Punch Rig Question

[Catt]

For those who do a fair amount of punching do y'all snug the bobber stop against the weight or do y'all leave a little slack?

 

And if so how much slack?

 

[NittyGrittyBoy]

Snug as a bug, usually 2-3 bobber stops so it dont slide w 1.5oz or so. 

 

I'm not a huge fan of punching mats, not my favorite style of fishing, but if that's what's catching them. 

 

Just give it a dangle ??

[A-Jay]

Clearly not an expert - but I like just enough 'space' between the weight and the bait

to enable the bait to move a bit so that it doesn't appear too ridge.

Kind of hard to explain, a little space by not much is what I'm saying.

Also I prefer stops in front & in back (between the weight & the hook).

helps keep the weight in place.

And when stops alone aren't doing the job, I'll peg it too.

Hate having to keep stopping to 'fix' the weight after every other presentation.

Breaks up my rhythm - ruins the flow & the Mojo . . .

A-Jay

 

[Catt]

29 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Also I prefer stops in front & in back (between the weight & the hook).

helps keep the weight in place.

 

Interesting! Very interesting!

 

30 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

And when stops alone aren't doing the job, I'll peg it too.

Hate having to keep stopping to 'fix' the weight after every other presentation.

Breaks up my rhythm - ruins the flow & the Mojo . . .

 

I punch enough that is part of my rythm!

[Fishingmickey]

I do the same thing, stops before and after the weight. It also works as a impromtu carolina rig. Slide the stops up the line a foot and a half or so and your carolina rigging with out the bead. I will use or switch to elaztech baits to get the bait off the bottom too since elaztech floats. Strike king is making worms in Elaztech plastic also so you don't have to use just Zman baits.

 

[river-rat]

I always snug the punch stop against the weight.

[the reel ess]

2 hours ago, Catt said:

For those who do a fair amount of punching do y'all snug the bobber stop against the weight or do y'all leave a little slack?

 

And if so how much slack?

 

I fished with a FL guide recently and flipped part of 2 days. He had 3 bobber stops above the weight, a bead below the weight and a snelled hook. I asked the same question. He said it didn't matter, just pull it down every so often. But too tight would interfere with the action of the bead and snelled hook. We caught some nice fish in the pepper grass. It wasn't really "punching" because it wasn't a mat, but it was a lighter punch rig. I came right home and rigged one up on my frog combo.

[NittyGrittyBoy]

@the reel ess- Are you a firm believer in a snelled knot on a punch rig now? 

 

Just curious that's all ?

[the reel ess]

36 minutes ago, NittyGrittyBoy said:

@the reel ess- Are you a firm believer in a snelled knot on a punch rig now? 

 

Just curious that's all ?

IDK. I only used it that one way. Before when I flipped a T rig I used a Gammy Superline EWG hook-not the proper tool for the job, but I caught fish on it. The snelled hook seemed to work really well. I caught maybe 20 on it. I've heard it explained this way. The flipping weight is bulky and can pop the fish's mouth open when you set the hook. If you can get the hook point up your hookset percentage should be better. The guide was a firm believer.

 

He did tell me be careful not to snell it backwards or the catch rate goes way down. LOL.

[Tim Kelly]

My experience is pretty much limited to punching eel grass mats in Canada on my trips there, but for what it's worth I prefer the peg-it rubber pegs and keep the weight about 1/4" above the hook as it allows the plastic a bit more movement when hopping if off bottom or below the roof of the mat. The gap also stops the weight pushing the bait off the hook, so they last a bit longer. I don't believe in snelling the hook for better hook ups. a normal palomar is just fine for me and allows the hook to work as it was designed to work.

[Mike L]

Next to sight fishing beds, Punching is my absolute favorite way to fish. 
 

I snell for all bottom contact presentations and have for over 30 yrs especially punching through mats of hydrilla, hyacinth or whatever. 
I do it regardless of the line..from 20lb flouro to 80lb braid. 

 

I’ll snug a bobber stop with no gaps. Personally when punching through a 2 ft thick mat I don’t want any movement of the rig as it goes through. I want it all to stay as one until it hits bottom, especially when using a skirt. 

When punching normally I’ll use 1 for 3/4 to 1 oz weights and 2 up to 2 oz.

but the thickness and density of what I’m trying to get through will decide.  

I played around using a faceted glass bead a while back but didn’t really see a difference in the hook up ratio. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

[J._Bricker]

@Catt, as stated above, I put bobber stops in front of and behind the weight. And yes, I believe in snelling the hook. Yes the hook does pivot on the hook set which may improve the hook-up ratio, but I personally believe the line/knot is protected from any potential damage from the weight.

 

Now, what ya punchin’? Hydrilla, hyacinth, primrose .... lots of fun ?
 

 

[Bankbeater]

Man I thought the stuff I punched through was thick. I start off with the weight snug and tight up. If I start picking up vegetation between the bait and the weight then I will loosen it up a little. 

[Catt]

I do not believe a Snell knot makes any difference in hook up ratio.

 

The only time I've had what I believed was an issue "blowing" their mouth open was when using 2 oz+ weights.

 

Down here we face every kind of vegetation known to mankind.

[Harold Scoggins]

8 hours ago, Catt said:

do y'all snug the bobber stop against the weight

No, if you mean pegging the weight against the hook/bait. The way I swing on em, I'd end up pulling the weight and bait out of their mouth before getting a hookset. Depending on how thick of mat I'm punching, I usually let the weight ride free.  

[KDW96]

I use 2 above, and one below with just a smidge of space between the hook and bottom stop.

[keagbassr]

I tried bobber stops but didn't like them. I prefer the jumbo peg-it's. I pull them through until they're nice and tight then I snip it flush at the top but I cut it about an 1/8" below the bottom of the weight  and this becomes my 'spacer' between the weigh and the bait.

[Boomstick]

Punch mats is not my normal style, but there are some places where it's the best bet. So I keep it snug as I can. If it's too snug, it won't stay straight so I leave just enough slack for it to remain straight as it turns, like what A-Jay was saying. You can tell if it's too snug by turning the hook at an angle from the line, if the weight turns on its own bottom curve, then it's too snug.