Motivation + 100

2024 let's goooo.

Alrighty, let's see if I can keep up this year.

I see a lot of trolling gear, but what about jigging for kokanee?!

Thanks albiec! I haven't tried the Norma yet, just the CCI and you're right I think I just need to adjust my expectations. It groups tight enough at those 30yd ranges. Do you have any preference between the CCI and the Norma?

Nice, glad you didn't skunk! I was out at Berryessa a couple times out of Capell last month and wasn't getting any hits from trout at slower speeds. Mine were caught in the top 20' between 3 and 3.5mph with speedy shiners. They were definitely spread out, so who knows, maybe it was less the speed of the lure and more that I was covering more water at higher speeds?

I have a Shimano SLX BFS as well as a Kast King Zephyr. The SLX blows the Zephyr out of the water, tolerances, braking systems, castability, in every way it's better and easier to cast.

The SLX BFS is paired with a Major Craft New Finetail TREKKING & TRAVELER series FTX-B46/505UL which I quite like, though it's not as hilarious as a full fiberglass setup. The rod I ordered from https://north-one.jp/ and the reel from https://japanlureshop.com/

The Zephyr was easier to acquire since amazon had them at the time, it got paired with a random UL aliexpress rod (that is now broken).

A friend of mine went a slightly different route and is running an ifishband clamber reel with an ifishband trout magic rod, both are slightly more available and affordable. The reel felt quite nice, though I haven't checked in to see how it's holding up long term. Just casting into my pool it felt significantly better than the zephyr though, maybe even on par with the shimano (though I like the braking system on the shimano better). ifishband gear is most easily found here: https://baitfinesseempire.com/

Hopefully you don't have the desire for a round reel because woooof, those things get even more pricey!

As far as informational youtubers, I've found the most helpful one to be hobie-wan kenobi https://www.youtube.com/@HobieWanKenobi
He tends to keep things in real world terms, instead of testing things outside of their strengths (even if it CAN cast a trout magnet I wouldn't, that's what my UL spinning gear is for).

For local BFS fishing I'll sometimes watch https://www.youtube.com/@Angler216

I can't say I use the BFS rod from the kayak much though! It's usually in my pack next to my fly rod for silly hike in expeditions and explorations.

Yes but smaller