what is your ideal punch rod/setup? also do you think a 7'10"-8' rod is absolutely necessary for punching?

I'm using a dobyns 805 flip/punch and curado 201 with dry carbontex washers.

I know you didn't like your dobyns 735, so I don't know if you'll stick with dobyns, but I love my setup.

awesome! ive demoed that rod and it was pretty good. i didnt have a chance to really test it hard but i got some use out of it and liked it. i wont completely disregard a brand of rod, reel, line, lure, anything just based off of one product. the 735 was awesome, is awesome but not for what i was using it for obviously. i really wanna try out a champion 766 as i hear good things.

Im a 805c man to with bps pro qualifier 7.1-1 and yes a eight footer is necessary

The 766 would work, but I prefer the longer rod when punching over deeper water and/or making longer pitches over very large mats.

The 805 also has a softer tip, which I think helps from blowing fish's mouths open too much on the hookset.

I'm still new to punching, but will have more experience this summer at the Cal Delta! I was fishing a tourney there back in April and lost a BEAST! Pitched 10 yards into some super thick periwinkle with a 1.5oz punch weight. Felt the bite, set the hook... had her on for 15 seconds. I had her right on the underside of the mat and she decided to head back down. My drag was tightened down all the way and she still took line, then was gone.

Gonna go back to get her in a couple of weeks!

yea i figured an 8 footer was necessary. i know a lot of guys who punch with a 7'6" and dont have issues buuut id like to go with a 7'10" or 8'. i have an ardent f700 and man that thing and a dobyns champ look amazing together which is one reason i kinda want a champ lol ive been checkin out zombie rods and those things look amazing and from what ive heard and read, they are some of the absolute best flippin/pitchin/punchin rods made. g3steve, i know the feeling man, i stuck a freight train right on the edge of the mat, had her for on, saw her come up and attempt to jump, started diggin down into the mat and gone. im huntin for her during the tourney next weekend. you live close to the delta?

Yeah, not too far. I'm about an hour away in San Jose. I'm fishing the Delta/Wine region of the BBT. I think the Central region goes down around where you're at. I'm pretty sure they do Nacimiento and San Antonio.

oh ok awesome man. yea your a lot closer than i am, im about 3 hours from the delta i believe which sux bad cus i love that place. yea it does come down this way. im thinkin about fishin the BBT next year, just have to make sure the funds are in order and i can get time off work if need be.