Catch more bass this summer by punching heavy matted vegetation. Learn the best gear, weights, soft plastics, and techniques to target giants hiding in the grass.

 

https://www.bassresource.com/fishing/punching-matted-grass.html

 

Punching hydrilla and water hyacinth mats is one of my primary tactics to catch bass year round. I usually have 3 punch rigs ready to go. Depending on the density of the mats I’ll use 5/8, 3/4, or one ounce tungsten weights. Plus, I’ll have a rod rigged with a 3/4 or one ounce Oldham’s Eye Max grass jig. 
 

For the Texas rigs I’ll use a Strike King Punch Bug or a Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Craw on one rod. On the other I always have a 4” flipping tube with a tube rattle inserted. 
 

On the jig I use a 4” Salt Craw as a trailer.

 

I’ll switch back and forth to find out what the fish prefer that day. 

 

While it can take a while to gain confidence in punching, once you have some success it can become addictive.