Lure of the Week: The Punch

Scott Martin, the FLW Circuit’s 2015 Angler of the Year, is constantly trying to come up with ways to punch his baits through some thick, matted vegetation.

On his home lake, Lake Okeechobee in Florida, the big ones often lurk in the deepest part of the cover they can find.

That’s why he is excited about the new Punch bait he helped design. It is part of the Whiskers series of baits made by Tightlines UV, a company based in Maryville, Mo., and it is built to reach the big ones’ most impenetrable hiding places.

The plastic bait features two sets of silicone-skirt appendages (the whiskers), and plastic molded claws. It has a streamlined profile that allows it to slip into heavy cover when used on a heavy sinker and when rigged weedless.

It also features UV technology, a coloration process that helps it stand out in virtually any environment. The Punch sells for about $7 for a package of four.

This story was originally published June 1, 2016 at 12:46 PM with the headline "Lure of the Week: The Punch."