I have been fishing the duct a mighty long time. One spot (195th west) has never produced a striper for me. I know lots of people that have caught fish there and have had people hook up next to me or after I leave there, hear that someone hooked up, yadda, yadda, yadda. Well it took a while but it finally happened today. I took the long way home from work and started at the west and was working my way home to the east. First two spots nothing but 50mph winds with gusts to 70mph and rain and some sleet pounding me. Seems like the storm was following me and tracking in the exact direction I was heading. Get to the dreaded, skunk ridden third spot (195th west). I'm working it for a little bit and am about to give up knowing the outcome there for so long but I keep casting. Finally get bit with giant wind loop in my line and I set but no hook up. I keep working the retrieve and it hits again. Little less wind slack in my line now and can feel him messing with me. I set but no hook up still. I keep working the same cast and my lure is getting close to the edge and it hits a third time. I swing again and it is on. Finally hooked up here and no way I was letting it get off. I was ready to even dive in after it if it got off, lol. Not a huge battle cause it was not a huge fish (23") and I get it in pretty quickly. This spot is steep and very slippery bank. I sling and slide it up the cement with my 10lb Pline CXX. Success. I belted a loud YES that could be heard all the way in Bako.
So when you guys get all down and out from a few skunks, think of the 25+ year skunk of mine. I'm not ashamed to admit it and have many times on this forum and to people I fish with. Granted it's only a spot skunk but I have kept track of it because it's the only spot I have skunked at and it has been a long time.
Hit 2 more spots for nothing but ever colder conditions.
Had sweatshirt, jacket, vest and my new Cabela's packable parka that I ordered last weak. That thing worked great. Upper body was dry. My pants were soaked as were my shoes and socks.