What is your favorite Squarebill Crankbait, and why?
Mine is the Bomber Square A, Oxbow Bream color.
Looking to pick up some more, and want to hear about what you guys use.
Lucky Craft RTO in aurora citrus or American shad.
River2Sea biggie and jackall aska sr aren't bad either.
That is hard to narrow down, I have a few that are killer at certain times. The Rapala Fat 3 is a big fish magnet, the discontinued Xcalibur XCS 100 and 200 in the regular and real craw series just flat out catch fish, and the Bagley Rattlin Kill'R B2 has now become a summer staple for river smallmouth. There are two that I catch a lot of fish with in conditions that other square bills don't usually work, and that is the Bomber Square A, and the Mann's Baby X, those baits can get bit when it looks as if the fish aren't chasing a fast moving bait. So for a favorite I find it impossible to narrow it down.
Bill Lewis Echo 1.75™ ECSY2 Gold Shad
Think the parameters have to be narrowed down a bit and the time of the year too.
I try not to fall in love with a specific bait as it narrows my options.
Xcite XB-1 in Copper Green Shad. I throw other brands/colors but this one is in the rotation more by a long shot.
On 4/13/2017 at 6:37 PM, NHBull said:Think the parameters have to be narrowed down a bit and the time of the year too.
I try not to fall in love with a specific bait as it narrows my options.
This ^. I like a different square bill in late winter/early spring, than I do in warmer water, and again something different in the fall. In addition to the action, bouyancy and size often determine what I'm throwing.
If you can still find them the Rapala Crankin Rap .
used to be the xcalibur xcs200 and i do still love it but the bagley balsa b2 is my new favourite i love it because it's kind of erratic because of the balsa which can trigger strikes in itself
SK KVD's in the 1.5 and 2.5 size. The 1.0 has not been a very good producer for me, at least for largemouth and/or smallmouth. It catches the fire out of rock bass though. I upgrade the stock hooks most of the time before they ever hit the water. The 1.5's get #4 Mustad KVD elite 2x short 1x strong triple grips, and the 2.5's get #4's. I don't bother upgrading the hooks on the 1.0's as I don't use them enough to say so. I keep the color selection basic and simple. Bluegill, Orange belly craw, chart./black back, and chart. sexy shad.
I have a bunch of Storm Arashi's too, they are a well built and good looking bait, but for whatever reason are just no where near as productive as the KVD's.......which says more about how great the KVD's are than anything, because everyone and their brother uses them around here, and they still catch fish like crazy.
On 4/13/2017 at 7:05 PM, 1201vilbig said:Xcite XB-1 in Copper Green Shad. I throw other brands/colors but this one is in the rotation more by a long shot.
same bait, but chartreuse black back is my go to most times.
Its funny how some lures are favorites of some people and not others . Take the KVD square bills . I know they are great lures because of how popular they are .The few times I've tried them , other square bills out-fished them badly . So they are not a top shelf bait for me ,but that could change in one trip .
My personal favorite is the discontinued Xcalibur XCS 100, 200, and 300. I've got a stockpile of them that should last a little while, but they've been incredible producers for me. The Rapala DT Fat3 is another bait towards the top of my list, and the Storm Arashi squarebills are too. I've got some Lucky Craft squarebills to try this year too so we'll see if those take the brunt of the heavy lifting.
I mostly use the Kvd 1.0 and 1.5, and sometimes the 2.5.
My favorite square bill is the Bomber model B,it it's a 1/2oz.balsa crank with a nice wobble.Non wooden I agree with the xcs guys.
The Spro Little John has been a good producer for me.
KVD 1.5 and 2.5 in Chart./black back and Sexy Sunfish. I do have them in other colors, but these two produce the best for me.
Tough question I love many different squarebills. I'd probably have to say a lucky craft 1.5 would be tough to beat. Gunmetal shad or to gill
I like the Bomber Square A, but my #1 producer is the Norman Fat Boy (Redear pattern).
If I had to pick one, I'd say the original discontinued LC RCs...
KVD 2.5 in Red Chili has caught my PB Smallie and ton of other toads. However, for LMB, the Live Target Threadfin (baitball series) has been my top producer.
You would think that the most popular lures would also be the most profitable lures.
However, Pradco discontinued the Xcalibur XCS at the height of its popularity, then they discontinued
the Bandit Squarebill which probably vied for runner-up. I do not understand their business model.
Anyway, I tend to blame my success or failure on conditions rather than the lure,
I really have no favorite square bill but I’m currently throwing the Storm Rattling Square Bill.
Roger
Plastic: Lucky Craft RTO
Balsa: Bagley Balsa B
I separate the two because each has it's time and place. Anyone who fishes crankbaits a lot knows what I'm talking about.
Marty Burns customs rule my shallow efforts.
Maybe not a true squarebill but I take a Bandit 100 over any of the rest.
I like several.
Spro Fat Johns
KVD 1.5
H20 Xpress CRS
Bomber square A
LC 1.5
On 4/14/2017 at 2:00 AM, tander said:Maybe not a true squarebill but I take a Bandit 100 over any of the rest.
Yeah, I always have a couple in the box. Can fish it a bunch of ways, but it seems every time I rip it out of grass something jumps on it.
Original RC 1.5 LC in Copper Perch is the number one producing crankbait I own. I have these in just about every color including one I had custom painted in gizzard shad that needs repainted.
S-crank in kinkuro, biggie poppa bumpin lemon drop...I'm kind of ashamed but I've never thrown a kvd2.5. Its terrible I know, I find a lot of em on the shore line, just never have bought one, no idea why,lol.
SK 1.5 for clear or stained, Norman Fat Boy for murky. Natural forage colors in clear water, firetiger and other high vis colors in murky or heavily stained.
My favorites:
- H20 Express CRS+ (my go-to for just about any situation)
- KVD 1.5 (another good one for most types of structure)
- Bomber square A (small size is a killer in ponds)
- Rebel bluegill (nice light/flat-sided bait for more 'finesse' type fishing)
- Sebile squarebill sunfish (decent for the price, but I like the "warmouth" color a lot. You can also fish it faster than most others on this list)
I very happy with Berkley Pit bull. 3.5 and 5.5
easily the Megabass S-Crank!
Bandit, 100,200.
Pearl and black back and silver and black back all year, just slow it down when I need too.
It's rare to hear anyone mention the Rapala Crankin' Rap and the XCalibur XCS series... The XCS is one of the best, if not the best, squarebills ever, period. Every great once and while, you'll see something written about it but it's rare, and when you do, everyone says the same thing... 'It catches more fish than any of my squarebills....." I was at an Elite event up here in the northern part of the country recently, and I spoke to a few anglers who all gave me the look when I brought-up the XCS... I couldn't put my finger on why it's so good, but when I got a pool a few years ago I started running all my lures in it to see the strengths of each. The XCS at the highest speeds doesn't blow out and retains its erratic action with a mix of roll, which I can't find in any of my other squarebills; some are similar but not as pronounced. It also comes through hard cover better than any crank I own and is the most durable squarebill I own, too. The hardware is also very good, so you can fish it right out of the package, unlike most baits. The Crankin' Rap has its own deal that no other lure I own has, either. Its rattle has a sound that no other lure I own makes. It hunts, but not in the way most cranks do.. It kind of wanders with a wobble and roll but comes back tighter than it wandered out. I've found it very good in dirty water and it's very tough, so I don't have to worry about chunking-it into nasty stuff. Both lures were relatively inexpensive, but that's changing for the XCS, as they are going for $20+ in most colors now... However, if you want a do-it-all crank, buy a few colors of the Rapala and go fishing, you won't be disappointed.
LC silent 1.5 squarebills all the way! I started Squarebill fishing with KVD 1.5s but hated losing fish due to their shoddy hooks. LCs are factory equipped with better quality hooks, IMO, so they can be fished right outta the box!
Black Moss, Pearl Threadfin, and any of the Bluegill patterns are dynamite for my waters. Excellent paint jobs too!
KVD 1.5 in Sexy Shad
KVD 1.5 Gizzard Shad mostly but in dirty water Chartreuse w/Black Back. Easy to get and decent price
Lucky Craft Rick Clunn 1.5, pick your color. They catch fish.
My box is full of various brands and styles....however in 2018 I threw the Vintage Cotton Cordell Big O Smokey Joe and the Storm Arashi Rusty Craw color most often.
On 12/17/2018 at 2:08 AM, Dorado said:LC silent 1.5 squarebills all the way! I started Squarebill fishing with KVD 1.5s but hated losing fish due to their shoddy hooks. LCs are factory equipped with better quality hooks, IMO, so they can be fished right outta the box!
Black Moss, Pearl Threadfin, and any of the Bluegill patterns are dynamite for my waters. Excellent paint jobs too!
Have you tried the BE Gill color yet? It is the best looking factory crankbait I have seen in awhile.
Allen
Super generic but the kvd 1.5, I've never done any good on the 2.5s but i do believe i have some 2.0s? do they make such a thing?? all i know is that its smaller than the 2.5 and the 1.5 in size. also the R2S Ish Monroe series square bill don't know the name only that i got it from a mystery tackle box and its in a red craw color. Tennessee shad color Kvd 1.5 is my favorite but ill throw the chili craw or sexy shad on occasion.
i like the rapala clacking' crank and I want to say it was a sebile square bill that they don't make anymore. I also throw some KVD's as well but they don't produce as well for me for some reason.
I’ve caught a lot of fish on the Bx Brat it’s good for numbers but haven’t really caught any size with it.
One SB that I have caught solid bass on that hasn’t been mentioned is the Berkley SquareBull in Special Red Craw.
Tie between my Rebel Bluegill and my Berkley Squarebull 5.5 in Bluegill color.
6th sense or Spro. They both come with good hooks, take a beating, and catch em.
I’ll add Rapala’s BX Brat, too. I just bought my first couple of em at the end of the season, so I’ve only thrown em a little over a handful of times. But they seem to be that perfect “finesse” sized bait that weighs enough to chuck far enough. Can’t comment on durability, though.
MB S-Crank, MB Big Z, MB Z Crank X (Silent), and LC RC are my favorites.
On 12/17/2018 at 6:12 AM, Heartland said:Lucky Craft Rick Clunn 1.5, pick your color. They catch fish.
Copper Green something or other...
https://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/bandit-rack-it.html
I'm very new to the squarebill game. I've used them in the past just chucking and winding in open water. I was convinced that trebles could never come through cover.
I finally took the plunge and started feeling my way to deflecting off cover and pausing it over the same stuff. It has been an absolutely addicting way to catch them and I hope to become better at it in 2019. Squarebills, and crankbaits in general, are a much more precise presentation than I had ever thought possible.
The report of a crankbait up the line, through the rod and into your hand...those subtle changes exist and without being told about them I would have never known what to look for. A piece of grass to clear with a hard rip, the dulling of the vibration as your line contacts cover and prepares you for the deflection and the bone jarring strike that often accompanies it, and every other subtle nuance of cranking are truly addicting.
My two current favorite squarebills are the H2O Xpress squarebill and the Berkley Squarebull 5.5.
There's a reason why one of greatest (cough kvd cough) anglers, has won numerous tournaments by using a crankbait.
Next to soft plastics, I've caught more big bass on crankbaits than any other hardbaits put together
They just flat work..
This year I broke down an bought a KVD crankbait. I'll probably be buying more.
Another vote for the Berkley Squarebull 5.5, in perch color.
This will shock some; I throw the Rebel wee r more than any other square bill. I don't concern myself with color/pattern.
The reason is simple, they catch fish. A lot of fish.
The picture is an example, these will never see the water.lol
which ever one they are biting on that specific day in that specific body of water.
Last year, I caught more fish on a River2Sea Ish Monroe Biggie in smalls size and horizon shad color. Seems to work well in just about any conditions as well. I also had good luck with a Lucky Craft LC 1.5 and a Norman Fat Boy in early fall and late spring.
I picked up a few new ones to try this year.