What is your recommendation for Combination Salmon and Halibut Gear.

OK so  I would like to  mine some of your experience. 

I have gear for salmon fishing from the river banks and power boats along with the standard heavy duty gear for  Halibut. 

Now that I have an oversized plastic "floaty" called a Kayak I am thinking most this gear is too heavy or cumbersome for a Kayak. This means I have justified through  reasonable argument,  to my wife ,  the need for new gear.    

That said  I am looking to get the best combination of Rod and Reel that will allow me to troll for salmon and fish for Halibut, or should I just plan on two different rods and reels?

Am I better off with a longer (7 ft +) or shorter  (6.5 to 6 ft)  fishing rod?   Which is better to fight the fish without losing balance and easier to land the fish?   I was thinking a Reel that can hold minimum 60 pound braided line, Level Wind.



What are your set ups?  What would you recommend? Brands, Models, lengths and weights would be appreciated.

Thanks

It sounds like you just want to spend money.  You might need a new rig for Salmon, but your halibut rig will probably work just fine.

I run a 9 foot shimano Talora with a medium grade okuma line counter.  It works great.

For Halibut I run a Penn bluewater carnage rod with a Fathom Levelwind 65 reel.  It handled my halibut last season with no problems.

If you're really set on a combo for both, I'd recommend the following:

Daiwa Saltiga G Jigging Rod SAG-J66MF 
Daiwa Saltist Line Counter Reel STTLW30LCHA

The rod has a lot of action at the tip and is fairly sensitive but has enough backbone to pull you out of your yak.
The reel is a purpose built saltwater reel with 15lbs of drag.  The 40 model has 22lbs of drag.

Disclaimer:  I am on the Daiwa Pro-Staff but this combo is friggin awesome.
-Mark-

If you're really set on a combo for both, I'd recommend the following:

Daiwa Saltiga G Jigging Rod SAG-J66MF 
Daiwa Saltist Line Counter Reel STTLW30LCHA

The rod has a lot of action at the tip and is fairly sensitive but has enough backbone to pull you out of your yak.
The reel is a purpose built saltwater reel with 15lbs of drag.  The 40 model has 22lbs of drag.

Disclaimer:  I am on the Daiwa Pro-Staff but this combo is friggin awesome.
-Mark-

Mark I have looked at that Rod and was really impressed with how light it was, and  the spine was extremely strong.  We bent the pole almost 90 degrees and it had great pull and strength.   It was what I had my eye on I  just was not sure if the 6 foot 6 was the right length for a kayak or not.    The Rod seemed to get substantially heavier moving to the 7 foot range.  Does the reel come in a left hand crank?

I'd be interested in any general comments which people may have about the advantages and disadvantages of long rods versus short rods for kayak fishing for salmon, halibut, and other species.  It would be helpful if the comments specify how long your kayak is, because a rod which is long enough to feed your line around the bow of a 13' kayak might not be long enough to feed your line around the bow of a 15' kayak.

For trolling, downrigger trolling, and jigging for lake trout and other freshwater species, I prefer 6.5' rods, because I find it easier to play fish from a kayak, and easier to deal with tangles at the tip of the rod, with a shorter rod.  And a short rod has better geometry for downrigger trolling from a kayak than a long rod.  I don't see any advantage of a longer rod for trolling and jigging from a kayak.  But I'd be interested to hear from people who prefer longer rods.

Oh oh...I need some popcorn. I have my own views but I think it's different than many.

Currently my proven combo package is a 6'3" MH trevala jig stick   Release SG or avet SX. 65lbs power pro to a 80 pound fluoro leader.

I have "upgraded" my trevala to a seeker Hercules about 6ft long. Last weeks King was on that rod.

Generally speaking, I recommend short fast action sticks. The kayak has plenty give and I find netting the fish is MUCH easier with a shorter stiffer stick.

I do use a longer softer rods when it's strictly kings. But it's too much of a pain fishing halibut. You have to lift the rod four feet two get a two foot lift.

But the key in my opinion is at landing. The shorter stouter rod will allow for much better control at net.   I have confidence I can get the fish to the side of a yak with this set up. But I can see going to a softer action if you have to use barbless.

Ok at work. Maybe more later.

The Rod seemed to get substantially heavier moving to the 7 foot range.  Does the reel come in a left hand crank?

Unfortunately, the Saltist family of reels does not have lefties....

-Mark-

The Rod seemed to get substantially heavier moving to the 7 foot range.  Does the reel come in a left hand crank?

Unfortunately, the Saltist family of reels does not have lefties....

-Mark-

The Seagate line has lefties. The first reel I fell in love with was a Seagate. These things are designed for putting up with abuse, such as what they would see on a kayak. I have caught halibut and salmon on mine. They are cheaper too.

(I too am a Daiwa team member)

Oh oh...I need some popcorn. I have my own views but I think it's different than many.

Currently my proven combo package is a 6'3" MH trevala jig stick   Release SG or avet SX. 65lbs power pro to a 80 pound fluoro leader.

I have "upgraded" my trevala to a seeker Hercules about 6ft long. Last weeks King was on that rod.

Generally speaking, I recommend short fast action sticks. The kayak has plenty give and I find netting the fish is MUCH easier with a shorter stiffer stick.

I do use a longer softer rods when it's strictly kings. But it's too much of a pain fishing halibut. You have to lift the rod four feet two get a two foot lift.

But the key in my opinion is at landing. The shorter stouter rod will allow for much better control at net.   I have confidence I can get the fish to the side of a yak with this set up. But I can see going to a softer action if you have to use barbless.

Ok at work. Maybe more later.

I second kardinal_84 , I have the same rod with a Shimano Torium 30 on it.  The 6'3" MH trevala jig stick is light enough action to have fun with smaller fish but also has serous backbone when fighting the beast. I landed a 165 halibut from a boat last year and the rod performed awesome. As for reals that argument can go on for days. I like my Torium 30 because its light, has a 6.1-1 ratio, and holds plenty of 65lb braid.   

You need a longer rod for salmon here because you're fishing barbless hooks.

My biggest issue is leader and gear length. For trout,bass, and rockfish/lings I never use a leader over 3ft so 6'6"-7' is perfect. For salmon fishing running a 3-5ft leader,6"-8" rotating flasher,then a chunk of leader ahead of flasher 8-12" is a good length to deal with.no experience with Chinook but caught good number of coho last year I'm glad I had my 9' and 10'6".a short rod would have had me reaching being me instead of just lifting my rod.my .02

By rotating flasher you mean inline  like big AL's fish flash, you can attach the trolling sinker directly to it. Saves a foot or so off the entire rig.

I like a rod that has a butt that is a few inches shorter than my forearm from the reel seat to the butt cap.

By rotating flasher you mean inline  like big AL's fish flash, you can attach the trolling sinker directly to it. Saves a foot or so off the entire rig.

My bad rudy I should have said I was river fishing with a dropper

Ok I went with the Daiwa Saltiga G Jigging Rod SAG-J66MF   but have yet to find a left hand retrieve Reel.  I am looking at the Penn Squall sql20lw  any one have any input on these?  It is a graphite case instead of metal.  would it stand up?