Yes picking the area counts-less headaches. I try to stay in 200 ft of water or less and also where there is not too much structure-close is ok but you don't want an instant rise of 30 ft in depth-you may hang up. Sand gravel bottom is nice-rocky is not. This is a question of finding Hali's in a down rigger friendly place. You can fish deeper but it is harder to control the depth of the lure or bait. I use a light hali set-up with 60 lb braid-amazing the number of springs you take doing this! I don't use salmon gear if I am really trying for hali's but I get them on salmon gear unintentionally lots of other times. I'm sure there are lots of different options and ideas on here. Give it a go but have a few extra balls with you. You can use 12s but I prefer 20's for the control and less blow backI've never really trolled for halibut - I presume that you want to pick your area carefully. Can you get away with 12lb balls, or do need 15's or 20's? Do you use your hali rods, or is salmon gear (30 lb test) ok?
Thanks,
777
I am a troller but I think personally that anchoring is more productive and my feeling is that it not only produces more fish but bigger fish. On the pick I think you put in more time, the gear is more specialized and you have to like sitting and being wave tossed. I don't care to do that-I fish halibut just for enough time to get what I need-then I fish salmon-preference of mine!OK, OK. Here is the million dollar question .....
Anchor or Trolling , which method is more productive ???????
Personally, I drift for Hali and back troll, depending on tides/wave action.