What's your favorite punch and flip bait fishing on heavy mats and thick milfoil under the surface?

Ri sweet beaver or havoc slop craw or gambler bb cricket are tops for me

Pit boss, SK Rodent, Rage Craw

For punching I tend to like more durable versions of baits I would regularly use. I am not complain about bait durability guy either, but this is one area where having baits just fall apart before fish make it into the boat bugs the crap out of me.

 

For example, I usually pitch and flip R.I. Beavers, but switch over to punching heavy mats and I tend to use a Pit Boss or Devil Spear. They hold a straight shank hook better (punching is the only thing I use straight shank hooks for), and holds up to being "punched" through the cover better.

 

I also like the Havoc Slop craw,  I used to use GYCB fat baby craws for this, but the slop craw works just as well, and I would often tear up multiple GYCB craws just fishing them in the thick stuff, not to mention if a fish bites.

 

A senko shaped bait is also a great punching bait for me, but real senkos almost fall apart in fear of being fished like this, let alone actually doing it. I found the Zoom Magnum finesse worm,  or a Yum dinger, to be very effective while not crumbling to bits. I thought the SK or Z-man elaztech senkos would be great for this, but they are not, they grab everything and fish very poorly with big sinkers and hooks.

Pit boss, pit boss and oh yea, the pit boss

Dbomb

I really like the D bomb, Pit boss, and Ugly otter a lot. I'm going to try the Sweet beaver and Rage Craw this year.

I've had success with the zoom super hog and a case big momma shortened  - both came through the thick stuff pretty good.

Pitboss/slopcraw/D-bomb... i kind of suck at punching so take it for what its worth...

 

Mitch

Pit boss.

Pit Boss, ZHog, and D-bomb.  I fished the D-bomb a lot this past year and have been really impressed.  That Big-O fella has a new bait that intrigues me greatly, too.  The Rage Bug is supposed to drop at ICAST this year, and I can't wait.  A friend of mine is a Strike King pro and has gotten his mitts on some of the bugs, and man do they look awesome.

Always used the Sweet Beaver, but I'm gonna have to get some Pit Boss's and try those.

Mike

The D-Bomb has been my most used flipping bait the last year and it's produced great. I've been buying them in the 25 count bags, well Candy Grass is the only color I've bought in "bulk" but man does this color work well for me. I also really like Zoom Speed Craws in green pumpkin and NetBait Baby Paca Craws and Paca Punch. I've used these in lots of different colors but I'm really excited about their Coosa Special color. Gonna really give these a work out this year. 

Pit Boss, Palmetto Bug, B bug. 

For plastics (In no particular order)

• Sweet Beaver (Penetration or Payback)
• 4.5" Flipping Tube (Black/Blue Tail)
• Net Bait Kick'N B (Black/Blue or Bama Bug)
• Zoom UltraVibe Speed Worm

 

I also keep a rod rigged with a 3/4 or 1 oz. Oldham JIg in Black/Blue or Little Gator with a matching trailer

Pit Boss!!

D bomb all day. My first fish this year was caught on one.

A pegged t-rig with a super hog, or a tube.