3. LINE
Most anglers prefer braided line over
fluorocarbon or monofilament when
punching vegetation because it tends
to slice through grass, resists abrasion,
has no stretch and is super strong.
Hallman prefers 55-pound-test
PowerPro braid, while Thliveros uses
50- to 65-pound-test Lew’s Speed Line
APT Braid.
4. HOOKS
Heavy-duty, straight-shank flipping hooks are
preferred for punching in thick vegetation, espe-
cially in combination with braided lines and stiff
rods, because the hooks resist flexing or bending
on violent hooksets. The better ones have a
welded eye to prevent super-line slippage.
Hallman’s favorite hook for punching mats is
the Strike King Hack Attack Heavy Cover Flippin’
Hook.
Thliveros uses a similar hook, but prefers to
build his own using a nickel-plated spinnerbait
trailer hook made from stout wire with a strong
point and barb. The keeper is constructed from
a section of a large copper staple (the kind used
on cardboard boxes) or a plastic toothpick that
is hand-shaped at the proper angle. He ties the
keeper on with sewing thread and glues it in
place. There are many online tutorials that
explain this type of tying process, but it’s similar
to tying an eye on a rod or hair on a fly.
“It’s a time-consuming process, but I’m a fish-
erman, and I don’t mind taking the time to build
eight to 10 good hooks that will last me two or
three tournaments if I’m punching or flipping a
lot,” he says.
“PUNCHING” WOOD
For flipping dense bushes or brush,
Hallman changes to an offset EWG
hook and fluorocarbon. He says his
hookup ratio is nearly 100 percent
with that combo.
Strike King Hack
Attack Heavy Cover
Flippin’ Hook
Peter T’s homemade flipping hook
5. WEIGHTS
You can pretty much brush aside lead, brass, steel and any other material
other than tungsten for punching weights, at least among the pros. Its sensi-
tivity, density and compact profile make it ideal, particularly when working with
the heavy weights so often used for punching. A compact weight slides more
easily through cover, and it won’t “blow open” the fish’s mouth as much as a
larger weight tends to do during the hookset. Hallman suggests a Reins tung-
sten weight because it has a plastic insert to protect the line.
january 2017 I fLWfISHInG.com
37