My Tatula CTs and Tatula R's work just fine for punching.

The OP is from east Texas, I was thinking he was fishing a lake close by. I'm not driving to LA just to fish grass. Use to be that 7-8 lakes in east Texas had lots of grass and now all gone. Kinda weird it all disappeared unexpectedly and unexplained. The fisheries were certainly a lot better with it especially Fork.

Gilmer and Hawkins are LOADED with grass. Fork has a pretty fair amount with some mats if you know here to look.

Thanks Mark, I've fished both but not in a long while. Loved Hawkins and will go back soon based on your info. Care to share the location on Fork ?

Warning the bass at Hawkins are there but the last 2 years the bite has really gotten bad for me at least. It seems tougher to catch them every time I go. Love the lake though and enjoy my time out there a lot. Would love to have a place out there someday I think.

just trying to help. I fish from Oklahoma to North Carolina so come across plenty of different fisheries and love how TFF usually is good about helping others. guess I won't do that anymore...

OP- pm me and come to Caddo then. we can punch there!

No reason to be offended bassman, your info was good and probably beneficial to some in the area, just didn't help me. Not everyone travels the country fishing. I try to stay in east Texas where it's close to home and can go and come in a day. Please continue to post on here, your travels and expertise can provide valuable information but understand while it won't help everyone it's good to know.

Exactly what I was thinking...

I chose a Revo because of the heavy duty drag system it has, and because it is a solid reel. I don't completely lock down the drag even while punching.

I chose the Revo for the same reason. The new Quantum Smokes I think have 25lbs max drag but the Abu is easier to get repaired if needed.

Agree.

I have the rod and know what line to use. Just needing to replace my current reel. Thanks for replies.

I reel left and hold rod in right hand always. So flipping with line in left hand created issues with the reel handle catching line. The reel can be modified to suit your tastes. In mine, I cut off one side of the handle. You only need one knob to reel with and it allows me to manage the line by having the handle always back towards me while fishing, keeping it out of the way. It is "counter weighted" such that it will naturally move toward me on a slack line. Drag is almost not an issue as most of the time it is locked down anyway. If I feel the need to back off the drag after I have gotten a big fish out of cover it is easier to adjust with only half a handle. I agree with Steez on reel selection, light weight, no need for large spool capacity. Currently Curado 71 XG. 'spoon

Reel matters because you are putting a huge strain on your reel when punching with heavy line. Your gonna destroy a cheap reel ask some of the guys who used to fish Falcon 5 days a week flipping trees. They were stripping out the aluminum Shimano core gears left a right. Any reel with brass gearing is going to be the strongest. Though I have never stripped any of the newer Shimano gears I know they can be torn up. The reason I like the reels with more line capacity is because I don't like to have a reel thats only good for one thing. Same rod I'm flipping grass with can be used for throwing a jig out deep, tossing an a-rig or a swimbait