RyneB

tough to beat a spook when it comes to a walking bait. A Sammy casts like a rocket and has a tighter more erratic walk, seems to me the Dawg has a slower, wider walk with less of a spitting action compared to the Sammy. I prefer a spook and Sammy over a Dawg, but the Dawg will catch fish. Of the spook, Sammy and dawg, I rarely choose the Dawg over the other two. Not saying it doesn't work, just confidence and personal preference.

I use skinny Bear, dirty jigs, and gambler. Dirty jigs seem to be the toughest. Gamblers are inconsistent, IV had some that last all day of catching fish, and some that fall apart after 1 fish. I seem to use gambler more, more so because I have a lot more of them and that's usually just what I grab. I also have punch hubs and wire tie my own sometimes.

I know nothing about Daiwas, so pardon my stupidity. What does SV mean?

split ring pliers, I can manage it with needle nose but it is truly a pain after doing it with split ring pliers.

I have on several occasions fished them along side a GYBC senko and more often the BPS brand outfishes the senko. I fished a tournament on the Mississippi River and brought my girlfriend for my partner. she was in the back of the boat throwing a BPS stik o and I was in front throwing a senko. both green pumpkin, she had 4 keepers before I even landed a fish. I switched to the BPS brand and limited and culled twice in the next hour. If I'm skipping docks, I choose the Senko, I can skip it better than any other bait.

I get more fish on a Spook Jr, but a Evergreen Shower Blows is my favorite to throw.

I use Megastrike when I punch, adds lubrication for slipping through the mat. I also use it when the bite is slow and I'll try anything.

The Curado feels more solid than other reels.

TW still has the Havoc ones in stock.

you could probably get a wobble football head and use a punch skirt if you can't find what you're looking for.

one of the best swim jig trailers on the market.

Mike L, I frog it and gambler big ez it as well. Seems the winning technique in tourneys is always punching it though.

not sure of the type of vegetation, as it seems to be several different kinds, and I'm not aquatic vegetation expert. But it's this stuff, and a lot of times it has a snotty and slimey stuff underneath. This is a place I fish often.

I don't do any of these because a pro or industry tell me too. I Do these because they work better for me, no doubt. My hookup ratio is better with a snell and sttaight shank, and I get through the mat much cleaner and efficiently with a pegged weight. I'm not arguing against not pegging, I have seen plenty of guys do it. I'm just asking what the advantages are. Maybe I haven't tapped into the advantages of it.

what advantages do you see by not pegging? I just feel I work harder to get the bait through not pegged, that's all. maybe I'm doing it wrong.

snell knot is simple. I also suggest using 6th sense punch stops instead of the cheap colored bobber stops. I only need 1 6th sense punch stop for the weight to stay. While my non boaters and friends who use the bobber stops need 3 or 4 stops just tone hold it. There seems to be so much different advice, and it will come down to what you are trying to punch. Like the guys who say they don't use a punch stop, I have found it is nearly impossible for me to present a bait efficiently in the stuff I fish without a stop. The bait just doesn't make it through, but I can see where it'd work on less matted stuff. There is no set rule on punching, they say it's a mid day technique when the sun is high and hot, but I have had days where I'd smash them punching in the morning and have the punch bite die mid morning and afternoon. It's just wierd like that.

I store my main plastics in planos. Everything from Roboworms, zoom trick worms, rage menaces, RI bwavers, Gambler otters. Pretty much any bait you can think, and have never had a single issue. Just don't EVER put an elaztec type bait with a different brand of plastic or a plano box. it'll be devastating. I found out the hard way.

All advice above pretty much covered it, but ill add my 2 cents. don't forget punch skirts, If I know I'll be punching, I'll always have a rig with a punch skirt and one without. Bait choice is key, want the slimmest you can to get through the mat. My favorites are gambler bb cricket, gambler why not, and D&M punch craw. Some guys disagree with me, but I believe a straight shank hook and snell knot is a must. Before using a straight shank/snell, I'd throw a EWG and my hookup ratio wasn't as good compared to straight shank flipping hook and snell knot. I also like to get away with the lightest weight I can. I usually start with 3/4 and 1 ounce and go heavier if I have to. But a little BB Cricket will get through some nasty stuff with a smaller weight, than something like a D Bomb or Beaver. Good luck, it's my favorite way to fish and very addicting.

×2 on the IROD, I have the irod gen 2 punch rod and it's an amazing rod for the price. it's up there with my Loomis IMX

I love punching. So for me it's a black/blue gambler punch skirt with a matching gambler why not, or just a plain ole gambler BB Cricket or D&M punch craw.

gambler punch skirt with a Gambler Why not trailer. Black/blue. 1.25 Oz reins tungsten and Trokar 5/0 Flippin hook with a high speed Curado and IRod punch rod. This isn't my biggest, but biggest I have a picture of. My best 3 of the year all came on same bait and setup.

BPS tender tube in melon orange roadkill color. It's not in the picture, but it was caught on the side of a pump that a farmer was using to irrigate his fields.

I have a hard time passing up good deals.

3 1/2 inch BPS Tender tube, 3/16 Oz tungsten and 1/0 Trokar tube hooks. That's where'd I'd start, can fish it anywhere that doesn't include mats. It will get bit.

I use a 7 foot 6 MH with a high speed MGX and 15lb red label. I have thrown it on a 7-11 heavy rod a few times and prefer the MH.