You're received some great advice from some very knowledgeable folks.

I've had little success fishing any style jig in those conditions. So I have gone to a what is essentially a lighter version of a punching rig. You may very well need an actual punching rig (complete with 3/4 to 1 oz weight) to penetrate that mess.

For me this rig is much more weedless and especially snag free. The ridge hook of an actual jig just does not come through that stuff very well.

From the line to the hook here's this rig -

- A stopped knot (I use a double uni-knot made from left over braided line)

- A small bead to keep the knot from slipping through the weight.

- A 1/2 oz tungsten weight

- a Boss Punch Hub - this is placed inside the skirt collar

- The skirt of your choice

- A parasite clip (optional, but does help prevent the plastic from sliding down the hook)

- A 5/0 Owner wide gap plus EWG hook (#5139 - very stout, I love this hook)

- Your favorite soft plastic - pictured is a Power Bait Beast

Hope this helps

A-Jay

NIce set-up A-Jay! I'll have to try that one out.

NIce set-up A-Jay! I'll have to try that one out.

Thanks - I've been doing Very Well with this one.

If there is such a thing as a go to bait, this is it for me.

btw- am I going to be sorry I posted this ?

A-Jay

Nice A-Jay. Does the bullet weight still slide or just the bead? But I do like this how does it work in lilies?

Thanks - I've been doing Very Well with this one.

If there is such a thing as a go to bait, this is it for me.

btw- am I going to be sorry I posted this ?

A-Jay

Nahhh!

Being sorry would be posting my spinnerbait with 2 blades on an interlocking clevis system (no rear blade on a swivel) made with a tungsten weight, red bead and treble hook with the bottom facing down hook removed. That will get some laughs...as well as some bass...LOL

Nice A-Jay. Does the bullet weight still slide or just the bead? But I do like this how does it work in lilies?

The weight and bead do not slide. They are held in place by a stopper knot tied in front of them on the main line. The knot is the first item listed regarding this rig. It's a little hard to see in the second photo, but it's there.

For me, a sliding weight is undesirable when fishing in heavy or snag prone cover. The rig has a better chance of getting into and more importantly, out of, structure when it remains as one compact unit. A weight that slides and separates from the plastic may not penetrate as deep into the cover and may also hang up a bit more.

And - since the soft plastic is skin hooked, it comes through just about anything, including the lilies.

A-Jay

A-Jay, where'd you get those Beast? I've been looking for those for quite a while!! Killer trailers, those.

A-Jay, where'd you get those Beast? I've been looking for those for quite a while!! Killer trailers, those.

Yup - Beasts are a fan favorite (for this fan anyway)

I made a Mass Purchase back when they were still in production.

Sadly, though, supplies are running low ~

A-Jay

There are two distinctively different approaches when fishing matted vegetation

The first is the silent approach, these anglers want their lure to fall quietly through the grass & come through the grass cleanly.

The second is to be noisy, these anglers want their lure to cause a disturbance by moving grass as it falls and when its coming though the grass.

Divers have went out to the grass flats & dove under to see what was there, what was found were tunnels, caverns, & caves under the surface matted grass. But more importantly what was noticed was when lures fell through the mat silently unless it landed in an open area the lure when unnoticed. Whereas with noisy approach the bass may not have visually seen the lure but the disturbance caused by moving grass as it falls the bass not only notices your lure turn but turn and swim towards it.

With the popularity of the silent “Punch” rig or the pegged Texas rig it is certain that most anglers will be using this approach so I’ll opt out for a Jig-n-craw or an un-pegged Texas rig.

I do the same with my plastics selections, when most anglers opt for silent “Beaver” type lures I prefer Rage Lobsters, Smokin Rooster or Stanley’s ItzaBug

Yup - Beasts are a fan favorite (for this fan anyway)

I made a Mass Purchase back when they were still in production.

Sadly, though, supplies are running low ~

A-Jay

I have one of each size saved in original packaging... Thinking about trying to get a mold made for 'em......

I have one of each size saved in original packaging... Thinking about trying to get a mold made for 'em......

Sounds like a good plan and if you do, I'd like to place an order please . . .

A-Jay

I'll keep you in mind if I do get one made

I'll keep you in mind if I do get one made

Thank you very much.

I do appreciate it.

And I am serious.

A-Jay