I've done "reel" well at the Channel Islands on the Lings useing live and dead squid. What jigs work well? I see some using large lead heads with root beer colored curly tails, and other assorted stuff. Any suggestions?

Try Flat Falls or similar jigs. They certainly work for ling cod up here in Alaska.

A strip of squid or better fresh dead or live squid on a leadhead bucktail is a go-to for a lot of fish, lings, rockfish and white seabass. Big curly tails, like the Savage lures on our site, can also be quite effectively.