Shallow Squarebill Crankbait Set Up ?

[ChrisD46]

In say 7 ~ 8 ft. water depth or less using a KVD 1.5 (or similar) squarebill crankbait - what is your favorite rod , reel and line set up ? ... I lack a true a true shallower water crankbait set up and need to address that  - thanks in advance !

[Spankey]

You’ll have to go look at a decent amount of rods to find the feel you are looking for and spec wise what you are throwing. The max I throw are up to 5/8 oz. on crankbaits. I’ve fished (2) St. Croix Premiere Series Crankbait rods for a long time (still do). They have a decent moderate action to them. 
 

Over the last couple of seasons I sort of jumped the shark and have myself using Abu Garcia “Winch” set ups also. I love the rod actions and I’m 110%+ Satisfied with the Winch reels. I put together a med. and med. hvy. setups. This is coming from a Shimano fan. These Abu setups I really tried to put together for XD type baits. This has been working great for me. Through TW I’ve been able to buy this stuff at great sale prices. 
 

Not sure what your wallet has in it. Abu doesn’t break the bank. Not sure how quick you need something. But I’d take my time through this winter and look at a bunch of stuff. Go touch it. Feel it. 
 

I’m not gonna say St. Croix, Abu, Shimano. Whoever. If you go look and feel enough stuff you’ll put together exactly what your looking for. Go look at everything that is suggested to you. 

[Bluebasser86]

My main one is a 6' 10" MH/M St. Croix Legend Glass with a Tatula 100P and 10lb Pline CXX.

 

I also use a 7' MH/M Quantum KVD Tour with a Tatula 150 6.3 with 15lb Big Game.

 

Depends on which baits I'm using on which rod I reach for, but the St. Croix is my go to rod. The Quantum mainly gets used for balsa baits or generally heavier cover.

[Stasher1]

I use the same setup for squarebills and spinnerbaits. 

 

6'8" Falcon Bucoo SR MH/MF (spinnerbait/jerkbait)

US Reel Supercaster 1000 spooled with 12lb Sufix Siege

[Dens228]

I use an MegaBass Orochi XX Swingfire with a Daiwa Tatula Elite.   

20 lb Sufix with a fairly short 10 pound mono leader. 

[Rpratt]

I have had alot of success using a 7" medium Carbon-lite paired with a Quantum Smoke (gear ration is eluding me at the moment, but I think it's 5:4-6:3 I think) over the last 4-5 years. I mainly throw squarebills and Rapala DT-6's with that combo. I normally use 10-12 lb Suffix mono. I am not particularly a flourocarbon line fan.

 

I would venture to say any decent reel with that ratio would work. But the rod is the key. It's not real bendy and just seems to have that perfect feel for crankbait fishing. My buddies that I fish with always jokingly say that if the day is going badly or not how I like it, that if I pick that rod up, things just got real lol.

[J Francho]

Same rod I like for traps - 7' M/F.  Currently using a SC LTB Teaser for many years.  This rod can do MANY other things.  You might already have something already.  It's something I'd pick out a dedicated rig for.

[roadwarrior]

G.Loomis PR844C which is also my dedicated topwater rod.

[Dens228]

I should add that I also use my Swingfire for topwater.  

[Emiliano]

Dobyns Fury 705CB paired with Shimano Chronarch MGL HG spooled with 15lbs Power Pro + mono leader 

[ChrisD46]

Good range of replies - thanks ! ... A leading manufacturer's cranking specific rod under $150 now looks like it may be a good place to start . *The closest rod I have which may work would be my Dobyns Sierra 733C. (rated as MH/F but more like a MHL/F) . I also have a older, perfect  Berkley Lightening 6'6" Med/ Moderate Fast bait cast rod I could try (although I would prefer a longer cranking rod) .

[JLBBass]

I use a pair of Dobyns Fury 705CB's for mid depth cranks, but I go to a pair of Dobyns Fury 703C's for throwing squarebills around cover. The 703C still has some moderate action to it, with a little more power needed around cover, than the 705CB.

[J Francho]

On 1/7/2021 at 9:47 AM, ChrisD46 said:

MHL/F

Can you explain what this means?

[Teal]

 I have a new @Delaware Valley Tackle custom Rainshadow JUDGE 7'0 MH Mod.  Its rated 3/8 to 1oz but so far does ok with smaller 1.5s as well. I like it for all sizes of cranks and lipless.   

 

Reel is a Daiwa Zillion Sv TW, 6:1.   Personally I'm thinking of buying a tatula elite for thos set up.   The sv tw is good but I think I could get more distance out of the elite.  

 

Right now I have 12 lb Sniper..  come summer time I'll go up to 14

[Columbia Craw]

Champion 705CB with a Tatula SV in 6.3 with 15 Invizex.  This set up also makes a great target spinnerbait duo and smaller top water/walking bait combo.  I get a lot of use from this set up.

[FishinBuck07]

Dobyns Fury 705cb with a 7.5:1 Lew's Tournament Pro MB with 12# Sunline Assassin is what I use for squarebills.

[MN Fisher]

Fury 705CB with a Fuego CT-H (6.3:1); 12# Yo-Zuri Hybrid - this is my main crank rig for any 5/16oz and up

Okuma Stratus VI MH/M with a Mitchell Avocet RZT-2000 (25.0 IPT); 10# Sufix Advance - any cranks under 5/16 oz.

 

[Boomstick]

5 hours ago, J Francho said:

Can you explain what this means?

Knowing the rod, I know exactly what he means - MH-/F or M+/F.

 

@ChrisD46 the Sierra 733C is a pretty solid rod to throw squarebills around grass and you can also fish weightless soft plastics and smaller spinnerbaits and chatterbaits on it. The Fury 705CB is more ideal in clear water.

 

As for myself, I usually use a Daiwa Tatula Glass 7' M/R rod. If I'm carrying light, I may use my 7'2" MH/R glass rod which I can throw a spinnerbait, chatterbait or swim jig on as well. 10lb fluorocarbon for open water and 15lb fif there's grass (or I'm using the MH rod)

[ChrisD46]

3 hours ago, Boomstick said:

Knowing the rod, I know exactly what he means - MH-/F or M+/F.

 

@ChrisD46 the Sierra 733C is a pretty solid rod to throw squarebills around grass and you can also fish weightless soft plastics and smaller spinnerbaits and chatterbaits on it. The Fury 705CB is more ideal in clear water.

 

As for myself, I usually use a Daiwa Tatula Glass 7' M/R rod. If I'm carrying light, I may use my 7'2" MH/R glass rod which I can throw a spinnerbait, chatterbait or swim jig on as well. 10lb fluorocarbon for open water and 15lb fif there's grass (or I'm using the MH rod)

*Yes , you are correct in what I was trying to state for @J Francho question . Thanks for the rod update info as well ...

[Bankbeater]

I use a 7' mh/f for crankbaits and lipless baits.

[J Francho]

On 1/9/2021 at 12:09 AM, ChrisD46 said:

*Yes , you are correct in what I was trying to state for @J Francho question . Thanks for the rod update info as well ...

I still don't know what the "L" is for?  That's my confusion. 

[Dens228]

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

I still don't know what the "L" is for?  That's my confusion. 

Maybe it's a left handed rod!  LOL

[ChrisD46]

Although I did not buy it at this time - I did get to handle a Dobyns Fury 705CB for crank baits at local store and it felt real nice  ... I can now see why it is so popular at it's price point !

[MN Fisher]

13 minutes ago, ChrisD46 said:

Although I did not buy it at this time - I did get to handle a Dobyns Fury 705CB for crank baits at local store and it felt real nice  ... I can now see why it is so popular at it's price point !

I have one and it's a very nice crank rod for the budget angler. Sensitivity is up there, I can feel the wobbles of the lures as I retrieve them.

[jimmyjoe]

3 hours ago, J Francho said:

I still don't know what the "L" is for?  That's my confusion. 

 

   Instead of LMH/F (light medium heavy/fast) he just got the "L" in the wrong place. Mistakes happen. It's more apt to occur with some people than others, but it's no bigee.

   Please don't shoot the cab driver.  ?       jj