Punching Or Senko/fluke, Where To Put My Money

[bass1980]

Going to get another setup to add to my arsenal. I'm looking to get either a *** *** or Dobyns DX. At this moment I can only spend on one high end setup. Reel is a Chronarch Ci4+ that I just got.

So I need suggestion to where I should invest in the better rod. Senko/Fluke I used very often and feel like I need to invest in a real good Baitcast setup. I am also going to concentrate this year on Punching. It's northern natural lakes so it won't be Florida punching but it'll still be heavy cover. Where would you guys put the money into of these two techniques? Senko/Flukes I will use more, Punching I will use less but need to detect bites. The technique that I don't choose to go high end I'll just use my average setups.

Thanks.

[Gaerith]

Do you mean weightless flukes/senkos? If so, I would focus on a punching rig, as I prefer to throw weightless on spinning, but that's just me.

[Rangerphil]

Look at this two ways. One if you want to continue using senko and fluke as your go to then get that setup. But if really want to learn a new technique then get that one. Because if you buy a dedicated setup for punching then you will want to use it more and will become proficient while enjoying the new setup.

[iabass8]

Senko rod. You fish it a lot so having something you really like makes more sense. Dx743 is a fantstic weightless senko rod

[Felix77]

Do you mean weightless flukes/senkos? If so, I would focus on a punching rig, as I prefer to throw weightless on spinning, but that's just me.

x2 on this one.  You can get away with various setups for the weightless fluke/senko.  

[lmbfisherman]

x2 on this one.  You can get away with various setups for the weightless fluke/senko.  

x3 too on this suggestion. 

[bass1980]

I've been using Baitcast on weightless senkos and flukes and I enjoy it more than spinning. There's nothing I can't do on a Baitcast that I can do on a spinning for these that I can think of. I already have a T3 1016 and going to add some BFS air bearings so I should be able to cast with the best of them.

I'm leaning towards the technique I use more in weightless plastic but I feel like you can get away with average rods with line watching. Correct me if I'm wrong here. If there's more benefits to having a really sensitive rod for weightless flukes n senkos.

[lmbfisherman]

I've been using Baitcast on weightless senkos and flukes and I enjoy it more than spinning. There's nothing I can't do on a Baitcast that I can do on a spinning for these that I can think of. I already have a T3 1016 and going to add some BFS air bearings so I should be able to cast with the best of them.

I'm leaning towards the technique I use more in weightless plastic but I feel like you can get away with average rods with line watching. Correct me if I'm wrong here. If there's more benefits to having a really sensitive rod for weightless flukes n senkos.

I agree, I consider weightless senko fishing "line watching".  Flukes I line watch too in between jerks or when I dead stick and because of the standard jerk and pause you really don't need that much sensitivity.  (If you any rod you can't feel any difference when a fish grabs it during the jerk, that rod is horrible or you have dead hands.)

 

Now if your talking about jigs, texas rigged plastics..(bottom contact), that is where I'd spend the money. 

[NathanW]

Can I ask you this. Are there a lot of guys catching them punching in your area? How much of the year are you actually going to get to fish matted vegetation? I live in Washington and some years we get a lot of matting in fishable waters and some years we don't. I would opt against the punching rod just basing it on the fact I don't see much punching going on. It does look like a really fun way to catch them though.

 

But on the other hand if you get like a 7-6+ Heavy rod you can also use that rod for pitching jigs, T-rig and c-rig.

[Teal]

Why not go for a 7' Heavy action rod. This would give you a good all around rod for jigs, frogs, heavy t rigs, heavy top waters and would still be able to "punch".

I say 7' ranther than 7.5+ or 8' because it is a much more versatile length. Especially for jigs and frogs.

I would be hesitant to get a rod for something I don't do much of, thereby abandoning an opportunity to get a high end rod for what you do the most of.

A lot of guys use shorter rods for punching. And besides you can use what you have for now with senkos and flukes.

Use this rod for a while, and you can see weather getti g a rod spexically for punching is needed or if you need to go another direction. The dobyns 705 or 735 would fit the bill for now.

[msk]

I just faced a similar dilemma and opted to go with the punching setup. I don't see a lot of guys punching where I fish so I was of the mindset that I can target those fish that might be pressured less. I went with the Dobyns Coalition 735C to pair up with my Chronarch E. I'm excited to do a lot of jig fishing this year! 

 

My .02

[bass1980]

Yes people punch around here. Our natural lakes do have a lot of thick matts especially in the summer. During those hot summer days punching will produce because bass will be keeping cool there and ready to ambush blue gills and crappies.

I fish tournaments so I need dedicated setups. Nothing worse than tying lures when the bite is on. I use senkos everytime. Flukes sometimes. During July to August will be punching season for me. So I won't punch as much, but during the right months and when upon the right cover I'll punch. I have made a point to focus hard on punching this season to gain confidence and learn. I know I'll end up spending money on this sooner or later. Just that I fish senkos so much I'm tempted to cheap out on my punch setup for a really nice senko setup. I've already bought a T3 1016, 3 Chronarch Ci4+ this past winter and looking to get the Curado I when it's out. Too many orphan reels with no rods to pair them up. I'm broke now, so only looking to get one quality rod for now. The other I'll just use my Omens which isn't too shabby either.

[bigfishbk86]

Go with the punching setup, being in wisconsin and only fishing natural lakes, i punch ALL summer.  If you aren't doing it regularly, you need to put your time in and you'll be doing yourself a huge favor.  I'd go with a 6 power dobyns.

[Stingray23]

For me its a no brainer. The weightless fluke is my go to bait, but I use a spinning set-up for that. Its much better.

[plumworm]

Bigfish, I also live in Wi. and fish lakes all over the state. With the exception of the Mississippi river, I have never found that I needed to "punch" What natural lakes that you fish have that kind natural vegetation? Just a question.

[K_Mac]

For me the Senko rod is the clear choice. A light, well balanced, and sensitive baitcasting combo is a joy to use. I used a spinning setup for this technique for years, but once I started using a decent baitcasting combo I've never looked back. I use a 7'1" MXF rod rated for 1/4-5/8 lures and 8-17# line. There are days when I would like a longer rod when fishing deeper water, but the shorter rod is easier to use in close where much of my fishing with weightless Senko/knock-offs is done. This is also a very good rod for lighter T-rigs and jigs when that is the bait of choice. 

 

I do think a quality punching setup would be handy to have. That technique just does not require the same level of sensitivity and refinement in my opinion-worth exactly what you paid for it.

[GaterB]

I would look at what type of "punching" you'll be doing. What I'm saying is, how thick are the mats that you'll be fishing? Are they going to be like FL mats where there could be half a foot or more of grass you have to bust through, or are they thin enough to where a 3/4 or 1 ounce weight will penetrate them? The reason I say this is because you could possibly get a rod that would be good for lighter punching, and also have enough tip to throw senkos and flukes. I fish from a kayak, which I realize is very different than what you'll be doing, but it does make me consider rods that will do multiple things well. Maybe a Champion 735 or DX744? I know those rods have a ton of backbone, but also have enough tip to throw senkos and flukes. They won't be the very best at either technique, but they will handle a number of techniques above average. Just my .02

[motodmast]

maybe the mike long jig rod? its the DX784, its long and a good punching rod, but i do believe it has a soft tip? someome correct me if im wrong but it might have enought tip to make good casts with ligher flukes/senkos. also, like GAtorB said, what do you consider Punching?

[bflp3]

Bigfish, I also live in Wi. and fish lakes all over the state. With the exception of the Mississippi river, I have never found that I needed to "punch" What natural lakes that you fish have that kind natural vegetation? Just a question.

Really? I fish all over SE Wisconsin and can find matted vegetation to punch on pretty much every lake except maybe Geneva. Even if there isn't matted vegetation on the surface, you can still use punching gear to get into dense subsurface weed clumps.

[bigfishbk86]

bflp3 has it right, I don't do much true "punching" perse.  Just use heavy punching gear for flipping vegetation in up to 18ft of water.

[bigfishbk86]

And IMO, a rod that works well for punching/heavy vegetation flipping, will literally never be an option for throwing anything weightless.  So i'd discourage against tying to find one rod for both.

[Brian Needham]

DX 742 with a Core50..........perfect senko/fluke rod, shakeyheads too  and something you will use often.

[bass1980]

I will not be needing to find a rod that will do both. I already have other setups I can use for double duty. I'm just going to spoil myself with one high end setup and contemplating which setup should I put my money towards. I'll eventually get a nice setup for both but I have already spent a lot this winter and promised the wife just one more fishing rod then I'm done until spring

[mjseverson24]

Honestly I probably fish some of the same tournament waters as you do, I do punch with 3/4- 1 1/2 oz weights every now and then, and it is very successful at times, My set up is a Abu Vendetta 7'6" H/F paired with a Lews superduty. this setup is not super sensitive, but it is well balanced, and has plenty of power. Sensitivity is not too much of an issue with punching as you have a very large weight at the end which will make a bite very easily detectable without a super sensitive rod. Personally I wouldn't spend a ton on a punch rod, I would save some of that money and upgrade the jig and t-rig rods down the line. The *** 7'3 H/F would work pretty well for MN punching... 

 

Mitch

[bflp3]

The *** 7'3 H/F would work pretty well for MN punching... 

I just picked this rod up for punching. Its interesting because it has a fairly short handle, which means the amount of rod above the trigger is longer than I expected. If I hold the 7'3" *** and my 7'6" BPS Xtreme rods trigger to trigger, the tips are exactly the same length. I haven't fished it yet, but I think the short handle is going to be nice for pitching.