Punch Weights/Lead Bullet Weights?

[5/0]

Will 3/4- 1 oz lead bullet weights work for punching mats? I have several of these, but they seem pretty large. Will they over power a bait like a Sweet Beaver or large Rage Bug? I’d like to give the technique a try with these before putting money into the more compact tungsten ones.

 

Joe

[softwateronly]

I don't punch often, but I read or heard that tungsten is preferred because the smaller size has less of a chance of forcing the bass's mouth open on the hookset giving a better hookup ratio.  I have been experimenting with taking a 11/4oz punch jig and bulldozing through the thickest weed beds I can find on a horizontal retrieve and have had decent success in both bites and hook up ratio so I don't think the tungsten thing is that important.

 

I think both these techniques are more about reaction strikes.  Bass see something in their area and they attack.  My guess is profile trumps action in these cases.

 

scott 

[papajoe222]

Although not ideal, they will work.  One suggestion no matter what type weight you use is to use a snell knot on a straight shank hook.  It gives the hook a cam action during the hook-set.

[rtwvumtneer6]

I'd be curious to see the shape of a 1oz lead bullet vs a tungsten of the same weight.  Is it longer, large diameter, both?  

 

I would imagine either way it's pretty bulky.  Might created a little more drag, but it'll work.  

[Harold Scoggins]

Use tungsten if you can drop the coin, if not, use what you have and adapt. 

[Ikaika]

Fellow Delta fisherman here, I have a punching stick in my hand most of the year so hopefully this helps...punching is one of my favorite ways to catch fish and I think you're going to have fun with it once you get started.

 

You're going to be limited by the 3/4 or 1oz weights you have if you fish them as a texas rig...on the Delta you're going to want 1.5oz most of the time to get through the mats efficiently.  I go down to 1.25oz sometimes, but never below that.

 

If you want to try it out without spending on tungsten, you can rig yourself a DIY Tokyo rig (aka punch shot or jika rig) using a little dropper off of your flipping hook.  Nick Smith did a good video on this, but what this rig allows is for you to take two of your 3/4oz lead weights, put them back-to-back, and punch with that since you've got your 1.5oz.  With that weight setup, some green pumpkin or black/blue beavers, and straight shank flipping hooks you'll be able to give punching a try on the cheap.  Pitch in, let it hit bottom, pump it twice, repeat...don't go slow, don't let it soak, just keep moving and covering water.

 

Good luck!

[Mike L]

Yeah they’re bigger, but there was lead before there was tungsten. 
When people of a certain age group started fishing we used what there was because we didn’t know any better. 
 

We did alright. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[Catt]

1 hour ago, Mike L said:

When people of a certain age group started fishing we used what there was because we didn’t know any better. 
 

 

We used what was there because we didn't "have" anything better!

 

Back in the 70s on the massive hydrilla fields of east Texas we would pitch a 3/4-1 oz jig or weight straight up in the air & when it reached its apex we would slam it violently down "punching" through the mat. So much for the quite entry theory!

 

So yeah lead will work ?

[Mike L]

5 hours ago, Catt said:

 

We used what was there because we didn't "have" anything better!

 

Back in the 70s on the massive hydrilla fields of east Texas we would pitch a 3/4-1 oz jig or weight straight up in the air & when it reached its apex we would slam it violently down "punching" through the mat. So much for the quite entry theory!

 

So yeah lead will work ?

Sometimes I still have to do that especially in thick hyacinth. 
 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[galyonj]

12 hours ago, Catt said:

Back in the 70s on the massive hydrilla fields of east Texas we would pitch a 3/4-1 oz jig or weight straight up in the air & when it reached its apex we would slam it violently down "punching" through the mat. So much for the quite entry theory!

 

That reminds me, I found an old Doug Hannon video on YouTube and watched at it while I worked yesterday.

 

He was making short casts with a spinner bait in situations where the prevailing logic is to do something with a quiet entry, but he may as well have been shouting "cannonball."

 

Of course it may have been the 15th take and they'd already scared all the fish off, but I thought it was interesting.

 

I don't think it matters all that much outside of some specific situations (and I don't think punching is one of those situations).

[Mbirdsley]

I use 1 1/4 oz and 1 1/2 oz tungsten weights and jigs for punching pads

.  Both weights and jigs.  1 1/2 oz tungsten jig is the same size as 1 1/4 oz lead jig 

 

1 1/2 oz punching tungsten jig on the left and a lead punching jig on the right 

[Michigander]

If it penetrates the mat, then yes. Only one way to find out. Mat resistance varies. I can usually get through with 3/4 around these parts.