Hey all I’m looking to get into fishing heavy cover this year. Im looking for insight on fishing premade punching jigs vs weighted skirts with a stop and hook. I fish jigs at times but I’ve never really find one I love or has a shape that seems reliable for getting through the thick stuff clean. Bullet or wedge weighted skirts seem like a good option, but it looks like the hooks would be more of an issue. 

A skirted weight will generally come through cleaner than a jig because of the line tie.  That said, a Sieberts supreme grass jig has a straight eye and comes through pretty well if you want a jig.

 

Benefit of a skirted weight is changing up weight and color easily.  If you want a smaller plastic you can put on a smaller hook to go with it.  Its a lot more flexible and if you're starting from scratch it will give you more options with less gear.

 

Hooks are no biggie.  A regular straight shank flipping hook comes through pretty well.

 

The Eye Max Jig made by Oldham's Jigs excels as a grass jig. I have been using them for years and highly recommend them for punching mats.

 

You can view them on their website Oldham's Jigs.

 

I seldom use a skirted weight for for punching. I prefer to to use a straight Texas rig with a 3/4 - 1 oz. weight.

 

 

I much prefer a punch rig to a jig. Not only does it get through the thick stuff better (straighter fall), with a snelled straight shank hook, my hook-ups are better. About the only place I use a jig over one is in pads with no other weeds present.

9 hours ago, riverat said:

 

The Eye Max Jig made by Oldham's Jigs excels as a grass jig. I have been using them for years and highly recommend them for punching mats.

 

You can view them on their website Oldham's Jigs.

 

I seldom use a skirted weight for for punching. I prefer to to use a straight Texas rig with a 3/4 - 1 oz. weight.

 

 

 

Eye Max, Hackney's Flourcarbon Jig, or Seibert's Supreme Grass Jig.

 

I will use a Texas Rigged Jig 

 

 

 

8 hours ago, papajoe222 said:

I much prefer a punch rig to a jig. Not only does it get through the thick stuff better (straighter fall), with a snelled straight shank hook, my hook-ups are better. About the only place I use a jig over one is in pads with no other weeds present.

Ditto

 

 

 

 

Mike 

 

I will definitely look into those jigs. I have a pretty solid understanding of how to fish this style ( I watch videos and read all the time) and have dabbled a little bit but it’s never as helpful as other anglers with real world experience who aren’t just trying to sell something. I was looking at Eco Pro tungsten jigs, Black Angle Lures, and the Ducket 4x4s. I’m interested in the skirt design. They have very unique profiles over most standard jigs but I don’t know if that has much effect under a mat. Also it seems like they may be a hinderance with a trailer. I also considered just making my own but I don’t have any experience doing it. I’ve seen it done and watched how to do it I just don’t think I’d have confidence in it.

I just usually a punch rig. Comes through much cleaner than a jig and catches the same size fish.

Ya - punch rig here too.

 

19 hours ago, papajoe222 said:

I much prefer a punch rig to a jig. Not only does it get through the thick stuff better (straighter fall), with a snelled straight shank hook, my hook-ups are better. About the only place I use a jig over one is in pads with no other weeds present.

👆👍100% agree.

I have used the AT grass master jig, Oldhams eyemax, Stanley grass jig for quite awhile. The hack attack is good too. I started making my own using a gambler jig head with gammi hook. I like a 3/4 but will use a 1oz on occasion. Have some 1.5 oz too. When the Mendota rig came out the punching craze took off and the whole “Texas rig” part of it morphed. I mean, guys up here were flipping 4” tubes but the the tungsten weights and heavy flipping hooks weren’t all that available 15-20 years ago. Now we have choices. RI sweet beaver was the bait for a good while. These days I use a tungsten weight pegged with a d bomb or pit boss a lot. If it’s clear and super thick I’ll go to a Christy craw. I prefer the punch rig due to efficiency, even though I’m a “jig guy”. Sometimes the big jig will out perform the punch rig so have both ready.