Halibut Fishing Tips 1)  Study charts and talk to local fishermen about best places to try.  Find out where yesterdays fish were caught. 2)  Use GPS or Loran  to locate proven areas and to discover new potential areas.  Mark a spot whenever a halibut is caught. 3)  Search bottom structure. Know the bottom before you drop anchor or gear.  Look for rising pads, ledges and holes in 100 to 400 feet of water. 4)  Make sure tackle and gear is in top shape.  Check rod, reel, line and all terminal tackle.  After a day of fishing, cut off bottom 6 feet of main line and re-tie. 5) Make sure hooks are sticky sharp!  Use a hook sharpener or file to sharpen hooks before fishing. 6)  Use best colors.  Use glow-in-the-dark, white, orange, green, and oil. 7)  Use a short rod, usually about 6 or 7 feet and a fighting belt.  Remember, halibut fishing can be hard work, but it should never be back-breaking work! 8)  Use top halibut baits. (See halibut baits)  Find out what halibut are feeding on and try to match that bait. Always try and use fresh caught fish. and stay away from old freezer-burned baits. 9)  Change your bait and check terminal gear every 15 to 30 minutes and occasionally  raise and lower bait off bottom a few feet to increase your scent field. 10)  Always use scent!  Use scents such as Formula X 10, Procure's Butt Juice, Kingfisher Salmon Egg Scent or Sammamish Super Goober Scent. 11)  Fish low slack or high slack tides. As a general rule fish shallower water on an in-coming tide and deeper water on an out-going tide. Look for shoals or ledges where bait will be pushed onto by tidal movement. 12)  Always play it safe and check weather conditions before heading out. There will always be another day to catch that big one. You can get up to the minute forecasts from a number of different locations including this web site. (See home page links)