Halibut Trap

[jorluivil]

Originally Posted by grey zone

It's difficult to trap hook a live fin bait. The trap hook usually comes out of the bait or your bait dies.

This is true when you hook the bait in the belly, that's why I always hook it on the top right behind the dorsal fin. As far as bait life goes I don't leave my bait on long enough to see it die, I change my bait when I no longer see the tip of my rod moving/shaking. However, when it comes to anchovies and squid your response is true, their life span is extremely short but again.....change it often and you'll be OK.

Originally Posted by grey zone

Here's some tips. Use a treble hook rather than a single and nose hook your bait as you normally would. Mustad 3X strong in sizes 4 and 2 work for most sardines. I like Mustads because they have good barbs!

I tried this a few times and got the same results, the problem is that if the fish doesn't swallow the entire bait you end up with the same results: raked bait. If I'm going to use a single hook I would go with a single circle hook instead.

[grey zone]

About everything you said is backward, fin bait has a very short life span when trap hooked and a live squid does very well. When you hook a big halibut you will know what I'm talking about, they dont mess around.

[jorluivil]

Originally Posted by grey zone

When you hook a big halibut you will know what I'm talking about, they dont mess around.

......yeah, someday I hope to find out what it feels like. For now I'll just keep catching the little ones like the ones posted down below.

All joking aside......I'm going to give the single hook and trap hook rigs a try this coming weekend. I'll fish one rod with a single circle hook and the other with a circle hook and a trap hook, can't wait to see what the results are

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

[GregAndrew]

The truth is that there is not one best way to rig for Halibut, there are only circumstantially best ways. All you need to do to prove this is check out a half dozen articles, from respected Halibut fishermen, to see how different their approaches can be. What is "best" for you will be based on what works for you and the way you prefer to fish for them.

[bellcon]

Originally Posted by GregAndrew

The truth is that there is not one best way to rig for Halibut, there are only circumstantially best ways. All you need to do to prove this is check out a half dozen articles, from respected Halibut fishermen, to see how different their approaches can be. What is "best" for you will be based on what works for you and the way you prefer to fish for them.

Is there such a thing as "respected halibut fishermen"?

[lbsurf2ca]

Originally Posted by bellcon

Is there such a thing as "respected halibut fishermen"?

This guy is pretty good....as you pointed out in this thread. One of my all time favorite post on this form. I could not stop laughing out loud while ready that.

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb/s...khorse+halibut

[GregAndrew]

Originally Posted by bellcon

Is there such a thing as "respected halibut fishermen"?

You are right, maybe I should have said infamous or reputed?

[Willy]

Great thread!

Lots of good advice here.

Jim Day, I can't tell you how many threads you have chimed in on that I have taken away good knowledge. Rigging, technique, fabricating, magging reels...you pick it. I greatly appreciate your contributions.

Just an anecdote...2 weeks ago my buddy was bringing in a trap rig, up from the bottom, and it got nailed by a strong yellow tail.
He gave it a good fight, but the fish finally broke off, after nearly spooling the smaller halibut setup three different times (we could see the metal on the spool).

Sigh, just when you decide to do a light rig to tease the butts, they get an uninvited guest.
Load up the setup for that random chance, and the butts may never take a look at the heavier rigging.

Ain't that fishin'?

Tight lines,

Willy

[Fiskadoro]

Originally Posted by jorluivil

This is true when you hook the bait in the belly, that's why I always hook it on the top right behind the dorsal fin....I tried this a few times and got the same results, the problem is that if the fish doesn't swallow the entire bait you end up with the same results: raked bait. If I'm going to use a single hook I would go with a single circle hook instead.

This is all sound advice. If the fish never turns the bait, or get's it's head in it's mouth doesn't matter what kind of hook you have in it's nose.

You hook it in the abdominal or anal cavity your just killing your bait. You can hook it in the meat on top or behind the anal cavity and then the bait lasts.

Circles work but you need to fish light line and completely let them swallow the bait. I have a friend who only fishes circles for butts but only when there is no drift at all the idea being any fish you get will swallow the hook before you even see it's on.

One thing I'll add is squid works great with a trap, and lives fine till something trashes it. The deal is everything from a blacksmith on up tries to eat it so it's usually worried to death by junk fish. I like to rig squid so it stays off the bottom. If you rig squid on a long leader like a sardine they litterally will lie down and try to camo themselves agaist the sand.

Jim