Baits and Hooks for Punching Mats

[Micropterus salmoides]

I've been reading up here on punching and have gotten some good info. The Sweet Beaver and Double Wide are popular, but I wanted to know what are other favorites for this technique. I was considering buying the 5" Boom Boom Tube, but someone pointed out it that gets torn up easily. Also, the type and size of hook for your favorite lures would help. Thanks.

[Jason C.]

The only thing I have ever punched with, is the Double Wide Beaver. For that I use a 5/0 EWG Super Line Hook. I am going to experement alot with other baits I will more then likely try out the Strike King Rage Tail Toad, or Craw, or their new Lobster. I would use anything that is big and puts out a big profile and moves alot of water. I hope this helps!

Tight Lines,
Jason Conser

[RichThiel]

The combination that I use for punch'in vegation is with 2 Rods that are setup in simuliarity has follows:

1> Powell 766c (Flippin), Citica Reel, Highseas Braid 65#, Owner Super Line 4/0, with a 1oz XPS Tungsen.

2> Lamiglass Flippin Rod 5 power, everything in accessaries as above. But, I have weight on the back of the rod for balance using a 1 1/2oz XPS Tungsen. You can use a Superline 5/0.

Baits> Brushog (Which is common), Sweet beaver both sizes, Tubes (this depends on the hardiest of the plastic), Paca Craw in 5inch

Recommendation> with a 4/0 use baits less that 4 inch's, with baits that are 5 inch's an above 5/0

Good luck, and have atleast 3-4ft of water under the Vegation at the outside edge.

Rich Thiel
www.calbassguide.com

[mac (Doyle McEwen)]

I spent the day yesterday with Joe Kopp looking for punching mats on the Delta..Other than the grass mats in Franks, we fpound very few mats that had sufficient water beneath them for successful punching, plunking or whatever..

I was using a Wadda jig and a single taile Yamamoto grub..It was difficult to penetrate the mats except where there was a fairly clear open spot, even small ones worked..I caughta bunch with no big problems, but I did learn a very valuable lesson..It is not wise to try this using 10 pound test line..I only lost one rig, but the fish I lost it on was probably my best shot at a double digit in a very long time..My line didn't break because of the additional weight of vegitation, the fish surged and the line snapped..Not at the knot either..

If one of you happens to catch a good sized bass somewhere around Holland Marina sporting a Wadda jig for a lip piercing, I would not be upset if you would return the jig to me..

mac

[RichThiel]

Mac,

If I catch the monster with a wadda jig in it's mouth, I'll give you 3 wadda's LOL

Rich

[mac (Doyle McEwen)]

Thanks Rich..I have never experienced a hit and run like that befgore from a freshwater fish..I didn't get a good look at the fish, only a small portion of its back as it neared the surfance in the slop..Then it was gone..Joe kept telling me I needed braid and he is right..I might have lost the fish, even with braid, but I would have had a much better chance of getting it out of the junk we were probbing..I note you said to find mats with good depth on the outside edge, that was our biggest problem yesterday, finding good weed mats to punch..Most fo the mats we found, other than the grass mats in Franks were just too shallow for good results..Of course we didn't look everywhere in the Delta, where have you been finding your mats..It was really strange we didn't see anywhere near the number of mats that were around last year at this time..I am mostly talking about the floating vegatation (Hyacinth and Perriwinkle and like) type mats..

mac

[Mike]

The only thing I have ever punched with, is the Double Wide Beaver. For that I use a 5/0 EWG Super Line Hook.

Wow. I think this is the first time I have ever afreed with Jason!

[Micropterus salmoides]

Thanks everyone.

Do you apply scent to your soft plastics so they slide through the weeds more easily?

[Jason C.]

I know of people that do. I personally dont, but if I have problems punching with a 1oz weight I will just up it to 1 1/2oz and that will usually take care of the problems! If you have confidence in scent, then use it!

[ScottyJ]

Hey Jason, how do you rig the weight onto it? Never tried punching but I just ordered some beavers so I want to give it a shot. Thanks

Scott

[phill strader]

1oz tru-tungsten weight pegged above a 4/0 reaction innovation hook, rigged with a 3 1/2 to 4 inch craw....at least 50 lb braid straight to the hook. The big RI hook has a "closed eye" which keeps your line from slipping into or through the crack which most other hooks have where the hook eye meets the shaft.....a very common problem when punching. Gene has everything at the Hook, or tacklewarehouse.com will send it to you door!

good luck, phil strader

[RichThiel]

Phil,

I've found the Tru Tungsun 1 1/2 weight has a design flaws in the cycliner portion of the weight. I've gone thru too many against the XPS's weights witch has a plastic (Straw) cycliner within.

For an easy pegg'in method. I use the bobber stopper's. 2 above and one below, about 1inch above the hook. By doing this you have your bait doing ratical movements when you shake it. By doing this the fish won't feel the weight as much when they strike it. Just somethin that I've found that works for me.

Rich

[Jason C.]

Scott,
First off, if you havent punched before you are going to need a HEAVY Rod. MY personal choice is the Dobyns 766 Flip. I use 65lb braid. I rig the weight with the BPS Bobber Stoppers. They are very cheap and easy to use. I just do one on top but Rich's idea is preatty cool as well. If you are going to use the the Gami's I would sugest tieing your knot cut it off and slide your now old knot to the bottom of the hook eye where the gap is. Then re-tie. I have personally had a 5lbr come off because my knot slipped through the gap. I do use the BPS Tunsten weights. Mainly because they are cheaper. I hope this helps!

Tight Lines,
Jason Conser

[RichThiel]

Jason,

Try the San Diego Cinch knot. I went too it about 6 months ago or more and haven't really had that much breakoff problems since (At the Knot).

Rich Thiel

[Jason C.]

Rich,
Thanks for the tip! The fish didnt break off though. The knot slipped through the gap. Also I just remembered the hook slipping through the eye gap has actually happened to me twice and once was durring the last stren, but I wasn't punching.

[sker13]

Rich great info i will try...I have busted 65 lb braid from the wieght banging against the knot on superline hooks. The wieghts didn't have the plastic insert you were talking about.

[kopper_bass]

Jason & Rich,
I love punching and i use the Gami hooks exclusively.
I was taught by one of the best punching guys (he actually taught me on Clear Lake) and one key item you gotta do is tie your knot on the shank; NOT the eye!

You should be tieing a Snell Knot to the shank of the hook. This does 3 things that are critical to punching: 1) it avoids the issue with the knot slipping thru the eye at the end. 2) it ensures that the heavy weigths we are using doesnt pinch or fray the knot because its not at the top of the eye. and 3) tieing straight to the shank gives you direct upward pull from the point to the hook, so you get a real direct hookset and dont twist the hook in the fishes mouth.

To understand how to tie the Snell Knot, go to this URL:

http://www.animatedknots.com/snell/index.php

Give it a try and i think you will agree it really makes a difference. i have never broken off a fish or had a knot slip off this way.

Good Punchin',

Kopper_Bass

[Marc]

kopper bass, what line are you using, and which Gamakatsu hook model?

[kopper_bass]

Marc,
I only use 65lb SpiderWire for punching. I like the Stealth, but any version is good since you're only using a small amount of line. You dont want to even worry about breaking off and losing a fish, so go big - ask Mac how its haunting him that he didnt use it !

I typically toss a double wide beaver, so i use the EWG 5/0 Gami hook; nothing special. As i said, you gotta tie the Snell Knot though, so your directly onto the shaft of the hook. It works well.

Good Luck,

Kopper_Bass

[Micropterus salmoides]

That Snell Knot looks good. Thanks for the tip. If I decide to go with the Palomar knot will PRO's Soft~Bait Glue work instead of Super Glue?

[Jason C.]

I personally dont like to glue my line. So what I do when I use braid and a palomar(I will be useing the snell knot from now on) is I tie it on, cut it off and leave the old knot on and slide that down to the gap in the hooks eye. Then I just tie it back on and you are set to go! This will prevent it from knicking it self on the gap and breaking the knot and I also THINK it prevents it from slipping through that gap as well. I hope this helps!!

[Micropterus salmoides]

I think I will use the Snell Knot first this week. I need to practice because it is difficult with a EWG hook. It's hard to pull the main line through with all the loops. The Palomar has been the go to knot when using braid so I wonder what the knot strength is compared to the Snell Knot.

[Jason C.]

Im not sure on the snell knots strenght, but if people like Zach Tompson use it(he showed how to punch about 3years ago now and he originally showed me the snell knot but I forgot ALL about it) it has to be good.