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vegetation fishing tips

Have more than one thick vegetation setups to punch through – with Kevin VanDam

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How to flip matted cover. Have enough wait with your fishing bait to punch through matted vegetation. Look for the greenest mats to find the most fish underneath.

KVD shares his insight and tips for how to find the most fish and where to punch through the vegetation.

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When you’re fishing in Florida, one of the most effective techniques to consider is punching mats. Whether you’re dealing with matted hydrilla, hyacinth mats, or vegetation blown together, bass love to hide beneath these dense covers.

To catch them, you need a reliable punching setup that can effectively break through the thick vegetation.

Key Punching Gear and Setup

To successfully punch through mats, you need to ensure you’re equipped with the right gear. A heavy tungsten weight is essential.

Tungsten is compact and makes it easier to penetrate the dense cover. Sometimes, you have to flip your bait high into the air to build momentum and push through the mat—but that’s exactly what it takes to reach where the bass is hiding.

Here’s a breakdown of a solid punching setup:

  • Rod and Reel: A 7’10” Lew’s punching rod paired with a Lew’s HyperMag reel (8.3:1 gear ratio) works perfectly. The high-speed reel is not about reeling in fish quickly but saving time during retrievals to make more casts.
  • Weight and Line: Use a 1.5-ounce Strike King Tour Grade tungsten weight with a bobber stop to keep it pegged. Pair this with 65-pound braid for maximum strength and zero stretch.
  • Hook and Bait: A 4/0 Mustad Denny Brauer Grip Pin hook works great, paired with a Strike King Punch Bug. This bait has deep ribs and a soft texture, allowing the hook to stay concealed while avoiding snags.

The Technique

When flipping into a mat, watch closely. Often, you’ll notice subtle movements that indicate a bass has taken the bait. For instance, you might see the mat shift slightly, a signal to set the hook.

Position your rod high and keep slack in the line to allow the bait to fall freely through the mat.

Once it’s through, hold your rod at a 10 o’clock position and give the bait three to four shakes. Sometimes, you’ll need to lift it back to the top of the mat and hold it there to entice a bite.

Pay attention to patterns. If fish bite as the bait falls, they’re likely aggressive. However, during warmer parts of the day, you may need to jig the bait several times before triggering a strike.

Targeting the Right Mats

The greenest mats are typically the most productive. These mats haven’t been sprayed with herbicides and still harbor life in the root systems below. Avoid brown, dying mats, as these areas lack the ecosystem bass rely on.

Noise and Presentation

Unlike other fishing scenarios, noise isn’t a concern when punching mats. Mats are naturally noisy environments, with birds and other wildlife constantly creating a commotion.

The loud impact of your weight smashing through the mat often attracts fish rather than spooking them.

Seasonal Tips

Punching mats is especially effective during weather changes or extreme temperatures:

  • Cold Fronts: Bass buries deeper under mats to find stable conditions.
  • Heat of Summer: Mats provide cooler, shaded areas for fish to escape the heat.

Results and Persistence

This technique is known for producing big fish, though some days you might only catch smaller ones. The key is persistence. Keep punching through mats, and eventually, you’ll land a trophy bass.

For example, during a recent outing, while the big bites were elusive, the technique consistently produced fish. By refining your approach and paying attention to how fish respond to your bait’s movement, you can maximize your success under Florida’s mats.

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