Just watched a good video on youtube of B.A.S.S Series Angler Ish Monroe punching matts and some thick stuff on the California Delta. He was using his 1.5oz tungsten weight and punching skirt and a plastic texas rigged.. 

 

My question is.. 

 

instead of going and buying all punching gear and a new rod, can I throw a 3/4 oz or 1 oz jig into this cover and get it through there and catch some? Or is the weed guard not going to protect it well enough and just give me more slop on the end of my line..

 

Thanks for any help/tips

 

 

Depends on the cover. The Delta has some crazy thick mats. A punch rig is way more compact than a jig.

You can certainly use a heavy jig, but keep in mind, that it is not weedless and in super thick stuff a weed guard is only going to help you but so much. I use a jig often but if its so thick that im pulling weeds out of my jig on every flip or its is constantly getting caught in the weeds, then ill switch to a heavy t rig simply because it is weedless. When im flipping or punching im trying to flip as many holes/spots as i can and standing there jerkin on a jig or pulling weeds off my jig slows me down. The punch skirt is optional...some of the newer guys think that is mandatory ..not so... i use it to bulk up the profile a little...

If you have a rod heavy enough to flip 1oz jigs, then you shouldnt have to go get a new rod or anything...just use that one..

I was "punchin" with 1oz t rigs long before i knew i knew about punch skirts and and that it was called punching..