Can't Punch, What Should I Do Instead.

[TheSmilingSwordsman]

The little lake I fish has a lot of matted plants.

 

I don't yet have a rod and reel set up heavy enough for punching mats.  What I do have is a MH/Fast casting rod (1/4-3/4 oz) and a M/M spinning rod.

 

I had limited success with a buzzbait when it started raining but that ended with the rain, I caught a couple of dinks with a Hula-Pop-R and I broke off my leader when I caught a fish while T-Rigging a Pit Boss in the holes I found in the matting. 

 

What are my other lure/technique options for either pulling the bass away from the mats or actually getting down to the fish underneath given the equipment I own?

[ec1]

I think you're overemphasizing the fact that you don't have the right rod. If you're going to punch / hit holes in the mat, do it without a leader and you should be in better shape. There's no point for a leader anyways.

 

Yes, you'll be overpowering your rod, but getting the bite matters most. I don't know of another technique that's as good as a t-rig when fishing heavy mats and they're not jumping out for frogs and the such.

[gulfcaptain]

You're going to ned a heavier set up period. Weather punching or trying to frog fish.  But I would skip the leader and fish straight braid and once you get bit work on slowly pulling the fish out of the grass.  Sounds like you need to invest in a frog and punch rod for next year.

[J Francho]

You're gonna eventually want a heavy power rod, and not just for punching.

 

 

I don't know of another technique that's as good as a t-rig when fishing heavy mats and they're not jumping out for frogs and the such.

 

Here's a better rig.  It takes half as much weight to get the same penetration, and the weight leads the bait straight through the mats.  I use 1 or 1.5 oz. skinny trolling weights, Spro 90# splitring, cheap split ring for the sinker, and an Owner Rig'n Hook in 4/0 or 5/0.  Works great.

 

[primetime]

Yup, you can use the the Owner rig which I like, and I have been known to grab the wrong rod from time to time to toss a jig at a fish in a bush, only to realize that it was my 1/4 oz swim jig on 10lb test....Here is good news, you can still land a good fish since you usually will have a sun/shade line in fall where the bass sit in the sun in shallow muddy water so they are not always as deep, and if lucky, The wind will allow you to know which direction to steer her just make sure you have  a very soft plastic bait and sharp hook.

 

I flip Senkos since they never hang up and I use the Rodent as well because both work well over the grass also, I find that I can cast the Rodent a mile, and it has better action over a mat, Bass have not idea what they are blowing up on...If they miss, IKA time or jig and grub/chunk combo and when going direct with braid, I would use a Jig, instead of a Tungsten Sinker only because eventually My Silicone protection stystem for my line with tungsten eventually wears out and frays when pitching into sharp bushes, hitting logs etc...I would use some #20 Hybrid as a leader but that is just me, I like fluoro but it took me a long time to learn how to fish with it but it will get you more bites and I used to HATE fluoro, so glad I am not always a quitter when it comes to expensive products, I need to stop using You Tube to watch Fights and other videos since my computer knows I am a fishing addict and next thing I know I am writing down names of lures I have never heard of from Payo, Evergreen, and that is how I found my new greatest lure and I am in 304 months on the Ima skimmer now, actually going to auction of a lot of 30 walking baits soon. Samurai braid is great for flipping since its quiet and thin, and the SX fluoro is expensive but I could never use anything else....Good Job Tim Horton.....

[Bankbeater]

If I can't get through the mat, I like to work a weightless senko or fluke across the top of it.  Let it fall into the low spots and holes in the weeds, and give it a couple of jerks.