Punching rigging?

[Rodholder]

Does the addition of a skirt effect the way the hook kicks up when the line is pulled? Do some skirts work better than others and do some of them last longer without falling apart? Do you use some kind of juice to help get the rig to fall through the cabbage?  Any other ideas that might help me get rigged up the best and cheapest would be appreciated because I'm a weekend fisherman not a sponsored competitor. Thanks! Tom

[Champriderz]

The skirt doesn't affect the hook at all so far as the hookset, I started out with skirts I bought from various companies and didn't really notice much difference in durability, they all lose strands sooner or later.  I now make my own using some beads and skirt material I bought online, nothing to it.  Most any oil based juice will help it go through the grass but heavier weights work better .  I do believe the skirt hinders the lure getting through the grass and slows the fall a little.  Don't be afraid to up the weight to and ounce or ounce and a half if it takes, fish will haul that thing around like it's not even there most of the time.  I have some two ounce weights but haven't tried them yet.

[Pat Curtis]

Strike King makes a neat little thing called a Slither Rig.  It works great.  I bought a bunch this summer , only to find a bunch I bought and couldn't find last winter.  If you're interested I could make you a deal.  I have like 8 or 10 of them in various colors in the 1oz and 1-1/4oz sizes.  I tie on a flippin' hook and a Strike King Rodent and flip and punch pads and weeds with them.  They worked great.

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Strike_king_Tour_Grade_Tungsten_Slither_Rig_Weights/descpage-SKTGSR.html

[Siebert Outdoors]

I have never had an issue with the skirt interfering with the hook.  When I first started punching I built me the banded skirts on punch rigs.  They work but since I always try to make my tackle last longer I wire tied them.  I came up with this dude. 



http://www.siebertoutdoors.com/index.php/tungsten-punch-rigs-new

[Steve Reed MFT]

The rig posted above looks awesome! Really nice  .

To answer your questions -

Does the addition of a skirt effect the way the hook kicks up when the line is pulled?

This has never been a concern of mine and I have yet to hear anyone mention this, however, without being able to see what is going on under the water you may be on to something.

Do some skirts work better than others and do some of them last longer without falling apart?

I still support Paycheck Baits and purchase their punch skirts for the most part. They do however fall apart fairly easily. I'd rate them about middle of the pack as far as durability, but they are really soft and well spaced which I like. I also trim them in different ways so they may also be affected by my modifications.
Durability wise - I think the Strike King Slither Rig tops the charts.

Do you use some kind of juice to help get the rig to fall through the cabbage?

Yes -just a spray of Bang Scent - easy application without having to touch the bait.

Any other ideas that might help me get rigged up the best and cheapest would be appreciated because I'm a weekend fisherman not a sponsored competitor.

I say check out the Strike King Slither Rig I posted above. Some guys like the single piece design - I'm one of them, but I often also place a chopped up Paycheck Baits Punch Skirt under it as well - partially for the clicking sound made by the center bead and partially because I like to mess with tackle more than fish.

[Rodholder]

Thanks for all of the help I have been busy lately so I haven't had time to reply but I did read all of the suggestions. I ordered a few weights 1/2 to 1 1/4oz. sizes for using with or without skirts and I bought a few slither rigs the other day in 3/4 and 1oz.. I ordered some weight stops and hooks and rigged up my Shimano Bantam reel with 80# power pro. I don't have one of those long graphite rods that they show in all of the- you tube- videos but I am keeping an eye out for a good deal on one. It looks like everybody uses a trailer of their own choosing but most of them look quite a bit alike. Right now I'm thinking the fat body ones and maybe some with a slimmer profile and anywhere from 3 1/2" to maybe 5". The slither rigs that I bought were all in Black-Blue flake, Bama craw, and Candy craw. That gives me black and blue, brown with orange and some green.