Square Bill Vs. Spinnerbait Vs. Fluke?

[SAC2]

howdy all, i dont usually start new topics but this one is "stump"ing me. When you guys come into an area say 2-6 foot deep, maybe some stumps or sparse weeds, what makes you pick up one over the other? i love fishing flukes and it seems like i always have one tied on. I don't do much spinnerbait fishing (mostly only in the fall) and hardly and shallow crank/ square bill fishing. i see flukes as being versitle enough to fish most of the situations i fish those other lures in though. so what makes you throw a square bill over a spinnerbait or over a fluke

[J Francho]

Problem solving 101 - apply each lure's strengths to the situation at hand. The fluke is the most weedless. Spinnerbaits work really well if the wood is a fallen tree. For stumps, the square bill excels.

[smalljaw67]

I'm a spinnerbait guy so that is my first choice but if there was a lot of pressure I'll throw the Square bill as a different look. If the fish are in a neutral mood or lethargic I'll use a fluke or slug-o.

[flippin and pitchin]

I love both baits. First is depth and then water color. Do I need the type of vibration and flash I get from a spinnerbait or the vibration and rattles of a squarebill? Next is cover. Squarebills will go through alot of cover types well but a spinnerbait may be better. Next is forage although both baits mimic several forage bait types, minnows, crayfish, bluegill, etc but the SB is more versatile for that application. Finally the bass have to help out so I mix it up with both baits. Remember, the spinnerbait can be fished up top in a waking manner, allowed to flutter and fall and so on but the squarebill also can be stopped, will slowly rise and will bump or climb over hard cover in a way unlike a spinnerbait. They each have thier own unique characteristics. Play with each one and experiment. That is the much of the fun of bass fishing. OPTIONS !

[SAC2]

all great tips. what about big chunk rock and boulders in about the same 2-6 foot depth range? same things would go into affect in choosing the lure i would assume. i really gotta break out of my shell this year and change up my lure usage.

[Ima Bass Ninja]

If the water is colder then i opt for the fluke. A little warmer and i'll go to the spinnerbait or squarebill. Like mentioned above with stumps its squarebill laydowns and limbs would be a spinnerbait.

[ww2farmer]

I use a squarebill/spinnerbait interchangably. Some days one works better than the other. I can cover water faster and fish higher in the water with a spinnerbait. There is also a time in the fall when the weeds get "mushy" and getting a square bill to walk and come through them is a hassel, it becomes a milfoil rake. I use both in wood.

Flukes shine for me when the emergant grass gets withing a few inches of the surface, and the water is clear. Working it fast and jerky across the tops, and letting it fall into holes briefly before giving it a sharp twitch. Also they are deadly when males are guarding fry. Work right into the ball of fry and hold on, they will rip the rod out of your hand.

[backcast88]

Its a personal choice but if it was me I would pick the fluke if there is grass or other vegitation. If the water is 4ft or deeper then I would reach for a square bill crankbait. Under 4ft I would reach for a spinnerbait.

[Stingray23]

I always use a spinnerbait to explore the area and see how aggressive the fish are. If I am not getting any bites on the spinnerbait, I pick up my fluke(which I fish weightless and T-rigged) and slow it down a hair. That usually makes a difference. I use the square bill around stumps, logs, sparse vegitation.

[SAC2]

I always use a spinnerbait to explore the area and see how aggressive the fish are. If I am not getting any bites on the spinnerbait, I pick up my fluke(which I fish weightless and T-rigged) and slow it down a hair. That usually makes a difference. I use the square bill around stumps, logs, sparse vegitation.

i like that idea of probing with the spinnerbait and then slowing it down if you dont get any takers. definatly going to try that out

[Red]

all great tips. what about big chunk rock and boulders in about the same 2-6 foot depth range? same things would go into affect in choosing the lure i would assume. i really gotta break out of my shell this year and change up my lure usage.

I would be throwing a squarebill in this for sure. In wood, which I fish alot of, I will throw the SB if it is breezy, calm and I go with the squarebill.

[A-Rob]

Spinnerbait or crankbait I will always have a rod with each rigged....I will cover water with both until I get bit and start figuring what the bass want....I won't use a spinnerbait in clear calm water tho

Fluke in really clear water or in grass/cover that is too heavy for the other two. I don't use this to cover water so much. I'll pick apart a productive area with this