What’s your favorite squarebill rod? 2025
clemsondds reply :
Looking for suggestions on a good squarebill rod. I have the Dobyns champion 705 glass which I love and use for mid cranking. Just looking to see what else is out there for lighter squarebills (eg lc 1.5). Maybe st croix, megabass, expride... not looking for you to pick one out for me...just wondering what your favorite is. thanks
zell_pop1 reply :
6'6" St Croix Premier Glass rod as I usually target cast square bills. Wish St Croix 6'10" glass rods would come in a full grip and I would buy one in a heartbeat.
waymont reply :
Dobyns Fury 703c. It’s not a designated CB rod, but works great for 1.5 and larger sizes too.
clemsondds reply :
On 2/28/2020 at 3:17 PM, zell_pop1 said:6'6" St Croix Premier Glass rod as I usually target cast square bills. Wish St Croix 6'10" glass rods would come in a full grip and I would buy one in a heartbeat.
That's funny you say that...I just now inquired about the availability of that exact rod at a store. Seems like a nice rod for light baits and good action as well. Mind if I ask why you would prefer the 6'10" (if it had the longer cork)? thanks
On 2/28/2020 at 8:32 PM, waymont said:Dobyns Fury 703c. It’s not a designated CB rod, but works great for 1.5 and larger sizes too.
Any idea how the 703 compares with the 705cb glass? I haven't had a chance to try the 703...but I bet it would be a great rod!
waymont reply :
On 2/28/2020 at 10:53 PM, clemsondds said:That's funny you say that...I just now inquired about the availability of that exact rod at a store. Seems like a nice rod for light baits and good action as well. Mind if I ask why you would prefer the 6'10" (if it had the longer cork)? thanks
Any idea how the 703 compares with the 705cb glass? I haven't had a chance to try the 703...but I bet it would be a great rod!
I can’t compare them.
TBAG reply :
St. Croix Legend Glass 610 MM
Tizi reply :
I use and really like my Daiwa Tatula 7' medium glass rod (TTU701MRB-G) for this technique. Loads up and launches squarebills a mile!
Dens228 reply :
MegaBass Flatside Special.
J Francho reply :
I like a different rod from most cranking sticks for square bills (and traps, too) - a 7' m/f stick. I like to be able to react quickly when the bait contacts wood or dock pilings, etc., and the fast rod helps with that, but the m power and length keep steady pressure on the fish when you get bit, without being to stiff.
Fishes in trees reply :
I think some of my square bill rods are long out of production. I like my 7'4" BPS Extreme. It was a Woo Davis signature rod and he endorsed it as an all purpose pitching rod. BPS first brought it to market the next season after Woo Davis won the Bassmaster Classic, I forget what year that was, anyway, I bought one and didn't like it for pitching because IMO it has too much tip. It sat in the fishing shed for a couple of years and then on a whim I tried it throwing square bills and it worked great. I generally throw half ounce baits that that rod had enough tip that I didn't have to over muscle it to get the distance I wanted. It has plenty of backbone for moving fish once the strike occurs. I use either an old Curado D (the wide spool Curado ) or a Calcutta 250 TEGT and those reels handle 17 or 20 lb mono well. After finding a purpose for this rod which I originally paid $100 more or less for, when they went on sale for $70 I bought a couple more. They don't exist in the BPS catalog any more.
When I have to cut down on the number of rods I carry, (like when I've got someone else in the boat) my 7' Falcon Bucco trap caster works good for throwing any half ounce reaction bait. I think this rod is still in production but I don't know, it has been a while since I went to the Falcon web site.
I found a Berkley Lightning rod on sale at Academy a few winters ago, 7' Med/med action and I fished with it once. It is a good back up to the back up rod. Also at Academy I found some All Star rods (the purple ones) on sale/close out - their 7' crank bait rod. I think that it works ok for square bills, but it works better throwing wiggle warts on 10 lb line.
On that same close out sale I found a purple All Star rod labeled as a Carolina Rig rod - I don't throw Carolina rigs, but it works great throwing Biffle Bugs - half ounce & 3/4 oz baits.
Back to the subject of square bill rods, the jury is still out on what works best for the big, over an ounce square bill. Regular square bill rod seems too wimpy. Currently I'm using an old (mid 90's) 7 Diawa MH rod. I like that it is telescopic and stores easily, and I like the tip which is way too heavy to throw half ounce baits with any accuracy at all but over an ounce it has enough tip that you can do 60' roll casts with. Not a fan of the handle - handle is 6 or 8 inches too long IMO, but can't just shorten it cause the rod is telescopic.
I hear guys talk about how great fiberglass rods are for throwing square bills, but I just can't get behind that idea because every fiberglass rod I've ever touched was heavier than a similar length & action graphite rod.
Matt_3479 reply :
Imx pro 845c cbr
crypt reply :
an old Rick Clunn team Daiwa crankin stick........
kayaking_kev reply :
On 2/28/2020 at 10:53 PM, clemsondds said:Any idea how the 703 compares with the 705cb glass? I haven't had a chance to try the 703...but I bet it would be a great rod!
I have both and have used the Fury 703 for squarebills and it does really good. It's almost a full oz. lighter than the 705 Glass, but I recently picked up a 704 Glass that I will probably use for 1.5's from now on and 2.5's on the 705 and jerkbaits on the 703. The Fury 703 is pretty versatile for anything 3/8 and under, it can just about throw anything, including treble hook lures. The 704 Glass is also just under a oz lighter than the 705 and has a lot more parabolic bend to it. It's definitely a technique specific rod for lighter cranks and squarebills only and a lot slower action than the 703 or 705.
On 2/29/2020 at 1:10 AM, Fishes in trees said:I hear guys talk about how great fiberglass rods are for throwing square bills, but I just can't get behind that idea because every fiberglass rod I've ever touched was heavier than a similar length & action graphite rod.
My 704 Glass rod weighs less than it's 704cb graphite counterpart.
FishTank reply :
St. Croix Legend Glass 7'2'' Med. Mod. Best application specific rod I have ever used. It's so good, it's scary. I have used a Mod. Avid, a Loomis GLX crankbait rod, a regular Loomis Crankbait rod, Lamiglas, a Shimano Crucial Crankbait, and probably a couple I have forgotten but the Legend Glass just does the job better.
OG Crankster reply :
On 2/29/2020 at 3:37 AM, FishTank said:St. Croix Legend Glass 7'2'' Med. Mod. Best application specific rod I have ever used. It's so good, it's scary. I have used a Mod. Avid, a Loomis GLX crankbait rod, a regular Loomis Crankbait rod, Lamiglas, a Shimano Crucial Crankbait, and probably a couple I have forgotten but the Legend Glass just does the job better.
I use this exact rod and also absolutely love it.
Columbia Craw reply :
You're already fishing it.
johnD. reply :
I've been fishing a Falcon 6'8 mh Jason Christie squarebill/spinnerbait rod for several years. I've lost very few fish on it.
The Lew's custom speed stick crankin 6'9 mh squarebill rod , is gonna be my next one.
Hooligan reply :
Depends on what I’m doing. In grass and/or rock it’s a Legend Glass 7-2 Med Mod. In wood and around docks I prefer the IMX Pro 843 and 845 CBR.
DitchPanda reply :
I've got a few different cranking rods...for squarebills I love my 2 bucoo trapcasters..which are also my favorite lipless rods..guess they live up to the name
mrpao reply :
I have been using the same rods for years- black 7' med hvy cumara reaction series.
I use them for squarebills, deeper cranks and lipless cranks. They seem to do a decent job, so I dont see a reason to change.
zell_pop1 reply :
On 2/28/2020 at 10:53 PM, clemsondds said:That's funny you say that...I just now inquired about the availability of that exact rod at a store. Seems like a nice rod for light baits and good action as well. Mind if I ask why you would prefer the 6'10" (if it had the longer cork)? thanks
I have a 6'6" and 7' glass rod, one for accuracy one for distance. A 6'10" would allow me to use just one and I hate split grips.
Chris at Tech reply :
On 2/29/2020 at 8:29 AM, Columbia Craw said:You're already fishing it.
My preference is my Dobyns Champion 705CB graphite...but yeah, close enough.
rcjoutdoors reply :
Megabass Flatside Special
clemsondds reply :
On 3/1/2020 at 12:30 AM, rcjoutdoors said:Megabass Flatside Special
Can you tell me why you like this? I haven’t been able to find one at a store to look at. I love my other mb rod...
On 2/29/2020 at 11:56 AM, Hooligan said:Depends on what I’m doing. In grass and/or rock it’s a Legend Glass 7-2 Med Mod. In wood and around docks I prefer the IMX Pro 843 and 845 CBR.
mind sharing how these rods differ? If you have three money rods for squarebill, what else is in your collection?!?
thanks everyone for your thoughts! So many to choose from
Bankbeater reply :
An old BPS 7'0" tourney special rod. It's a mh/f, but it fishes like a m/f.
TBAG reply :
On 2/29/2020 at 3:37 AM, FishTank said:St. Croix Legend Glass 7'2'' Med. Mod. Best application specific rod I have ever used. It's so good, it's scary. I have used a Mod. Avid, a Loomis GLX crankbait rod, a regular Loomis Crankbait rod, Lamiglas, a Shimano Crucial Crankbait, and probably a couple I have forgotten but the Legend Glass just does the job better.
You're absolutely correct on this. My Legend Glass is the 6'10" but still is the best crankbait or any bait specific rod I've ever used. I own one other CB specific rod, St. Croix Avid but the glass is 10x better IMO.
I'm a huge crankbait fan anyway so I always try to find an excuse to use the Legend Glass whenever I'm out and it always puts a smile on my face.
This was a couple Sundays ago on a rare warm February day.
Untitled by Caleb Bender, on Flickr
roadwarrior reply :
For most medium weight lures with treble hooks: G.Loomis GLX PR844C/ Core 50Mg/ Sunline Defier Armilo #11
For heavy lures and deep divers: Lamiglas SR705R/ Conquest 100/ #30 Smackdown, #15 Tatsu leader
gilkeybr reply :
Really like my 704CB Graphite for small cranks (1.5s and even a bit smaller)
Cityangler7 reply :
Dobyns Champion XP 705CB, I personally don't like anything with glass.
clemsondds reply :
anyone ever try the st croix mojo glass 6'10" M for squarebills?
Hooligan reply :
On 3/1/2020 at 9:30 PM, clemsondds said:mind sharing how these rods differ? If you have three money rods for squarebill, what else is in your collection?!?
thanks everyone for your thoughts! So many to choose from
They differ in the way the blank loads and recovers, they differ in the power transition of the blank. They differ in casting accuracy and trajectory as well.
The legend is as close to a perfect squarebill rod as I’ve come across. The sole aspect that I do not like is around wood it is too quickly into the power of the blank because the rod loads in so heavily with a 1/2 ounce bait. It doesn’t “bump and run” in wood because the rod is already loaded so much, half the time you feel the wood too ate and you’ve buried a bait. In grass, you can let the rod load up and it will rip a bait free nearly of its own power. Just a difference in the way they’re built.
The CBR is better around docks for that same reason, you can feel small changes better, you can feel deflection easier, and it casts a short line a bit better. The difference between the two is solely a difference of bait size. A Big BX brat doesn’t fish as well on a 4 power rod. A Little John doesn’t do well on a 5 power.
As for what else I have, they’re all tools. You don’t strike a chisel with a sledgehammer, and you don’t drive 16p with a tack hammer.
Bluebasser86 reply :
Use to be a St. Croix 7' MH Pro Glass. Broke it a few years ago and been getting by with a Quantum KVD crankbait rod that does pretty well.
Now I stepped up to a St. Croix Legend Glass 6' 10" MH that I'm really liking so far. Most of my cranking is shorter cast with squarebills and shallow to mid range baits, and this rod does that perfectly.
Smalls reply :
On 2/29/2020 at 12:34 AM, J Francho said:I like a different rod from most cranking sticks for square bills (and traps, too) - a 7' m/f stick. I like to be able to react quickly when the bait contacts wood or dock pilings, etc., and the fast rod helps with that, but the m power and length keep steady pressure on the fish when you get bit, without being to stiff.
I thought I was the only one. I've got a 705cb for fishing rock, grass, etc. But if I'm around wood, it gets benched for my mh/f Christie rod. It's still got enough bend to not rip trebles out, but fast enough to let me keep em out of the cover.
J Francho reply :
I think that whole ripping trebles out is over played. I've bent trebles before they're ripped out. My take is the drag was set too high. I'm thinking when we lost fish and blame it on the trebles ripping out, it wasn't really hooked well to begin with, and a slow rod wouldn't save it anyway. BTW, ever get a treble in your own skin? I did, my leg once. It was not easy to get out.
bunz559 reply :
I hardly squarebill but definitely enjoy my Dobyns 705cb glass when I do.
Smalls reply :
On 3/4/2020 at 4:49 AM, J Francho said:I think that whole ripping trebles out is over played. I've bent trebles before they're ripped out. My take is the drag was set too high. I'm thinking when we lost fish and blame it on the trebles ripping out, it wasn't really hooked well to begin with, and a slow rod wouldn't save it anyway. BTW, ever get a treble in your own skin? I did, my leg once. It was not easy to get out.
I agree. What I mean by "ripping them out" is the fish coming unbuttoned during the fight. I noticed that happening a ton less when I bought my first dedicated crankbait rod. I don't think I've ever actually ripped em out on a hookset
rcjoutdoors reply :
On 3/1/2020 at 9:30 PM, clemsondds said:Can you tell me why you like this? I haven’t been able to find one at a store to look at. I love my other mb rod...
mind sharing how these rods differ? If you have three money rods for squarebill, what else is in your collection?!?
thanks everyone for your thoughts! So many to choose from
I like the taper and the tip for casting, it has enough bend in it without being too noodley for me. The length is not too short... where I don't feel I can make a long cast from the bank. It's 7ft, I know most like 6'9" squarebill rods, but I'm accurate enough with it when casting to hit my targeted areas.
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