Story by Corey Casey | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons
When I look back on my bass fishing journey, there’s one technique that stands out as the foundation of how I learned to catch big ones: punching thick cover with a heavy weight. I cut my teeth with a 1- to 2-ounce tungsten sinker, a stout flipping stick, and a reel fast enough to winch a bass straight through the jungle. To this day, it’s one of my favorite ways to fish—not only because of the pure power involved, but because it flat out catches giants.
Why Punching Works
Punching is all about efficiency. Bass love to bury themselves under mats, hyacinths, in reeds, or in thick grass when the sun is high. That overhead canopy provides shade, cooler water, and ambush spots for big fish that aren’t interested in chasing moving baits. Traditional flipping weights or Texas rigs can’t penetrate the thickest vegetation. That’s where a 1- to 2-ounce punching setup shines. You can drive your bait straight through the cover and put it right in the bass’ living room.
The strike is often immediate. Many times, your bait won’t even hit bottom before a bass grabs it. It’s a style of fishing that forces you to be dialed in and ready at all times.
The Gear: Heavy Duty for a Heavy Job
Punching isn’t for light tackle. If you want to be successful, you need the right setup.
Rod: A big, heavy rod in the 7-foot-6 to 7-foot-11 range is the sweet spot. I want plenty of backbone to drive the hook home and pull fish out of the jungle.
Reel: Speed matters. I use a fast reel (8:1 gear ratio or higher) because once a bass bites, I need to get it moving up and out of that cover as quickly as possible.
Line: Straight braid, no exceptions. I spool up with 50- to 65-pound braid because anything less risks breaking off in the thick stuff.
Weight & Rigging: A 1- to 2-ounce tungsten weight is non-negotiable. Peg it with a bobber stop, pair it with a strong flipping hook, and thread on a streamlined soft plastic like a beaver-style bait. The goal is to slide through cover cleanly without getting hung up.
With this setup, I don’t “finesse” bass out of cover—I whack ’em and flip ’em in the boat.
The Bite and the Hookset
Punching bites can be tricky to detect. Sometimes you feel a subtle “tick,” but more often it just feels heavy, like your bait stopped before reaching bottom. That’s when instincts take over. Don’t second-guess it—drop the hammer. A hard, vertical hookset with braid and a stout rod will punch that hook home.
Once hooked, there’s no time for playing the fish. It’s a fight of pure horsepower. Get the bass moving up immediately, keep steady pressure, and don’t stop cranking until it’s in the boat.
Timing and Conditions
Punching shines in the heat of summer when grass mats are thick and the sun is high. But don’t limit yourself—bass use overhead cover in spring, fall, and even on warm winter days in the South. Any time you find thick vegetation, especially where it’s mixed with hydrilla, hyacinth, or pennywort, you’ve got a punching opportunity.
Look for key areas like edges, points, or spots where multiple types of vegetation intersect. Those irregularities almost always hold the bigger fish.
Why It’s Special
For me, punching is more than just a technique—it’s where I learned to love bass fishing. There’s something about dropping a bait through a mat, feeling that subtle “thunk,” and ripping a big bass out of the jungle that never gets old. It’s raw, it’s powerful, and it’s addicting.
This isn’t a numbers game. Punching is about targeting the biggest bass in the lake. If you’re willing to grind, stay focused, and stick with it, you’ll be rewarded with fish most anglers never get a chance to catch.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve never tried punching thick cover, you’re missing out on one of the most exciting ways to catch bass. Rig up heavy, commit to the grind, and get ready for some of the most violent bites you’ll ever feel. When that line jumps, there’s only one thing left to do: whack ’em and flip ’em in the boat!
Fish With Me on Santee Cooper
Want to experience the thrill of punching thick mats and flipping big bass into the boat? Book a trip with me on South Carolina’s legendary Santee Cooper lakes. As both a full-time guide and professional angler, I’ll put you on fish, teach you proven techniques like punching heavy cover, and make sure you leave with memories (and maybe even a personal best) that will last a lifetime. Visit coreycaseyfishingandguideservice.com or reach out on social media to lock in your trip today!
Corey Casey – Angler Profile
