What Do You All Use For Throwing Square Bills, Rod, Reel, And Line

[smalljaw67]

I'm interested in seeing what everyone likes to use for square bills because these seem to be in the same category as jerkbaits when it comes to what people use to fish them. I have been trying different set ups and have used quite a few over the years and my topwater rods worked well but were too short for getting distance in clear water, and jerkbait rods also worked great but the lacked power for the bigger square bills I like to throw. Now my set up is a Fenwick HMG 7'2" M-MF with a Quantum Smoke 150 7.3:1 gear ratio with 14lb Spider Wire Ultimate Mono and so far this has been fantastic. The rod length is the longest I ever used for square bills and I wasn't sure it would work for my style but it has such a nice tip that it makes it easy to roll cast so I get the advantage of longer cast but I can still make accurate short casts. The reel is the fastest reel I have, 34 IPT with a full spool, and that makes it easy for me to burn the bait without having to work hard cranking and the line is still new to me but I'm really liking it a lot. The line on spinning reels is ok, a little more manageable than fluorocarbon but still not as good as regular copolymers but on a casting reel, which is does say it is made for it, is awesome, and it is holding true to the advertisement of being the lowest stretch mono. It truly is low stretch but what I like is it comes through cover without being nicked up, I normally cut off and retie every 2nd fish or if I'm getting hung a lot I'll retie after my 3rd of 4th snag but I decided to see how long this new line would take the abuse. I got hung about 5 times during my last time out last week, and I caught 11 bass and I didn't retie, I only checked the line after each fish and snag to see how bad it was and to my surprise the line was in great shape.  So that is my newest set up which started last fall and I'm thinking this will be my goto square bill set up from now on as it fits what I do nicely, so what are you guys using?

[CRANKENSTIEN]

I use a Rick Clunn 7' mh glass rod and a left handed Quantum PT 6.3:1 spooled with 10 lb cxx.  I like the way I can feel what the bait is doing.  I use both right and left hand reels but for the quick, target, low side arm cast, I can really get in a rhythm with the left handed reel.  

[robster80]

using Lamiglas Excel 2 7ft glass rod with Tatula 6.3:1 and 12# mccoy. sometimes ill throw em on my topwater rod a 6'6mh older full cork Crucial with Curado E7 and 12# mccoy xtra clear

[Shockwave]

I use a 7' MF Duckett Micro Magic cranking rod with a 7.3:1 Daiwa Tatula 100HS loaded with 15# Izorline XXX.  No complaints with the setup at all!

[Mike L]

I use a 7ft Phenix X11 composite rod, JM sig reel spooled with 12# Yo Zuri.

As my dedicated crank setup.

Mike

[rippin-lips]

Any of my mh combos.

[jbsoonerfan]

6'10" Shimano Crucial MH-F

Shimano Curado 200 6.3:1

Sufix Elite 12lb

[WPCfishing]

St Croix Premier 1/4-3/4 with a Lews BB1 5:1:1 or my Fenwick HMG 3/8-1 with a BB1 Pro 7:1:1.

Both reels are filled with 14# Sufix Siege.

[FishTank]

A shimano crucial crankbait rod and a shimano curado 201g with Seagur Senshi.

[iabass8]

Dobyns 705cb Glass

Daiwa T3B /w 90mm handle 6:3:1

14# Suffix 21

 

I don't throw jerkbaits on the same set up.

[Arv]

Daiwa Steez 100HLA, Dobyns 705CB, 30# Power Pro

[new2BC4bass]

Dan, you lead, I'll follow.    My Fenwick HMG 7'2" M-MF has been on backorder for 4 weeks.  Couple weeks ago I was throwing square bills (smaller ones) on a 7' ML Hurricane Redbone with 12# AN40 spooled on a Primmus.  Rod is rated 3/8-3/4 oz.  Normally I use whichever rod is handy.  Wonder if my Airrus Ultra XL 7' MH would make a decent square bill rod?

[*Hank]

Rod: Powell Max 705cb-

Reel: Daiwa Tatula Type-R 6:4-1-

Line: Seagur senshi mono 12lb.

[tomustang]

I throw them on the same rod as my other crankbaits, 7'2MHM.

I know some people like to use the fast action for ripping through grass, but for me where I throw it you ain't getting the green off no matter how stiff the rod is.

[kschultz76]

Lighter squarebills like the kid 1.5s get thrown on my Orochi XX Jerkbait Special with a Chronarch CI4+ spooled with pline floroclear 12lb. Larger squarebills like the 2.5s, Arashi 3 or 5, etc I love tossing with my Orochi XX Spinnerbait Special also with a Chronarch CI4+, usually Sniper 14 lb these days. If the Spinnerbait Special is pulling other duty I will also throw them on my St Croix Legend Xtreme 7'2" MHM paired with Curado I. All reels are 6.x:1 ratio. I just love how that Spinnerbait Special handles and casts, it's a dream. Landed a close to 5lb smallish on that rod with n Arashi 3 with no problem keeping him pinned, the rod just absorbed the endless surges and runs along with the drag on the Chronarch.

[Hooligan]

Depends on what I'm doing. Everything from a 7' MM to a 7-11 HVy Mod. Depends on the bait and the cover.

[Missourifishin]

6'10" M-M St. Croix Mojo Glass. Lews Tournament or Tournament Pro (i switch those 2 reels around on different rods from time to time) 6.4:1 ratio. Line: 12# mono, been using suffix siege lately and I've been happy with it.

[illinifan4152]

7' Mh Mf kistler magnesium ts - crank, rattle, roll

Shimano Chronarch 200e5

12 seaguar invisix or McCoy

[tholmes]

7' M Abu Vendetta rod, Abu 4600C3 (tuned) reel, 12 lb. Trilene Big Game. 

 

Tom

[kikstand454]

I had the same issue you do and I found that rods that are described as " heavier than their rating" has been the answer. They tend to be heavier than a medium, but not as heavy as a MH. Perfect.

I've been using a 7'medium/fast veritas for about a year now and its been everything I've ever asked for in a squarebill rod. It also is great for jerkbaits and topwater and all sorts of stuff. I really enjoy the "middle" power.

[kickerfish1]

Dobyns 705 cb glass rod fast action

Shimano Citica 200e

12# mono

[ww2farmer]

For my 1.5's I use my jerkbait and top water rod. A 6'6" M Lightning rod shock, Daiwa Exceler 6.3:1 w/20 lb braid and a 10/12/15 lb test fluoro leader.

For my 2.5's, I use my frog, spinnerbait,chatter bait, swimjig, buzzbait rod. A 7' MH Lightning rod shock, with a Daiwa Exceler 7.3:1 w/50 lb braid, and a 15/17/20 lb fluoro leader.

[JeziHogg]

TBC78MHM, Met13 6.2:1 spooled w/ 40lb PP Slick and a 15lb Tatsu leader.

[WIGuide]

I throw most of my squarebills on a 7'2" M/M St. Croix LTB with an older 7.1:1 Johnny Morris Elite reel spooled up with 12 lb Berkley 100% Fluorocarbon.  

[fishballer06]

I throw them on a few different rods/reels depending on the situation and size of the squarebill. I'll throw them on any combination of the following:

 

Chronarch ci4 6:1

Metanium 7:1

Tatula R 6:1

Chronarch E5

 

Cruicial 7' M-MF

Avid 7' M-F

Champion 684CB

Crucial 6'10" MH-F

 

832 40# braid with a 12-15# FC leader

12# YoZuri Hybrid

15# Pline Fluoroclear