You know you're in Bako when the radio stations on the FM band go from country, to Mexican country, to country-western to Mexican country-western, to Christian, to Evangelical Christian, to Christian country, back to plain ol' country. I think I might have even heard Glenn Beck or Sean Hannity coming in over the static.
I've heard about the duct, but all I knew is that the duct is what us SoCal people use to steal water from the people up north. Who knew it held fish (that ruin fisheries here down south, no less)?
I had a rod in the car, and a Walmart around, so I went out and got the cheapest Rat L Trap-like bait known to man, which was located in the clearance bin. $2 bucks! I mean, these are stripers I'm after. I've seen 'em eat everything from Storm swimbaits that swim on their side after losing their tails, to baits made from used spark plugs found in people's garages. They're not exactly Permit.
Had only 30 minutes or so before the sunset, and God knows what happens around those parts when the sun goes down.
The hardest part was finding a good spot, but all I had to do was look for an area filled with discarded monofilament, empty packs of snelled baitholder hooks (Eagle Claw is apparently the choice of champions) and the remnants of Styrofoam from what used to be nightcrawler containers and portable ice chests. After a few short bites, I did manage a keeper that was used to make some fish tacos at home later in the evening. Got some smaller ones that I shook off and left for home.
The fish was 3.5 cans long**, and weighed about a twelve pack after you finish 3 of them. (Is that accurate enough for the Duct Challenge?)I would've taken the picture when it was still alive, but these sink pictures are always better because the Miller Lite can shows how big it was - and who wants to see a pic of a concrete river anyway?
Tight lines!
(**Official Bako unit of measurement)