For one, the absence of physical requirements makes it a lot easier to get into virtual competitive fishing and the simplified controls and mechanics are sure to shorten, if not diminish the experience and learning curve requirements
Our go-to California halibut and striper surf fishing rig and setup is as follows, from bottom of the rig to the reel: Small swimbait rigged weedless-style or on a 3/4 to 1-ounce underspin jig head, small jerkbait, spinnerbait or dropshot-rigged shad / fluke 20-pound fluorocarbon leader / top shot (3 to 4-feet) for all styles with 1 to 3-ounce weight for dropshot 8 to 11-foot medium+, medium or medium-light surf spinning rod rated for 1 to 4-ounce sinkers 3000 to 5000-size spinning reel loaded with 20 or 30-pound braid (try 20 for a good all round option) The best livebait rig for California halibut is called a Stinger Rig and consists of a similar set-up to the dropper loop, but the branch of line with the hook on has a small J hook to pin through the livebait's nose, and then a treble hook that hooks into the bait's flank about half-way down
These rods now exhibit improved strength and casting performance compared to their predecessors, making them a top choice for serious anglers
There was also more to this digital metered line counter than met the eye: it has a feature that allows the angler to retrieve slow-jigs at a specific pace set on the reel
In their own right, on really light gear, they can be great fun, fighting just as hard as anything else
