punching grass

[sparky480]

I am fairly new to punching grass and was looking for some tips and techniques to help me out with it. I feel that when that huge punching weight hits the water so hard that it would spook everything around off. Just curious how some of you pro punchers do it and what seems to produce more fish for you thanks.

[lefthook3305]

If you are in grass so thick you need the big weight, you won't be spooking anything with a splash. The mats I fish hardly have any water on top of them. It's not the same thing as flipping into holes that are already there. With punching, you make your own hole.

In terms of weights, some guys stick to 1- 1.5 oz no matter what they are fishing. I prefer to use only the weight that will get me through the mat. So if a 3/4 will get the job done, then thats what I use. As the summer goes on and the mats get thicker, I will use bigger weights.

Use a straight shank hook with a welded eye and a snell knot. This is more important with heavier weights. Paycheck Punch Hooks and Trokar Flippin Hooks are what I use.

65lb Stren Sonic Braid is the best I have used so far. It cuts through any veggies the fish will wrap you up in.

You need a rod that is up to the task as well. I use a 7'2 XH Crucial and a 7'6 XH Fenwick HMG. You need a rod that is balanced, sensitive, and strong. Hopefully I can save my pennies and try out a Dobyns 766 Flip this season.

Pick a reel that balances well on the rod you choose. It doesn't need to be expensive, just comfortable and reliable.

As far as baits go, the Sweet Beaver is tough to beat. I'll be experimenting with smaller baits like the BB Cricket and Big Show Craw this year to try and get a few more bites on spots that get fished hard.

[gatrboy52]

i would agree w/ everything lefthook said.personally,i wouldnt use anything less than 7/6 for punchin grass.there is a big difference in leverage w/ anything less.youll need every bit of leverage getting bass up outta grass.i use a 766 powell. the reel is really important also.ultimately you want a hi speed reel at least 6:3-1 or higher.w/ a drag you can lock down and fairly free.if your only flippin you can get by w/ a lesser reel if your punchin heavy knarly stuff youll be sorry in more ways than one if you dont have a really good reliable reel.i use a shimano castaic 201.at least 65 lb. braid,80# in the deep jungle.if your punchin 1 1/4-1 1/2 oz. weights are necessary and yes most of the time you gotta dive bomb it thru.yes you may spook a fish once in awhile but other times it attracts bass to the area also.believe me the smaller the bait the easier it is to get thru thick matted grass and weeds.here in fla. the bb cricket is hard to beat.i use the big show craw and the beavers but there are times its too hard to get em thru.strait shank hook w/ welded eye and a modified snell is the only way to go.use some slickum also it will help gittin it thru.

[lordofthepunks]

i agree with everything the previous two said except i hate the trokar bait keepers. that sharp hook is obviously good but the bait keeper doesnt do a great job of keeping your plastic in place. i like the gambler punching hooks, welded eye, straight shank and a simple baitkeeper that keeps your plastic in place. also, believe it or not, the sensitivity of the rod you choose is somewhat important. even with the braid, all that muck can absorb some of the shock a strike provides. most of the time i use a powel 804c but from time to time i use a loomis mosseyback flippin rod. as for the reel, i def recomend a quality reel with quality gears, you wouldnt want to strip a reel out during a tournament on a pig and 65lb braid can make that happen.

[Skeet22]

Anyone try punching with owner heavy wire twistlocks? I rigged one up but have not used it much yet. I like the way it looks and the corkscrew does a very good job of keeping the bait on. I only had one outing with this set up but no bites so i'm curious on how good the hook ratio will be. I do all my punching with beavers or zoom super hogs.

[lefthook3305]

I think the Owners will work fine up to about a 3/4oz weight. It's with the 1-1.5oz weights that I found using a straight shank and snell knot really makes a difference. I do love those Twist-Locks for toads and t-rigs though. It would be worth a try.

[sparky480]

This may be a dumb question I have never used straight shank hooks or bait keepers do you rig your bait weedless just like with a offset hook and how does that bait keeper work? I fished allday sat punching and never saw a problem with my bait moving just using 4/0 offset hook. Another question I have is do yall let your bait sink to the bottom when you punch it throught or I have heard people talking about just kinda jig it against the bottom of the matt. How long do you leave your bait in a whole before punching again. Sorry for all the questions I am just trying to master the punching of grass I know its where the hawgs live.

[lefthook3305]

You rig it the very same. Lots of stuff on Youtube showing how. In terms of technique, I let it go to to the bottom on the initial fall, bring it back to the top of the mat and shake, then let it fall once more. If the mat is especially thick, I kinda yo yo it a bit instead of shaking it. Each flip shouldn't be more than 5 seconds or so. If they're in there, they'll eat it.

[sparky480]

thats what I thought thanks hook

[swilliams]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Skeet22 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Anyone try punching with owner heavy wire twistlocks? I rigged one up but have not used it much yet. I like the way it looks and the corkscrew does a very good job of keeping the bait on. I only had one outing with this set up but no bites so i'm curious on how good the hook ratio will be. I do all my punching with beavers or zoom super hogs.

</td></tr></table>

I've been using the new owner flipping hooks with the "Zowire" (whatever that is) and the screw lock and 1-2oz tungsten weights and 65lb braid. I haven't noticed any difference in hookups from the trokar I was using last year yet, but the mats haven't gotten to were the raccoons are walking accross them yet either... I noticed a subtantial difference in hook up when I went froma wide gap, superline gamakatsu to the BMF and the Trokar hooks. It was almost like I doubled my bite to land ratio when I made that switch.

[gatrboy52]

i use 1/8'' heat shrink tubeing about 3/8'' long w/ a 45 deg.angle on the top end.i put a thin line of super glue on shank before shrinking.as for technique each day is different especially in the summer and if its a lake where they pull water.most times they hit it on the fall,one would be surprised how many fish they miss by not detecting the bite on the fall.many times it fills like a tick on the way down.once it reaches the bottom i will shake it a couple times,then a couple yo-yo's then bring it up and bang it on the mat a time or two. once you get bit you can tell how they want it and eliminate a step or two to save time.the presentation is a rythem deal,its something that has to be developed to the fishes liking.only time flippin perfects this and after awhile becomes second nature.

[Legend Chris]

Check out my 1oz and 1-1/14oz weights for punching grass.

[Jpeel]

a question on tying the snell knot:

I've just started using the BMF hooks and they have 2 baitkeeper barbs on the shank. When tying a snell knot on this type hook do you leave it loose until you slide it past the baitkeepers and then cinch down or ???

[earthworm77]

Thats how I tie it.

[cwilt]

just a quick question...how far do you keep the boat position from the target?

[gatrboy52]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by cwilt &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">just a quick question...how far do you keep the boat position from the target?</td></tr></table>
15-30' if its a deep mat or cover 50' or more.

[cwilt]

thanks, thats about where i try. i need to get this skill down.