Halibut/Sturgeon rig

I'm looking for a halibut/sturgeon rig.  I'm thinking of an Ugly Tiger Stik, 7' MH 10-50# 1/2-6oz (BWC 220127) to start.   I have an Abu Ambassadeur 6601 C4 loaded with 50# PowerPro that I really like, but I am not sure if it is enough of a reel for a 50-60# halibut/sturgeon.  So, I am entertaining ideas on another level wind.

Thoughts on a Abu Ambassadeur Synchro with a line counter?
Penn Senator of some sort? 

I'm looking for a halibut/sturgeon rig.  I'm thinking of an Ugly Tiger Stik, 7' MH 10-50# 1/2-6oz (BWC 220127) to start.   I have an Abu Ambassadeur 6601 C4 loaded with 50# PowerPro that I really like, but I am not sure if it is enough of a reel for a 50-60# halibut/sturgeon.  So, I am entertaining ideas on another level wind.

Thoughts on a Abu Ambassadeur Synchro with a line counter?
Penn Senator of some sort?

How about one of Howard's Calcuttas in the classifieds.  What do you think he uses them for up there?   

-Allen

Nice deal on the Calcuttas!  But, they seem to be similar to my current Abu, so I might as well use what I have.  I'd be more than happy if the answer is that my current Abu is sufficient for the halibut/sturgeon I have in mind. 

That 6601 will work fine, even though the extra bearing won't really be needed, especially if it is a newer model with the carbon drags installed. I just switched from a Penn 321 to a Abu 7001 HS and really like it.

Jay

Weird.  All the photos of the conventional reels on the Abu website are left-hand drives, but of all their conventional reels they only offer one in left-hand drive, the 7001i.  I could use a backup level-wind.  The 7001 looks nice.  Where did you get your HS?

http://www.abugarcia.com/products/reels/55/220/?filters=tid%3A1%20im_vid_1%3A55&solrsort=ss_product_category_weight%20asc

Would Cabela's SS-50 handle that stuff too?  I bought one of those and put it on a 6'6" Tiger Lite. 

SS 50

I just found this online.  Looks like a good set up;  http://www.bassjack.com/sturgeon06.htm

Weird.  All the photos of the conventional reels on the Abu website are left-hand drives, but of all their conventional reels they only offer one in left-hand drive, the 7001i.  I could use a backup level-wind.  The 7001 looks nice.  Where did you get your HS?

http://www.abugarcia.com/products/reels/55/220/?filters=tid%3A1%20im_vid_1%3A55&solrsort=ss_product_category_weight%20asc

Someone was selling it on ifish. They pop up every now and then. I believe the HSN (narrow spool) version is still in production. I'm picking up a 5501 C3 afterwork today. These reels are easy to work on and very reliable. Parts will be available long after most reels are paperweights.

Jay

Would Cabela's SS-50 handle that stuff too?  I bought one of those and put it on a 6'6" Tiger Lite.

Lee,  That's what I use for sturgeon and I CNR'd a couple nice keeper sized last weekend with it.  You can see a video of it on my post from last Sunday. I have been very happy with mine.  I have also caught sturgeon on my SS 40.  I have an SS 65 I may use this summer if I try for over-sized in the estuary. I believe the SS 50 has 50 lb braid on it.

-Craig

Thanks craig.  Mine also has 50lb braid on it... 300 yards of it