Square bill setup

[ZJGardner926]

I am looking to purchase a dedicated rod for squarebill fishing. I have not thrown a lot of squarebills in the past, but when I did, I was using my St. Croix Premier 6'6" MM rod. This is a great rod for shallow to medium cranks, butreally doesnt have enough backbone for heavy cover square bills. Depending on where you read, some people say you want a moderate action for all cranks, including square bills... others say a moderate fast to fast action for square bills. I am sure a lot of this is just personal preference. I am leaning more towards a MHM myself. The rod I am looking at is a 7'0" St. Croix Avid X MHM.. Before I make this purchase, I would like to get opinions from someone more experienced than me with square bills. 

I have a 6'6" Avid X MF for jerk baits. I must say, the Avid X is a sweet rod, which is why I am leaning towards another Avid X for squarebills.

I also should mention that this squarebill rod will be pairs with a Shimano Curado 6.3:1.

 

 

[kickerfish1]

I use the Dobyns Champion 705CB Glass Fast Action rod. It is absolutely perfect for squarebills and a host of other baits. You can find them on sale for around $200 new and around $175 or less used. I bought mine for $150 several years ago when my local Cabelas was clearing out all their Dobyns rods.

[BassThumb]

I second the Dobyns 705.

I use the Champion 705 Graphite, and it's one of my favorite rods. However, I bought my dad a Dobyns Fury 705 crankbait rod last summer, and it's nearly as good, despite costing half as much. 

The 705 is ideal for those 1/2 oz crankbait like your average squarebill. 

[FryDog62]

I purchased a 6'-10" Medium Shimano Zodias last year specifically for square bills and have been quite pleased so far.  They don't list action on the rod but I would say "fast" and just enough tip but backbone too.  Another to consider anyway ~  

[Fishes in trees]

So many people have different ideas about what is and what ain't a decent square bill rod.  Opinions are all over the spectrum.  You got to make up your own mind.   My current square bill rod is an older 7'4" BPS Extreem Woo Davis Special.   I was at a seminar where Woo Davis touted this as his pitching/jig rod.   I bought one and it sucked for that - too much tip for me.  A couple of years later I occurred to me to try it as a square bill rod and I liked it.   I paired it with a Curado D and 17 lb line and it works great.   The tip that I didn't like for feeling jigs because it was too "tippy", is great for throwing square bills, most of the ones I throw are a half ounce more or less.   When I do get bit the rod has enough backbone to seriously lean on a fish in cover.   It works for me.

One of my fishing buddies doesn't like the rod at all, mostly because he likes a rod with a more uniform flex through the length of the rod for reaction baits.   Which gets me back to the point of decide for yourself what you like in a square bill rod.

[J Francho]

I throw square bills in late spring, and early fall.  No need to get a specialized setup.  I use one of my cranking sticks that fits the bait size, or step up to a faster rod if there's weeds I need to pop off, or wood I'll have to maneuver through.  Reel speed doesn't actually matter for this either, though sometimes I like to burn the bait over rocky shoals.

[CarolinaBoy4Life]

I am using a 7' M Moderate for my square bills. I only go to MH when I am fishing deeper then 12 ft or so and throwing a larger crankbait. But that's just my personal setup I have found I like. I tend to use a slower gear ratio for cranks and square bills but I do have some 6.4:1 reels rigged with square bills just depends on what and where I am fishing

[WIGuide]

It's all about personal preference. I use an LTB M/M for my squarebills regardless of cover. If you feel you need more and you like the action of the rod you have, then consider stepping up to a MH/M.

[Bruce424]

I think a rod that you can cast accurately.  I've used a mhf graphite 6'6" for squarebills and spinnerbaits. The fish hooked themselves. But casting was not accurate at all for squarebills. I've moved to a 6'6" bps crankin stick and it's very tippy but has a nice backbone. Very accurate with that... for the most part. That rod is a one show pony. I feel I can only use it for square bills and lighter cranks.

[dam0007]

Some of these guys mentioned the 705CB great Rod for it but I use the 685CB as I occasionally throw topwater with same Rod some days, I like mono for both. Several reasons why I like mono for squarebills but not getting into that. My rule of thumb is any Rod with moderate action for anything with treble hooks. A 5 power in Dobyns is MH it may be overkill for some smaller baits, with that said the 684CB is nothing to sneeze at. Definitely has enough backbone to pop a square off the top of a submerged weedline. 

Also I'll throw out that some Rod manufacturers have their actions labeled as fast and they end being more moderate than others, quantum comes to mind. If there is another brand you're looking at see if you can get ahold of one in person, look for a good parabolic bend in the Rod rather than just the tip. 

[blckshirt98]

I got an Orochi XX Swingfire for small/medium crankbaits and it's a fantastic rod.  I was going to get the Levante Swingfire but someone at the shop talked me into it after about a 10-15 minute pitch on the Orochi XX over the Levante.  It's a hybrid glass/graphite blank, and after using a Phenix X3 glass rod for med heavy/heavy crankbaits I'm sold on the whippy action on glass for crankbaits.

[new2BC4bass]

5 hours ago, dam0007 said:

Some of these guys mentioned the 705CB great Rod for it but I use the 685CB as I occasionally throw topwater with same Rod some days, I like mono for both. Several reasons why I like mono for squarebills but not getting into that. My rule of thumb is any Rod with moderate action for anything with treble hooks. A 5 power in Dobyns is MH it may be overkill for some smaller baits, with that said the 684CB is nothing to sneeze at. Definitely has enough backbone to pop a square off the top of a submerged weedline. 

Also I'll throw out that some Rod manufacturers have their actions labeled as fast and they end being more moderate than others, quantum comes to mind. If there is another brand you're looking at see if you can get ahold of one in person, look for a good parabolic bend in the Rod rather than just the tip. 

In that case you might want to look at Falcon or Hammer rods.  My only experience with an Orochi XX is the Diablo Spec R.  It might also fit the bill.

[Stingray23]

I use a Megabass Orochi XX flatside special and Shimano Metanium for square bills. Such effortless casting and retrieving. Its a dream setup to fish.

[Wbeadlescomb]

I like the cheap academy ethos 7 foot crankbait rod. I've caught a ton of fish on that rod. I also like to throw chug bugs/sammys on it

[roadwarrior]

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/perfecta-lte.html

 

[Mike L]

I use a Phenix X11 composite for all cranking and jerking. Excellent cranking rod. 

 

Mike 

[Josh Smith]

Hello,

I was trying a MH/F 80 million modulus rod for squarebills and lipless cranks.  Though it was rated MH/F, the lure rating is more along the lines of what most folks would consider a M.  Whatever, it's a stiff, light rod.

I hooked up with a smallie; good, solid hookup.  I didn't feel like there was enough give while I was fighting the fish, though, and gave it just a little more drag.  It felt better.

Still, it managed to throw the lure back at me in a last valiant effort to free itself. 

The rod felt like it was pulling too hard, and I'm pretty sure that's what did it.

I am now using that rod for jerkbaits and have gone back to my 6'6" Daiwa for light crankbaits.  The Daiwa, rated by them as a M/F, has a softer tip than I'd expect from a fast action and is pretty good with light crankbaits.

Just some recent experience I've had...

Regards,

Josh

[Airman4754]

I went though a couple last year deciding what I wanted. I landed on a 7' Duckett Terex CB M/M with a Lew's MB 6.8:1. 

It has the tip to really feel the bait and keep trebles pinned but has a solid back bone too. The reel can fish fast and slow without going out of your way. I think the whole rig ran me about $250.

[tholmes]

I use a 7' medium Abu Vendetta with an Ambassadeur Record 40, 10 lb. Big Game mono.

Tom

[Robert Riley]

I second (or third) the Dobyns 705cb, especially since they finally carry it in affordable Fury line. 

However, I do not own one of these, I use a Champion 684cb. I like the moderate action and the shorter length. Great rod, handles the fish very well. 

I have heard good things about the Avid/X and it's probably the rod I'd recommend after the Champion. 

The biggest change I made in my squarebill set up was using a higher speed reel and that made a big difference for me.

[rangerjockey]

I fish a squarebill more like a spinnerbait than a diving bait.. I like a shorter rod with a shorter handle to roll cast around docks. I like the Denali 6ft10. Kovert ,Tatula reel and 13lb. Defier.