Punching emergent timber

[Montanaro]

I read about this somewhere...basically you tie on a punch rig with a 3/4 or 1 oz weight and pitch to trees that have many submerged limbs and let the bait rocket down the tree smacking into branches to trigger strikes.

 

I have the perfect location to try this with trees having many deep limbs.  Has anyone had success doing so?  I know hackney likes using heavy jigs for similar purpose.

[RyneB]

I like to do it with brush hogs when they're in thicker wood, I have tried heavy jigs as well. They get in fine, but tend to snag up on the exit. If I'm flipping wood, I'll have several setups on deck. Texas rigs with a 1/4 ounce weight all the way up to 3/4 Oz weight. I let the fish tell me what they want that day. Also depth plays a huge role in the as well. 

[You_Only_Live_Once_Fishing]

the best way to find out is to try it

[Catt]

I like using a 1/4 oz T-rig with a big craw worm or a 3/8-1/2 oz jig

I throw straight at the trunk of tree & let it fall down the trunk.

It's especially deadly in the late fall & winter when the bass a suspended in timber along creek channels!

[primetime]

I doubt you will need to go as heavy as 3/4 oz unless it is really deep or the fish are super aggressive which is rare....When I fish timber or flooded brush, I tend to start with 1/4-3/16 and make sure you pitch to areas that nobody else is getting too. I used to worry about getting the fish out before getting the strike, and over the years I have realized that even if you have to bomb your bait over 2 tree limbs, sometimes when you swing hard, the fish will come out and come flying at you especially if it is deeper water and the bait is falling fast...

 I have used 1/2-3/4 in 18 feet of water punching Weed mats which is rare since most water is under 10 feet in Florida where I fish, but in this lake the water was clear, and they often prefer a Rage Bug or Rage Craw with a heavier weight as they are aggressive, competitive, and in the clear water the faster fall can help, but normally I always try to go the lightest I can but also enough weight so I am not missing targets or having to giggle it etc...

You may find a weightless worm works best, or a 1/8 oz, but either way try small baits to big worms or whatever you have confidence in and like Catt Mentioned, Hit multiple angles from the trunk (Try not to hit the trunk for noise reasons) and be patient and really pay attention as to when and where your bites are coming...Bottom when still, shaking, the lift off, suspended etc....I like picking cover apart and sometimes it just takes alot of shots for bigger fish, but you may want to use heavy fluoro leader for abrasions as braid can be rough around some wood and loud....

Hope that helps...Don't forget your Jigs either....1/4 arkie jig or whatever Jig you like....But plan on losing baits, I leave my Tunsten at home if I am throwing into wood since line frays easy....Just my take...And you can always go in and get a fish....The best strikes usually come when you put the bait in areas that seem impossible for many reasons, but you will catch fish...Bass Love some Wood.

[Catt]

I actually hit the trunk! 

Not hard enough to make a loud noise!

I'll strip an arms length or two of line & follow it down with my rod. I want my lure to stay as close to the trunk as possible. 

I'll give another big tip!

Spinnerbait!

Let it helicopter down

[primetime]

5 hours ago, Catt said:

I actually hit the trunk! 

Not hard enough to make a loud noise!

I'll strip an arms length or two of line & follow it down with my rod. I want my lure to stay as close to the trunk as possible. 

I'll give another big tip!

Spinnerbait!

Let it helicopter down

I only said that because I once fished a tournament when I first moved to Florida and The Guy I was paired up with was not all that friendly at first, the only thing he said to me as we pulled up to a bunch of timber and flooded brush was "Make sure you don't hit any docks, trunks, branches, and make sure you don't spook the area, We can both win this event in the first hour if you know what your doing....Well, I hit the trunk, the weight did a deflection and it fell in the water like it was a bowling ball....We did not talk for a good amount of time, his fish were not there, but he ended up winning later on and once I sacrificed my body to land a fish for him and it was a clear Big Fish things became better....It takes alot of practice with heavy weights, braid, settings, and I felt stupid...He won the tournament so all was good, but that was one of those moments when I should have known better....

I just picked up a ton of 1.5 oz weights super cheap with inserts, in a good mood....I hate buying them but found a guy online who must of purchased a top brand that had some scuffs on them....Ok with me...