Trolling advice

My question for y'all who've been trolling is what kinda rod are you using?

I've been out on the Humboldt Bay three times, the first two I didn't have enough weight and basically had my lure 100ft behind me down current skipping on the water or just below the surface; the other time was with a 6oz weight that basically had my UglyStik bent in half and snagged enough greens to feed a family of 15. 

I did bring a spreader bar as the goal was to get after some butts, but I didn't pre-tie anything as I was in a bit of a rush.  Guess that's something I gotta get into the habit of doing before the seasons turn back to favorable conditions

Uglystick 12-30lb and Phenix Axis 12-30 820ml are my go to halibut trolling rods. they will take 1+lbs no issue and still show nice feedback with lighter weights. Here is a video of a Daiwa 12-30lb that has similar action as well. https://youtu.be/14ZyDcZKKm4?feature=shared

Thanks everyone for pitching in! Great info as always!
I’ll give a try to the spreader bar and the sliding sinker. Dumb question, when using a sliding weight, do you attach the weight directly to the sliding clip or you put some leader in between?
Also good tip practicing in the bay, I might just do that. Are stripers still biting this time of year?

That 12-30lb ugly stick is a killer rod for nor cal inshore. Plenty of backbone for pretty much anything we have here, and great sensitivity in the tip.

With the sliding sinker rig, it really depends on the situation. If I am bottom bouncing, I usually put about a little line between the slider and the weight, just to keep the bait a little off the bottom. If I am trolling, it doesn't really matter.

Check out MooMoo Outdoors on YouTube - he has some good rigging videos.

Instead of bait, try a Gulp Curly Tail Grub, single 5/0 offset shank hook.  Use either a 3-way swivel or a small spreader bar with a 6" 10-12lb line for the weight, I like to use round but torpedo should work fine.  Put a 36" or so 30lbs line for the bait.  Definitely get moving first and pay out as slowly as possible. The wrapping (helicoptering) is usually due to how fast you pay out the line.  This rig is tangle free for me 99% of the time.