Crankbaits are a very fun way to fish, but can be an intimidating lure at times. One of my favorite types of crankbaits is a squarebill crankbait. Who doesn't enjoy casting out a crankbait, reeling it back, and feeling that giant bass try to rip the rod out of your hand? Fishing squarebill crankbaits, can be a great way to catch bass. My hope for you after reading this article is for you to feel more confident in your ability to go out and fish on a squarebill crankbait.
I have absolutely fallen in love with the 6th Sense Crush series of crankbaits. They come in various sizes and awesome color options. I tend to fish the 50 size the most, but the 100 size can also help trigger a bigger bite with its larger profile.
Colors
I like to keep my color options somewhat simple. I tend to carry a shad color, bluegill color, and a dirty water color. My suggestion for you is to pick the colors that most mimic the bait fish in your particular area. Some great shad color options are: Shad Pro, and Spanish Pearl. Some great bluegill and sunfish colors are: Bluegill Spawn, Chartreuse Sungill. Some great dirty water colors are: Black Magic, Chartreuse Black Back, and 4k Crawfish.
Technique
When fishing a squarebill and any crankbait for that matter, you need to know what depth you are fishing. Knowing what depth you want to fish will dictate the specific crankbait you’re going to use. For example, if you're throwing a squarebill with a maximum depth of 5 feet, then typically you're going to want to fish in areas that are no deeper than 5 feet. The only time this is not the case is if the cover you are fishing extends up into the water, fishing a submerged tree line is a good example of cover that extends up into the water. If you're fishing an offshore rock pile in 10 feet of water, but the rock pile extends up into 5 feet, then you're going to want to fish a bait that is going to come in contact with the rock pile in the 5-7 foot range to ensure you are coming in contact with that cover.
You always want to be hitting something when fishing a squarebill crankbait. You want to be coming in contact with whatever structure you are fishing. If you are fishing rocks, then you need to be coming in contact with those rocks to maximize your success. If you're fishing brush, then you need to be fishing the bait through the brush, and coming in contact with the limbs. If you're fishing grass, you need to be ripping the squarebill out of the grass when it gets stuck. All the contact made with the cover is what triggers those bass to bite.
Equipment
Important factors when it comes to squarebill crankbait fishing are the rod, reel, and line you are using. I love to use a 7'2" Med-Hvy Mod-Fast Action rod by 6th Sense. I’m able to feel everything I need while fishing the squarebill. The rod also loads up great when I get bit, which enables me to get the best hooksets I can. It is also forgiving enough to not pull those treble hooks out of the fish's mouth. The reel I like to use is a Daiwa Tatula SV in a 6.3:1 gear ratio. Using the 6.3:1 gear ratio is very important. Fishing a faster gear ratio reel can cause you to fish the bait too fast. The 6.3:1 gear ratio allows you to slow down and helps you to get more bites. It is still fast enough to catch up with the fish as they run after you’ve hooked them.
Line is a huge factor when fishing a squarebill. You need to have a good quality line. I love to use Sunline FC Sniper in the 10 or 12 pound test rating. Heavier line sizes will make your bait run shallower, and a lighter line will help you fish the bait deeper. Going too heavy with your line can negatively impact the amount of action you get out of your squarebill, which means less bites.
Where to Fish a Squarebill
Shallower flat areas are great places to fish the squarebill. These areas enable you to have your bait in the strike zone for longer periods of time when compared to steeper banks. Another great time to fish a squarebill is post spawn in a bluegill pattern like Bluegill Spawn. Bluegill patterns are also great options during the bluegill spawn. Bluegill patterns are also great into the summer months when the bass are focused on eating those bluegill.
A squarebill crankbait can also work really well in areas with scattered brush in the water. You may hang up more often than if you chose another lure, like a spinnerbait, but many other anglers will also be throwing spinnerbaits in that same area. By choosing that squarebill over a spinnerbait you end up coming through the area fishing something different which can generate strikes other fishermen are not able to get.
Experiment
Don't be afraid to experiment with colors. Colors like Craw Bomb, Rambo Red, and Tipped Crawfish all have their time and place. For example, red colored baits work really well on the California Delta. You never know, the non-shad, non-bluegill, or other non-traditional color may be the next big thing at your local lake. If you experiment with different colors, you may be the one to discover the hot new bite. The best part of finding that new bite is that you’ll have it all to yourself!
Hopefully this article has taught you more about squarebill crankbait fishing. Hopefully, it has introduced you to some awesome products and staple colors that are proven to catch fish! Get out there and learn to fish squarebill crankbaits. You’ll be glad you did!
