Punch Rigs

[slonezp]

Tell me all I need to know. Where? When? Why? What rod? Whatever else I missed?

[ClackerBuzz]

i use it to access the 'caverns' under heavy hydrilla/milfoil.

http://www.bassresou...drilla-tactics/ (Catt has a nice write up)

http://www.bassresou...vegetation.html

http://www.bassresou...ummer-bass.html

[tbone1993]

Try out the missile baits d bomb, I prefer candy grass. Punching is productive in summer and anytime you have lilly pads and similar vegetation on the surface . I have also punched through leaves during the fall to catch bass that are in cover that is covered by leaves that hall fall off the tree. With leaves a heavy weight is not necessary but for big heavy lilly pads you want to use something in the 1/2 to 1oz range. I have punched on a 7' mh rod, it is not ideal but it works. If punching is something that can be productive in your area invest in a flipping and pitching rod along with a high speed reel. TW has an entire section dedicated to punching products but the short list would be: punching hooks, tungsten weights, craw/tube/creature/soft pastic of your choice, bobber stops, heavier lb test line . A punch rig is basically a heavy duty texas rig that has the weight pinned to the bait.

[Bankbeater]

I try not to use anything with a long tail. Sometime the tail will get wrapped around the vegetation.

[DINK WHISPERER]

Youtube and google......all you need! All depends on cover and conditions really....

[slonezp]

What is the minimum depth you would use this technique in the matted weeds? I'm under the assumption in 4ft depths it woud be solid weeds to the bottom lacking any type of cave or cavern. Is this correct, or is there 1 ft of matt with 3ft of cavern? Presently I will fish the holes and egdes in the matts with a t-rig, but thats about it.

[gobig]

I have caught fish where there is only 6in of water under the mat.

[slonezp]

Are you telling me there is no such thing as solid weeds from surface to bottom or does it depend on the type of vegetation?

[LgMouthGambler]

A good stout MH/H rod with an XF tip, some 50-65# braid, and a good 7 ratio reel will do great. Also, the addition of the HawgHandle is a good. Look for open spots in mats or lilly pads.

[zip pow]

I have caught fish where there is only 6in of water under the mat.

x2

[zip pow]

The heaviest mats u can find any depth 1&1/2 oz paycheck punch skirts rage lobster big fish almost a guarantee . If you can find high water in any new vegetation i'd punch it.

[slonezp]

As far as the weight is concerned, I see there are bullet weights with a skirt keeper attached, and just regular bullit weights. Is one prefered over the other? I see there is also something called a skirt "hub" which appears to take the place of the keeper on the bullet weight. Is that necessary when using a plain bullet weight? It looks like i'd rig the bobberstop, then weight, then skirt and or hub, then punching hook with barbs. Correct? Also as far as the bobberstops are concerned they have different lb ratings. Is that rating based on the lb test diameter.of the line or something else?

[tbone1993]

As far as the weight is concerned, I see there are bullet weights with a skirt keeper attached, and just regular bullit weights. Is one prefered over the other? I see there is also something called a skirt "hub" which appears to take the place of the keeper on the bullet weight. Is that necessary when using a plain bullet weight? It looks like i'd rig the bobberstop, then weight, then skirt and or hub, then punching hook with barbs. Correct? Also as far as the bobberstops are concerned they have different lb ratings. Is that rating based on the lb test diameter.of the line or something else?

I believe the test rating is due to line size but do not hold me to that assumption. Honestly you do not need a skirt it just adds to the bait. a punch rig is a texas rig with a heavier weight , different hook and pinned weight. I would suggest watching videos on punching and see where they throw the bait for comparison.

[gobig]

Are you telling me there is no such thing as solid weeds from surface to bottom or does it depend on the type of vegetation?

There are different types of vegitation. Some float, some go to the bottom but have tunnels so to speak. If you look at a tree the trunk and branches go up and the canope is on top. This is similar to how a lot of the vegitation grows. You can punch just about anything that forms a mat, including trash. The best way to tell if its a mat or solid weeds is to throw the rig in there. You will feel it break through. When you lift up you can tell the depth when the rig hits the bottom of the mat.

A good stout MH/H rod with an XF tip, some 50-65# braid, and a good 7 ratio reel will do great. Also, the addition of the HawgHandle is a good. Look for open spots in mats or lilly pads.

I punch a lot of really heavy cover so my opinion and preferences vary from this. I want a long (7.5 to 8ft) heavy action rod that has a good parabolic (more of a C shape bend then a J shape) bend to it. 65# braid is the lightest I would use.

As far as the weight is concerned, I see there are bullet weights with a skirt keeper attached, and just regular bullit weights. Is one prefered over the other? I see there is also something called a skirt "hub" which appears to take the place of the keeper on the bullet weight. Is that necessary when using a plain bullet weight? It looks like i'd rig the bobberstop, then weight, then skirt and or hub, then punching hook with barbs. Correct? Also as far as the bobberstops are concerned they have different lb ratings. Is that rating based on the lb test diameter.of the line or something else?

I have tried all kinds of set ups for punching and there are only two that I use right now. This is the order in which its rigged. Punch stop (paycheck), bobber stop (eagle claw 8-12), river 2 sea trash bomb weight, paycheck skirt (optional) and as far as hooks I use a trokar flippin hook or the paycheck punch hooks which are gami's. Both have welded eyes.The second rig I use is a miller weight.

[tbone1993]

There are different types of vegitation. Some float, some go to the bottom but have tunnels so to speak. If you look at a tree the trunk and branches go up and the canope is on top. This is similar to how a lot of the vegitation grows. You can punch just about anything that forms a mat, including trash. The best way to tell if its a mat or solid weeds is to throw the rig in there. You will feel it break through. When you lift up you can tell the depth when the rig hits the bottom of the mat.

I punch a lot of really heavy cover so my opinion and preferences vary from this. I want a long (7.5 to 8ft) heavy action rod that has a good parabolic (more of a C shape bend then a J shape) bend to it. 65# braid is the lightest I would use.

I have tried all kinds of set ups for punching and there are only two that I use right now. This is the order in which its rigged. Punch stop (paycheck), bobber stop (eagle claw 8-12), river 2 sea trash bomb weight, paycheck skirt (optional) and as far as hooks I use a trokar flippin hook or the paycheck punch hooks which are gami's. Both have welded eyes.The second rig I use is a miller weight.

I am not a fan of that weight.

[gobig]

I use Bubs rig about 95% of the time. But if its real thick the miller is the way to go.