halibut.

Stan Grace
Helena, MT
"Our best is none too good"

I now only build spairal wrap conventional rods. That's a must. Stan do you use stand up tuna rods? If so what length and what class?

I have had good luck with 5' 6' Heavy (30-50 lb.) or XH (50-80 lb.) blanks. The 50-80 lb is probably the best choice for some of the bigger halibut you may encounter. The blanks I use are composite Graphite / E Glass and are classified as Stand Up or Heavy Jigging depending on the supplier. They could also be called stand up tuna rods. I have been using All America Roller guides but they are not necessary for halibut unless you like them. You don't get any fast runs just a lot of heavy lifting.

Stan Grace
Helena, MT
"Our best is none too good"

I'm far from an expert about blanks but a recent talk with my wifes uncle in Oregon about Sturgeon rods. He mentioned his halibut trips he takes and I asked about the rods he used a Seeker Classic SC6460XH. I think I have it right! He said it's a copy of a Sabre rod? Don't know if that helps!

Billy:

I built myself a Seeker CTSF63XXH that they call their "Halibut Special".
Rated at 60 - 100 lb, 14 tip and a 1.100 butt.
Left it at 7ft. and spiral wrapped it. Put on a Tiburonized TLD 20 - 2 speed and
loaded it with 80 lb spectra. I fished in Glacier Bay with it and caught lots of Halibut.
The biggest for me was 185 lbs (released). Lots of fish between 50 and 150 lbs.
I love that rod and never had to fight the twist, it was great.

Hope this helps.
Jon

Billy,
I live in Soldotna. Maybe we can hook up and wet a line when you are up here. I have a river boat with no guide sticker so we can fish all night. Email me if interested.
I am right now building eight rods for a charter and am using Pac Bay X2ST56XH-B blanks and American Tackle Turbo Boat Guides. Blanks are rated 50-80#.
This particular guide doesn't want guides on the bottom of blank because customers knock them off on the rail.
Larry

This is one that I use out here in the Pacific North West. Its 6'6" and the length helps spread my rods when drift fishing. Also here is another one to look at FSU56H or XH.

Rod Blank Model # TS66H or MH
Butt cap: AXG27-CB with LBC30B Cap
Front Cap:
Rear Grip: Slick10
Handle Arbor:
Reel Seat: CAH22M-CB
Reel Seat Shim
Foregrip: BF14A1012
Winding Check: BH11
Hookeeper:
Tip Top XTCPPZT10R12.5
1st guide from tip top XTCXNZG10
2nd guide from tip top XTCXNZG10
3rd guide from tip top XTCXNZG10
4th guide from tip top XTCXNZG12
5th guide from tip top: XTCXNZG16 IF YOU WANT TO SPIRAL WRAP USE XTCXNZG10 FOR BUMPER GUIDE IN BETWEEN 16 & 20
6th guide from tip top: XTCXNZG20
7th guide from tip top:
8th guide from tip top:
9th guide from tip top:
10th guide from tip top:
11th guide from tip top:
12th guide from tip top:
13th guide from tip top:
14th guide from tip top:
15th guide from tip top:
16th guide from tip top:
Guide spacing Specs(inches from tip, center ring over mark) 5-10-16-23 1/8-31-40

Rod Blank Model # FSU56H or 56XH
Butt cap: AXG27-S
Front Cap:
Rear Grip: SLICK10
Handle Arbor:
Reel Seat: ETAHD22-S
Reel Seat Shim
Foregrip: BF16A0810
Winding Check: BH11
Hookeeper:
Tip Top XPPZT10R11.0
1st guide from tip top XXNZG10
2nd guide from tip top XXNZG10
3rd guide from tip top XXNZG12
4th guide from tip top XXNZG16
5th guide from tip top: XXNZG20
6th guide from tip top: XXNZG25
7th guide from tip top:
8th guide from tip top:
9th guide from tip top:
10th guide from tip top:
11th guide from tip top:
12th guide from tip top:
13th guide from tip top:
14th guide from tip top:
15th guide from tip top:
16th guide from tip top:

Karry Batson
Batson Enterprises Inc.
Ph: (877) 875-2381
Fax: (360) 683-3579
karry@batsonenterprises.com
www.batsonenterprises.com

Larry I will be working at the trophy Lodge for Tim Burg in soldotna! would love to fish with a fellow rod builder! will email you soon thank you to all