What rod to buy to be able to catch a 20 lb halibut?

I bought two rods for my kids. At the store I pulled the tip, and they seem strong enough to be a versatile rod. Then when we put them to use, we found that a tiny 1/2 lb jack smelt will bend the rod into a semi circle.  I doubt they will hold up to a halibut's pull.

My impression is a strong rod can still catch small fish, but a weak rod cannot catch big fish, is that correct?  If so, what rod should I buy to be able to catch up to a 20 lb halibut?  I think that will allow me to catch rockfish, jacksmelt, or even shiner perch if I get small enough hooks.

Give me the specs I can look for at the store (as opposed to just test bend the tip).

I bought two rods for my kids. At the store I pulled the tip, and they seem strong enough to be a versatile rod. Then when we put them to use, we found that a tiny 1/2 lb jack smelt will bend the rod into a semi circle.  I doubt they will hold up to a halibut's pull.

My impression is a strong rod can still catch small fish, but a weak rod cannot catch big fish, is that correct?  If so, what rod should I buy to be able to catch up to a 20 lb halibut?  I think that will allow me to catch rockfish, jacksmelt, or even shiner perch if I get small enough hooks.

Give me the specs I can look for at the store (as opposed to just test bend the tip).

Trevala ML 7'...others can chime in with other basic goodness...ugly stick tiger ml 7ft for budget and warrior like versatility...

other way around, you can land big fish with a light rod but landing small fish with a rod that's too heavy sucks. its hard to maintain solid contact with smaller grade fish on a heavy rod. for the record I have a M tiger and think it's too heavy for halibut fishing. 50lb braid and an ugly stik and pretty much land anything.

also depends on what you're doing, casting swimbaits I prefer a lighter rod with a faster action so casting all day isn't straining, and I can get a strong hookset and pop the swimbait off the bottom on the retrieve.

trolling or running live bait I like a slower action so the bait doesn't get pulled out of the fish's mouth on the troll, and its easier to set the hook with live bait. also gives you more leeway getting the rod out of the rod holder because the extra bend from the rod keeps tension on the fish.

my opinion is get an ugly stik, I have a bigwater and I like it but the point is to get something that is hard to break, you dont really care if it does break, and you are comfortable with.

 how comfortable you are with your gear > how expensive it is. I ran a 6 year old ugly stik missing an eye, with a cracked reel seat, and missing part of the top eye for the first half of this year and never missed or lost a fish on it running live bait. only got rid of it because the guide was fraying the braid.

also a search "halibut rod" gives these topics in the first few pages
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=88697.
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=82988
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=82988
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=83730
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=92920
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=17272
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=73801
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=74357
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=22898
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=55549
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=52481
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=34468

+1 for the Ugly Stik for a budget all around fishing types.

+1 to the Uglystik recommendation.

I have an Uglystik jigging rod with a Penn Mag 10 that I was gifted when I was about 16.  It was still my goto jigging rod up until this month when I decided to demote it to my loaner rig and treat myself to a Trevala 6'6" M with an Avet SXJ 5.3.  I don't think someone could talk me into selling the Uglystik or the Penn Mag 10 at any point... I'll hang on to that as a loaner/2nd rod until it gives up the ghost.

I bought two rods for my kids. At the store I pulled the tip, and they seem strong enough to be a versatile rod. Then when we put them to use, we found that a tiny 1/2 lb jack smelt will bend the rod into a semi circle.  I doubt they will hold up to a halibut's pull.

My impression is a strong rod can still catch small fish, but a weak rod cannot catch big fish, is that correct?  If so, what rod should I buy to be able to catch up to a 20 lb halibut?  I think that will allow me to catch rockfish, jacksmelt, or even shiner perch if I get small enough hooks.

Give me the specs I can look for at the store (as opposed to just test bend the tip).

Trevala ML 7'...others can chime in with other basic goodness...ugly stick tiger ml 7ft for budget and warrior like versatility...

I've got both of those, and second the recommendations.

I recommend a rod rated for 15-40#.

When I worked in a B&T shop, if I saw you pulling on a tip, I would have tried to help you.  I might have also asked you to leave.

Bending a tip often breaks the rod.

Do you have a budget?

A fisherman’s condition is an important factor.  How “strong” are you?

Hey Bluestar,

Lots of good recommendations and for a bomber rod that will last forever and has great service you can't beat the Ugly Sticks.
GX2 combos @$50 if you don't want to make a major investment.

My questions: Are you fishing off of a boat or the pier? Spin fishing or casting?


My go to Boat/Yak rod now is my Okuma GLT (conventional) Salmon 8'6" Medium Heavy $33 - Fun to fish with and I'm a fan of long rods since I can clear the bow and stern with it. Also the butt is long so it keeps the reel out of the water when on the yak.

My work horse / let people borrow rod is my Berkeley Big Game (conventional) 7' @ $21 this thing has hauled big Hali, Ling, and my 40+ LB WSB. Great for jigging, drifting, but terrible for squid jigging and sand dabs.

For spinning rods anything in the medium/medium heavy. I'm a cheapo and just buy a Daiwa D-Wave Saltwater Spinning Combo @ $33 or Ugly Stick Combo for squid jigging, rockfish, casting, and the sort. - If you want something that will always work get a BG combo or Battle Combo ~ $120

Hey, kind of necroing this thread but I wanted to follow up on some recommendations here as I'm looking for a new rod.  My go to has been a heavy or medium heavy (I forget) Ugly Stik Tiger Elite for a while, and it works just fine for me, but I would like to go lighter on my next rod. 

Looking at the Shimano Trevala 7' ML Eddie mentions, and my main question is on the lure weight rating.   It only goes up to 4 3/4 oz, and I often fish more weight.  I tend to be careful with rods I cast with for shore fishing an not exceed the lure rating as I don't want to mess them up, but I don't know how much that matters with a jigging rod as I have only used heavier ones. 

Would that ML handle 8oz or 10oz of lead vertical jigging despite being rated a lot lower?  Any insight would be appreciated.  Thanks!

Don't worry about that rating, I've done 10oz before and its fine.  I also use a double deep six on it to troll for salmon and that puts a lot of stress on the rod and its doing fine.  For that price range, its tough to beat.   

Only thing you shouldn't use it for is tuna, you will get owned.   

Would that ML handle 8oz or 10oz of lead vertical jigging despite being rated a lot lower?  Any insight would be appreciated.  Thanks!

I've fished my ML Trevala with 8oz or 10 oz.  The big bendo probably isn't good for the rod, but it catches fish just fine... or so I'm told.  Haven't caught much this year.   

Adding to the chorus of Trevala fans here... I've been very happy with my MH rod, caught rockfish, lingcod, and some good sized halibut on it. Handles jigging heavy lures well but also has been sensitive enough for me to feel when rockfish are nibbling at it.

Hey, kind of necroing this thread but I wanted to follow up on some recommendations here as I'm looking for a new rod.  My go to has been a heavy or medium heavy (I forget) Ugly Stik Tiger Elite for a while, and it works just fine for me, but I would like to go lighter on my next rod. 

Looking at the Shimano Trevala 7' ML Eddie mentions, and my main question is on the lure weight rating.   It only goes up to 4 3/4 oz, and I often fish more weight.  I tend to be careful with rods I cast with for shore fishing an not exceed the lure rating as I don't want to mess them up, but I don't know how much that matters with a jigging rod as I have only used heavier ones. 

Would that ML handle 8oz or 10oz of lead vertical jigging despite being rated a lot lower?  Any insight would be appreciated.  Thanks!

I would go with a medium trevala if you want to go a little heavier. I have both the light and medium and if I am going 8 oz or more I am using the medium rod. The light will work but it will bend a lot.

Thanks everyone.  That kinda makes sense to go with a medium.  It will be lighter and more sensitive than my current rod either way, which I just got home and looked at and is Heavy, not MH.  It will mostly be used for RF jigging, sometimes on deeper reefs, and some hali trolling.  If anyone thinks I should go ML for this instead of Medium though, let me know!

As always, I super appreciate the helpful brain trust on this site.  Has to be in the top 99% of internet communities.

You can get a sensitive rod with a strong backbone. I like using my Phoenix salmon rod for halibut: the head pumps get can get pretty wild.

The salmon rods will have a lot of bend which is needed for maintaining tension with barbless hooks. But, they can haul in some absolute beasts.