Lure/Jig weight confusions?? Advice needed Grafighter 700xlh

When a rod is rated for lures/jigs up to 5 oz for example does that mean lures+sinker weights to equal 5oz or just lure/jigs? Im asking for a friend who wants to buy the 700xlh. I read a post from member KZ stating that this rod can be used with jigs up to 4 oz.

We always fish in Santa Cruz on a small boat that we rent. We usually fish 1-3 miles away from shore. We use 4-6oz sinker weights most of the time but when the water gets choppy we end up using 8oz. We don't use lures or jigs. We catch live bait mostly sardines/mackerel/anchovy and buy frozen squid to use as baits. He never casts the rod but rather we just drop the lines to the bottom and fish that way. We mainly go for RF/Lings/halibut/WSB

So on average we use 6 oz sinker weights + small live baits that I don't know how much is weighs. Is this too much for the 700xlh? Advice or comments would be appreciated. Thanks

I have been using a 700xlh this past season and really enjoy it. Its my "heavy rig" and has worked well on some decent lingcod and a couple of big socal halibut. Drifting for halibut in 60 FOW I used exactly the terminal setup you mention: 6oz weight, and a dropper loop with a live sardine. The rod worked great, but I really like it with the usual 2-4oz jigs. My rod is paired with an avet sx & 30lb braid with a 12' 30lb mono or flouro leader.

Thanks Piscean. Have you tried it with a heavier sinker weight? How do you like it with a braided line? My friend wanted to put on a 40lb braided line on the 700xlh.

Hi Yakers:
 I feel 40 Lbs is a little too Heavy. I use 20-30 Max.
It's REALLY hard to breakoff during a Snag.
                                                              Just My Spin
                                                              Ernie


P.S. Charter Boats don't like Braid because it will cut
their Mono.

I use 40 pound braid with 25 pound mono connected via sebile knot.  Has worked great for me.  Good luck.

I have not had any experience with that rod. However I have noticed that most rods I own will fish just fine with higher then listed rates. For example I have a Gloomis Salmon rod that is rated to 4oz, it handles 5oz nicely, and at 6oz it starts getting so so depending on depth. I also have a Ugly Stick Catfish rod that is rated to 3.5oz that handles 6oz nicely. I do not like using 6oz or more with those rods though I have.

When I select a rod I look more at its length, power, action and feel then its pound test rating or weight rating. Nothing beats going into a store and looking at it in person.

Hi Yakers:
 I feel 40 Lbs is a little too Heavy. I use 20-30 Max.
It's REALLY hard to breakoff during a Snag.
                                                              Just My Spin
                                                              Ernie


P.S. Charter Boats don't like Braid because it will cut
their Mono.

I have used 40lb for a kayak line, but I tip it with 10-12 feet of 30lb mono or fluoro. I like the mono for rockfish since it is easy to spot nicks, and it is easy to re-tie. At the end of a rockfish session I usually have only a few feet of mono left after re-tying several times. The 30lb mono is easy enough to break, just don't grab the braid with your hand-take a few wraps around a billy or something to break it off.

for anything heavier than 6oz I'd go with a different rod. The 700mlh would work, but you'll be well beyond what the rod was designed for.

I've taken a few charter trips each year for the past 5-6 years, and braid is so common now they no longer mention it. The "no-braid" rule has faded from long range boats since the "braid+smaller reel+rail rod" came into fashion for tuna. In SoCal, the "kelp cutter" rig also uses braid. All the deckhands know how to deal with spectra now.

Hi Yakers:
  Captain Baxter didn't want me to use Braid last Season. I switch to my Mono setup this last Season for Salmon
trolling. http://huckfinnsportfishing.com/newcaptainpete.html
   I would ask just to make sure.
                                                              Regards
                                                              Ernie
                                                               

 

I stand corrected Ernie!

Yes, for salmon mono is preferred. Sorry, I was thinking rockfish what's a salmon?

You can still use braid just leave enough room for what ever length top shot you need.   Check out the sebile knot on you tube you'll love it. 

Have you looked at the GFGR 700L? 4-8 oz. weights seem to be its sweet spot (at least by feel). Even 10 oz. doesn't feel bad. Plenty left in the rod if you hook a large ling etc.

I bought the rod for mainly albacore but it feels perfect for at least medium action rockfish/ling fishing and even a fighting chance with a larger WSB.

I have it teamed with a TLD15 and 25 lb test Big Game mono. Never have fished braid (though I would probably go there if I was targeting WSB).

The 700XLH will handle 6oz weight just fine, don't worry about that. If you were using it to surfcast 6oz for distance, I would consider another option. But for what you are doing I would really go by line rating more than what ounce sinker the blank recommends. What pound test you fishing with?

I would probably use fiberglass blanks over the Graphiter blanks for what you are doing. Just bouncing the bottom for rockfish and lings with bait you don't really want a rod with fast action. You want a more parabolic action that gets a bend in it. But that's really a matter of opinion, and the GF rod will fight fish better than the standard fiberglass all things being equal.