sturgeon setup

[Mossy]

Looking at picking up a rig.  I'm a baitcaster kind of guy and saw a decent price on a penn220 at cabelas but other than that I have no clue on what I'm looking for.  It won't be used much so I'm not looking at spending much.  The biggest problem is the pole.  I was looking at a shakespeare 40-130lb 6ft rod.  Any preferences between regular guides and roller guides?  I don't know if those are over kill but there is a slight chance I would be using it for halibut someday as well.  I need help 

[cohoho]

I would suggest something for Sturgeon with a very flexible tip with a lot of back bone in the event a bigger fish gets hooked.  I am really sold on the Ugly Stick Tiger rods for Sturgeon.  Finally converted all setups to be the same utilizing the BWC 2200, 7' Med/Light (12-30lb).  Reason - I like this rod is as mentioned above.  Very light flexible tip for those winter light biting Sturgeon, but has the balls to tangle with an occasional Oversized fish and I can still throw heavier sinkers 16 ounce and way above.....  When I target Oversized Sturgeon I have my rods setup with again the Ugly Stick Tiger rod but in the BWS/AO 2202, Med/Heavy (30-60lb), hard to detect a small light strike on a broom handle, but again they are used for OS only...  When I know I will not be throwing alot of weight 14 ounces and up, I like to use my Salmon rods, great for detecting the slightest bite for sure and alot of fun in a nursery hole...  For reels, I personally like the Okuma 30L reels for the smaller rods and the 55L for the Oversized rods.  I know they are not the most quality reels out there but for their price they have never failed as of yet and drag is very smooth.  For the lighter rods I utilize 65lb braided Power Pro line and the bigger reels 80lb and have never had a fish break off due to line strength......  I only have been fishing for Sturgeon for three years but run down alot for them and have caught hundreds and the gear above hasn't failed as of yet and didn't break the bank when setting up four sets of each...  Each set is around 150, plus 30 for line... Granted if I could choose anything, probably go with G-Loomis Kenai Heavy salmon stuff and Advet reels...  But $600 per rod setup doesn't equate right with me.... x 4 sets...

For Halibut, I can only state what I utilized in AK, but it was on short five foot extra heavy jigging type rods, you need to backbone to pull up a large barn-door fish...  With the large Penn reel.. with 120 braided Dacron line...

[Mossy]

thanks for the input, I know I won't be using it that often but it would be nice to have an all around deal.  Seems like the ugly stick will be the way to go.  I stopped by the white elephant and there was a 7-8 foot rod(forget what brand) that looks like a plain old bass rod.  Apparently it's the cat's ass because it's rated 80-150lb line.  Pretty spendy but it's lighter than you could imagine.  So it sounds like I know what rod to get but I'm still not sure on the reel.  I don't really wanna spend over $80.  I've certainly spent over that on all of my baitcasters but I use them alot.

[h2ofowlr]

Just pick up an Ugly Stix that is set up for 30-60 lb line.  Throw a Penn 320 GTI reel on it and you have the set up that most of the guides use.  It's a good set up.  Throw some 120lb braid on it and your good to go.  I use the 6/0 or 7/0 hooks and tie a 15"-20" leader depending on what I am fishing.  A heavy swivel with a bead on top with a slider on top of that.  I hook a 8 oz. - 32 oz. sinker depending on current and location of where I am fishing.  Good luck.

[cohoho]

Just with the rod that your getting make sure it is extremely sensitive at the tip.  So many people miss the light (winter) bitters from having a rigid rod in the end.  The back bone is where it counts...

[fishcrazy]

Just with the rod that your getting make sure it is extremely sensitive at the tip.  So many people miss the light (winter) bitters from having a rigid rod in the end.  The back bone is where it counts...

EXACTLY!!! Those winter bites are hard to see with the wrong rods.

If I am right the rod mentioned by Mossy is a Shimano and is a really awsome rod. I'm thinking about going to them for my Gator rods. They work for keepers and even the biggest oversize.


No need to go over 80 lb braid for any size sturg. It can't be broke unless tied off and pulled on with the boat anyway. For keepers I run 60 lb PP. and have never broke it on a fish of any size. heavy line is just more drag in the water and more $$$$. Just a thought.


Kris

[rasbo]

I dont believe fishcrazy..He has to prove it to me some more