Coho LIMITS trolling off kayak on Vancouver Island

[@popeyesnanaimo571]

Jesse - long time listener, first time caller! Nanaimo local as well. I’ve been fishing trout and bass all over the island, but your videos have inspired me to seek a new thrill. Wondering if you’d share some info or do a video breaking down your gear set up. Rod / Reel combo Line / leader detail from mainline down flasher & spoon Want to get myself set up for trolling and jigging. Appreciate any insights. Tight lines

[@BCFishingJournal]

@@popeyesnanaimo571 hey hey! Appreciate your note! I can certainly create a gear video. We have an incredible fishery at our doorstep, it’s opened a whole new world of fishing opportunities for me which I never knew I’d love so much. Since your in town, fire me a message on Instagram or YT, love discussing our local waters and gear. Also, I may have a few trout/bass questions for you! Cheers!

[@mikegall3812]

I always enjoy your fishing videos and your sense of humour. It was painfull though today watching you try to use your new bait caster outfit. Glad you caught a couple of nice coho too. Keep up the great videos.

[@BCFishingJournal]

@@mikegall3812 hahahaha! It was painful for me to watch too. Back to the mooching reel!

[@rabes1981]

I have a couple of those same Alijoz 300s on light one-peice slow-pitch jiggiing rods (one is 6'3 and the other is 6'6'). They are super strong and light. I have been jigging chinooks on them in my pontoon boat the past couple years and it is an absolute blast. Those reels are really nice for the price. For trolling I do prefer a mooching reel as well though.

[@BCFishingJournal]

@@rabes1981 I’ll have to give them another go with the jigging / bottom fish.

[@keep_on_fishing]

Hey Jesse! Couldn't agree with you more, the mooching set up is way more efficient than the bait caster. Great video!! Keep em coming!

[@BCFishingJournal]

@@keep_on_fishing 100%. I bought a shorter mooching rod today, a 8’6 length. May still look at rigging up some sort of extender on the butt end.

[@mikeandroi2698]

I own both the same baitcaster and also 3 mooching reels (my usual salmon setup) This past weekend it was one of the mooching reels that did a birdsnest. Line wrapped into the arbour and behind the spool warping around the gears. It can happen to both. Each has their use but for the Victoria/Vancouver Island area most do prefer mooching reels for salmon. I use my bait caster for jigging or if running a dipsy diver.

[@BCFishingJournal]

@@mikeandroi2698 I shouldn’t be too hard on baitcasters as I love them on the river. But agree, the mooching reel is for me on the ocean & yak.

[@KevinKelleyECo]

Now I see why you use the mooching reels...Good job..

[@BruceMcKay-gq8yq]

Mostly it's because I like getting my finger tips burned off keeping tension on the reel. But at least you can get your fingers in there...

[@13zerohour]

What a beautiful Day on the water and catching Good size Fish🎣Fish On, Love this Video Man

[@BCFishingJournal]

@@13zerohour it was a perfect morning for sure! Thanks for watching and the kind note. Cheers!

[@crankbaiter_fishing]

Looks so relaxing! But at the same time there are so many things to look after lol

[@BCFishingJournal]

@@crankbaiter_fishing it can be relaxing at times for sure. But when a fish is on, it’s an adrenaline rush!

[@swingthefly]

Great footage and the fishing is really great.

[@BCFishingJournal]

@@swingthefly Hey! Thanks for the feedback.

[@HobieOceankayak]

Thanks for all the info. I’m fishing in 65feet of water. The skinny g is popular and worked for me.

[@HobieOceankayak]

Well, done Jesse. I like the drone shots as well. Looks like you had a great day fishing for coho. Tell me a little more about the gear you were using and how deep you were fishing. Keep up the good work.

[@BCFishingJournal]

@@HobieOceankayak happy too share on the gear! I was using Gibbs ‘No Bananas’ Skinny G spoon & matching flasher. I fish my spoons with a pretty long leader of 6 feet (flasher to spoon). I was fishing 100’ to 110’ deep all morning. Most of the water I was in was 200+ feet deep. Along the shore the shallowest point was 160. I was trolling around 2.6-2.8 mph.

[@AliMajod-rk5hj]

Awesome video I was wondering what pound test you use

[@BCFishingJournal]

@@AliMajod-rk5hj 30# leader line (6’ long flasher to spoon), 30# mono bumper line (40’ long connected to braid mainline), 50# braid mainline.

[@ninos431]

Is that a downrigger on your kayak? I’ve never seen that before 😂😂

[@BCFishingJournal]

@@ninos431 you betcha! I installed a Cannon Easi-troll downrigger. It’s an absolute game changer.

[@ninos431]

@@BCFishingJournal how much was it ?

[@BCFishingJournal]

@@ninos431 the rigger was around $250, the mounting system (V-Lock) was around $100. I might do a video outlining all the details as the install was pretty involved.

[@ninos431]

@@BCFishingJournal dude that’s sick. Hopefully it’s not too much heavy. You can’t use it on Bigwater or wavy days.

[@BruceMcKay-gq8yq]

Most people cut the gills to bleed btw. Why belly?

[@BruceMcKay-gq8yq]

I don't like those reels at all myself. But you could always attach to a steel head rod

[@BruceMcKay-gq8yq]

Give me a mooching/fly reel

[@BCFishingJournal]

@@BruceMcKay-gq8yq when you say “steel head rod”, are you referring to steel line guides? Or better yet, what’s your favorite rod and why?

[@chrisburgess6964]

Keep wild fish in the water man

[@Graceclaw]

He kept control of them and as soon as they showed any movement he let them slide back in. They were fine.

[@hellojrod]

You know they make left handed reels don't you? Probably not. They exist.

[@BCFishingJournal]

@@hellojrod I prefer to reel with my right, the reason I did it backwards sometimes is the placement and anchor point of the reel. Hence the mention of the longer butt end side of the rod for the leverage.

[@thecount1001]

wet release, no netting, no handling of wild coho. filming comes second to conservation. i thought kayak fishermen were more likely to demonstrate best ethical practices, clearly i'm wrong.

[@BCFishingJournal]

@@thecount1001 you obviously don’t kayak fish because there are often times when a net is needed to calm the fish down to remove the hook. The net is also used for safety/stability purposes while removing hook. I use a soft rubber net and always wet my hands before handing a fish to help protect the slime. I do wet release many of my fish as well, so your assumption of my ethics are off tilt.

[@thecount1001]

@@BCFishingJournal i kayak fish out of a 18' performance sea kayak dude. i'm a BCU 5 star paddler and coastal kayak guide.

[@BCFishingJournal]

@@thecount1001 your kayak and experience still doesn’t equate to what I’m doing. I’m in an elevated seat, trolling with a downrigger line and 10’ rod. The soft net helps the process and the fish get identified and released quicker. Your 18’ cruiser which is not even close to what I’m doing. Perhaps you’ve done some vertical jigging off your cruiser, when I’m jigging most fish are wet released. But again, the trolling is completely different, especially in my 12’ fishing kayak. If you really want all the info on why I fish the way I do instead of acting like a keyboard warrior, dm or email me (it’s all in my profile for contact details).

[@Goats22]

Good stuff Jesse! IDK what people are talking about saying switch to a levelwind. Mooching reels are as BC as anything and they are made for that kind of fishing. Fish what you like and ignore anyone who doesn't understand!

[@BCFishingJournal]

@@Goats22 Amen! And thanks for watching and note.