Can someone give me the basics for punching mats and fishing slop?

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1248137420

^^^

This helped but if we could add to it; that would be great.

I did a basic search and have been reading extensively but thought we could get some good information going on this one.

Keeping it simple... go heavy, and fish the matt thouroughly. Use heavy gear, and heavy baits such as jigs and soft plastics with a big bullet weight.

Look for any irregularities in the matt and once again, fish it thouroughly. Look for bites on the fall, or on the first couple shakes of the lure once it hits the bottom. Set the hook hard and horse them out of there. 

Do not fail to look at the structure below the mat

Don't just let the lure hit the bottom and then lift it out. Sometimes fish will be looking up so yo-yo the bait a little below the surface before you pull it out of the mat.

I should be pegging the sinker when texas rigging when punching milfoil right?

I should be pegging the sinker when texas rigging when punching milfoil right?

or use a jig 

one thing that was key when i was figurin out flippin hyacinth, is you think youve penetrated the mat when the lure stops sinking when its actually hung up on the mat on its way down, and just needs a little jiggle from your rod tip to get it to finish sinking.

I should be pegging the sinker when texas rigging when punching milfoil right?

or use a jig

Is there a particular head design for jigs that will punch through heavy milfoil mats? 

Is there a particular head design for jigs that will punch through heavy milfoil mats?

A "grass jig" with a recessed eye works very well around heavy weeds.  3/4 and 1 oz. is the heaviest I ever need around milfoil mats.

http://www.***.com/Grass_Jigs/catpage-GRASSJIG.html

Terry Oldham's Eye-Max are the most effective Grass Jigs made

You want punching mats 101?

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/fishingtips/livedayonthelake

Watch the Terry Scroggins videos on that link. Part one starts third from the bottom of the list.

You want punching mats 101?

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/fishingtips/livedayonthelake

Watch the Terry Scroggins videos on that link. Part one starts third from the bottom of the list.

Great post! Thanks

Bass Pros on Versus had a nice segment on this as well. Lots of good advice so far, let's keep it going.

This sounds like the perfect technique for a lake I fish on pretty frequently. I'd just like to clear something up though, thats been puzzling me.

My lake has spots of both hydrilla and millfoil, and I've done good fishing along the edge of it and lighter plastics into pockets, but never thought of punching down into it. Does this stuff basicly just layer up and have open area underneith? This is definitely the ticket for the lakes I fish I'm sure, its nothing but weeds and mats. I'm just curious what this stuff looks like underneith.

Just like a tree.  Single stalk at the bottom, bushy at the top.  Now imagine a forest that is easy to walk around in and so thick at the top that you can't see the sun.  That is what hydrilla looks like.

I punch heavy hydrilla and maidencane with a texas rig.

65 lb power pro, 7-9 fenwick heavy swimbait rod, 7.1-1 revo, eagle bobber stop, 1 oz tungsten punch weight, KO hangover skirt, 4-0 EWG Superline hook, and a megabug.

Completely weedless, heavy duty, and easy to rig.

Just like a tree. Single stalk at the bottom, bushy at the top. Now imagine a forest that is easy to walk around in and so thick at the top that you can't see the sun. That is what hydrilla looks like.

I punch heavy hydrilla and maidencane with a texas rig.

65 lb power pro, 7-9 fenwick heavy swimbait rod, 7.1-1 revo, eagle bobber stop, 1 oz tungsten punch weight, KO hangover skirt, 4-0 EWG Superline hook, and a megabug.

Completely weedless, heavy duty, and easy to rig.

Solid advice right there.

Tim Hortins mentioned throwing into the really slimey parts as it offers the fish better shade \ protection.

This sounds like the perfect technique for a lake I fish on pretty frequently. I'd just like to clear something up though, thats been puzzling me.

My lake has spots of both hydrilla and millfoil, and I've done good fishing along the edge of it and lighter plastics into pockets, but never thought of punching down into it. Does this stuff basicly just layer up and have open area underneith? This is definitely the ticket for the lakes I fish I'm sure, its nothing but weeds and mats. I'm just curious what this stuff looks like underneith.

There is almost always some space under the weed mat for fish to roam. I think of a milfoil mat like a think pine forest, where the canopy may be so thick that hardly any sunlight gets through, but you can still easily walk amongst the trees.

Cool, thanks for clearing that up for me guys. I already have the equipment for it, sounds like I just need some 1oz tungstens and I'll be good to go.