I'm looking to get much more into fishing heavier vegetation this upcoming season. I'm looking for advice on what to look for in a rod that I could use to punch. 

 

Weights will range from 3/4 oz 1-1/2 oz.

 

 

Lew's TP1 Black TP1B74H 

7' 4" Heavy Fast 

 

The 7'4" H is excellent frog rod, flipping-n-pitching rod, & punch rod up to 1 1/4 oz.

Love this rod, great action and balance that won't wear you out all day long. And its on sale:

Dobyns Champion Extreme HP Cast Rod 7'4" Hvy FLIP 746 DX746C FLIP HP. Flippin'/ Frogs/ Pitchin'. Hide Information
Taper	Line Wt.	Lure Wt.	Guides	Handle Type	Handle Length	Stock	Price	Qty
Fast	15-30lb	3/8-2oz	10+Tip	Extreme HP Full A	***/2"	In Stock: 1	$279.99

 

Dobyns Kaden

7’ 1” Mag Heavy/Fast

Curado K 80# Power Pro 

 

Quantum Smoke

7’ 4” Heavy/Fast

Curado G 60# Power Pro

 

 

 

 

Mike

Dobyns Fury 765Flip - 7'6", 1/4-2oz

Daiwa CA-80 XS - 8.3:1, 35.0 IPT

50# Sufix 832

Mine is Curado 8' XH 3/4-3oz with curado 150 size. Here in SoCal you need it heavy to pass that blankets.

Shimano Curado Casting Rod 7'8" Extra Hvy
Taper	Line Wt.	Lure Wt.	Guides	Handle Type	Handle Length	Stock	Price	Qty
Fast	14-30lb	5/8-2oz	8+Tip	Curado 21 E	18"	In Stock: 2	$169.99

 

 

I punch with an old 6'6" H/F Daiwa Procaster rod.  I got it from my dad back in 2005 and it was at least 10 years old at that time. 

This is what they have now, Mine discountinued already.

Dobyns FR 735C and Lew’s Mach Crush Gen 1 with 50lb Power Pro braid. 

ALX Zolo Brawler 7'6 XH/F.  https://alxrods.com/products/zolo-brawler-76-xheavy-fast-casting. Mine's an older one with the cork butt (still split grip).  The reel on it now is a LH Lews Tournamemt MP 8.3:1.  I like a LH reel when I'm pitching or flipping; I'm more accurate with my right hand.  I use 65 lb braid, I think it's Tuf Line XP.  With this setup, you might throw an Alabama rig too, but it isn't going to do much else besides heavy cover.  Mine sits a lot of the year.

 Ark 7'4" Mag Heavy Invoker Po has quickly become my favorite all around heavy cover rod. The Ark 7'6" HF "King Cobra" in the Tharp Series, or same model in the Invoker Pro series are a close second. I find that 7'4" Mag H  easy to be very accurate with. Rated 3/8-2, it's got tons of power with a very resposive tip. 

Lew's Pro SP reel, spooled with 40# 832.

Dobyns Xtreme 795 with Zillion HD 9:1

Edge EFX MBR 786 with Elite F/P 8:1

Dobyns gets braid. Edge gets floro.

G. Loomis NRX+ 895C and a Daiwa Zillion HD with 15lb Abrazx. I will probably switching to braid next year for cutting through the vegetation but I have had no issues with the Abrazx so far. 

Falcon expert amistad for me. 7’3”, 3/8-2oz, heavy fast. 50 lb 832 braid. This is my vegetation pitching rig. I don’t like braid around wood but we don’t have much wood. 

On 12/24/2022 at 11:35 AM, FryDog62 said:

Love this rod, great action and balance that won't wear you out all day long. And its on sale:

Dobyns Champion Extreme HP Cast Rod 7'4" Hvy FLIP 746 DX746C FLIP HP. Flippin'/ Frogs/ Pitchin'. Hide Information
Taper	Line Wt.	Lure Wt.	Guides	Handle Type	Handle Length	Stock	Price	Qty
Fast	15-30lb	3/8-2oz	10+Tip	Extreme HP Full A	***/2"	In Stock: 1	$279.99

 

This DX 746 flip with the new Bantam XG is an outstanding Heavy Pitching/Flipping/Punching rod setup.

I use a St. Croix Mojo bass 7’4” Heavy Fast and a Shimano Curado 200k 8.5:1 ratio reel, 50lb power pro. Length is preference, but I like something in the 7’2”-7’4” range. You want a rod that is light and balanced so not to wear you out fishing it all day, a soft tip to allow the fish to take the bait a bit and not pull it away, but a strong backbone. You don’t want a pool cue, but it needs to be strong enough to handle some pressure. A fast reel is nice also, along with braided line.

Kistler 7'6" Heavy (5 power), 20 or 25lb Invisx on a Daiwa P/F reel

On 12/24/2022 at 11:35 AM, FryDog62 said:

Love this rod, great action and balance that won't wear you out all day long. And its on sale:

Dobyns Champion Extreme HP Cast Rod 7'4" Hvy FLIP 746 DX746C FLIP HP. Flippin'/ Frogs/ Pitchin'. Hide Information
Taper	Line Wt.	Lure Wt.	Guides	Handle Type	Handle Length	Stock	Price	Qty
Fast	15-30lb	3/8-2oz	10+Tip	Extreme HP Full A	***/2"	In Stock: 1	$279.99

 

 

Been wanting to try the 745 or 746, but not sure which one. I haven't held any of the Extremes in my hands before. Won't be for punching but definitely for flipping/pitching some thicker submerged weeds. I have setups for my basic t-rigs (MH/F rods with fluoro). Wanting something with a little more power for the heavier stuff. Some say to get the 745, some say 746. I know these rods weigh a lot compared to other higher end rods. But I also know Dobyns balance really well. 

 

Anyways back to the OP. My current punching rods.

 

Punching heavy veggies- 7'11' Shimano Expride XH/F

Punching little lighter veggies- 7'6" ALX IKOS XH/MF

7’3” HF Daiwa Rebellion, 7.4:1 Curado 200k, 50lb Power Pro braid ?

This is great! Responses all over the spectrum. I'll have to go to my local tackle store and fondle a bunch of the suggestions.

 

Thanks!

15 hours ago, Bankbeater said:

I punch with an old 6'6" H/F Daiwa Procaster rod.  I got it from my dad back in 2005 and it was at least 10 years old at that time. 

 

I have a Team Diawia rod, it's the first 7' rod I bought. I throw a Carolina Rig on it.

Halo HFX 7’11 extra heavy with 60lb Sunline Plasma 

My new setup for 2023. 
 

MB Levante Perfect Pitch

daiwa Tatula SV

Playing w Braid at the moment.  50lb. 
 

it pitches awesome in my yard. 

12 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

Falcon expert amistad for me. 7’3”, 3/8-2oz, heavy fast. 50 lb 832 braid. This is my vegetation pitching rig. I don’t like braid around wood but we don’t have much wood. 

What's your reel choice for this rod?  Thanks!  I don' have any XGs at this point, so will be shopping.  

11 hours ago, NorthernBasser said:

 

Been wanting to try the 745 or 746, but not sure which one. I haven't held any of the Extremes in my hands before. Won't be for punching but definitely for flipping/pitching some thicker submerged weeds. I have setups for my basic t-rigs (MH/F rods with fluoro). Wanting something with a little more power for the heavier stuff. Some say to get the 745, some say 746. I know these rods weigh a lot compared to other higher end rods. But I also know Dobyns balance really well. 

 

Anyways back to the OP. My current punching rods.

 

Punching heavy veggies- 7'11' Shimano Expride XH/F

Punching little lighter veggies- 7'6" ALX IKOS XH/MF

For OP,

I do frog first then punch second. 
 

I use dobyns champ XP 736 with 2022 shimano bantam 8:1 speed 

 

if you’re on a boat, step up to a 7’6 for punching big thick stuff. 

 

I also own the Dobyns Extreme HP 745

I like it for under 1 oz. If you’re throwing 3/4+ oz weight most of the time, I’d say Step up to 746.