Hate to state the obvious but a half oz . jig ain’t punching anything. Might try a real jig, 1 oz or 1.25. Heavy jig equals the fast fall your looking for to get the reaction bite you’re looking for. You can probably punch a half oz Texas rig/trailer but that half oz jig ain’t heavy enough, JMO. While you’re at it get you some 50-65lb braid. If braid ever had a perfect application that’s it. That whale rope mono will twist up on you by the end of the day and it doesn’t cut thru grass like braid. Again, JMO
Used to live on HC, coached at Breck - gods country. Best, hardest working kids I’ve ever been around.
Grass punching GOSPEL right here!
It’s a reaction bite. Not a jiggy finessie kinda thing. Get a 1 or 1-1/2oz Tungsten weight, a 4/0 Trokar Mag wide gap, and some big, streamlined black-n-blue plastics. Peg the weight on 65lb power pro and use a fast reel and a heavy rod. Flip it in, let it fall, and feel for a bite on the drop. If no bite, slowly lift (one time), and let it fall again. No bite, no fish was there. Move on down a couple feet and try it again.
Big fish don’t need deep. They want shade and forage. 1-2 ft of water under a mat is more than enough. They like the cooler water, shade, cover, and more oxygenated water