Top Squarebills

[Outdoor Zack]

I am looking to stock up on some squarebills/shallow divers, but I don't have a lot of money to buy the best quality.  I've been looking at brands like Bandit, Bomber, Bass Pro, and Cabela's.  I would like to get 4-5 in different colors (sexy shad, darker shad, bluegill, pumpkinseed, etc.).  So what crankbaits do you like that are I the $3 - $6 range? 

[roadwarrior]

Norman Fat Boy, Bomber Square A

 

[illinifan4152]

It's hard to go wrong with a Strike King KVD 1.5 in your price range. Great shallow crankbait for the price.

[Munkin]

KVD Strike King baits in Gizzard Shad and Chart. Black back would be a good start.

 

Allen

[burrows]

RC square bill by lucky strike a must have !

[scaleface]

1 minute ago, crankzilla said:

RC square bill by lucky strike a must have !

I like those  , too .

[burrows]

2 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

Norman Fat Boy, Bomber Square A

 

I bought a couple of fat boys on tw because of the great paint jobs on those little fat boys but I haven't had success? I just stop using them?

[onetime]

Can't go wrong with SK KVD 1.5

[Jaderose]

I like the BPS better than the Strike King.  Better action and run truer.  Just my opinion.

[Bluebasser86]

The squarebills from Academy are hard to beat and you can get them for 3-4 dollars every day. 

[boydn1]

Funny, I was trying to reply and say go with Academy.  Computer burped and when I came back Bluebasser86 already did. 

 

[roadwarrior]

1 hour ago, crankzilla said:

I bought a couple of fat boys on tw because of the great paint jobs on those little fat boys but I haven't had success? I just stop using them?

Hmm...This is my top producer (Redear) in the entire crankbait category.

 

[Cmiller]

I have had great luck with the strike king 1.5 line, orange craw and Tennessee shad have been great colors. I also like the rapala crankin rap. 

[Outdoor Zack]

Good thoughts on Strike Kings.  Any thoughts on Bandit 100 or footloose series? 

[Kevin22]

KVD 1.5. You need 3 colors. Chart/Black Back, Sexy Shad, and Sexy sunfish or bluegill. If they won't hit one of those then there isnt a squarebill bite. 

[Munkin]

1 hour ago, Outdoor Zack said:

Good thoughts on Strike Kings.  Any thoughts on Bandit 100 or footloose series? 

 

If you are fishing Trap Pond I highly suggest a Manns Baby 1- in Firetiger and Bone.

Allen

[ww2farmer]

1 hour ago, Kevin22 said:

KVD 1.5. You need 3 colors. Chart/Black Back, Sexy Shad, and Sexy sunfish or bluegill. If they won't hit one of those then there isnt a squarebill bite. 

What he said, except I roll with 4 colors..........chart./black back, orange belly craw, chart.sexy shad, and bluegill.

[senile1]

I like the KVD square bills, but I use the 2.5 size just as much as the 1.5.  I would include both of those sizes.

[Outdoor Zack]

23 minutes ago, ww2farmer said:

What he said, except I roll with 4 colors..........chart./black back, orange belly craw, chart.sexy shad, and bluegill.

Will those colors work well in stained/dirty water?

[primetime]

I buy what is on sale....I finally have realized that you need to sacrifice a few lures to get bit on square bills....If you are not losing a few each trip you are not casting to the right places...I am still working on my cranking skills and it is still not a confidence bait for me, but I find the bomber, BPS, Academy, Bandit, Cordell, Strike King, and whatever other brand I may have all work fine, some are awful out of the box, then the next one if really good...I try to pick the baits that have even hook hangers, no extra glue..Strike King seems to have the best quality of the one's I mentioned, but recently I picked up a bunch of spro's on sale for $4 that I love...They all seem to run perfect and hunt really well, also come in some awesome colors....I really like the Luhr Jensen Speed shad and the Wordens Timber Tiger around wood and weeds..The Timber tiger is ugly but gets killed if you bang something....Firetiger is my favorite color....

[Scarborough817]

23 minutes ago, Outdoor Zack said:

Will those colors work well in stained/dirty water?

depends on what the main food source in your lake is. chart/black back works well in stained i would also assume bluegill does since it's the most common food source for bass to eat.

[thebillsman]

I like the KVD 1.5 but so far this year I've had more luck with the 1.0s. Just bought a bunch from SFT in natural and orange bream, natural shad and db craw.

[Kevin22]

43 minutes ago, Outdoor Zack said:

Will those colors work well in stained/dirty water?

The chart black back is the dirty water color.

[tholmes]

If you really want to get by on the cheap, I've had good results with the little Rebel squarebills that Wal-Mart had for $1.50 last year. I'm looking to stock up again this spring!

Tom

 

 

[snake95]

I have had a lot of luck with Rapala Crankin Raps in the 3 and 5 and to some extent, 8 sizes.  Have been on sale at several stores for months and well under $5, if they haven't been cleaned out yet.  Firetiger has worked for me in surprisingly clear water.

Also want to second the Bomber Square A's that are so inexpensive -- their hooks don't compare to the Rapala's, but still catch on them, and that can be fixed easily.