Summer Squarebill Crankbait Patterns & Techniques

As summer gets into full swing, a Squarebill Crankbait is one of the most efficient and fun ways to target bass in and around shallow cover. Fish it around defined grass edges, shallow stumps, rocks, wood, stick ups, or over the tops of brush and vegetation. Its wobbling, hunting, quick-floating action, combined with its deflective capabilities, make it one of the best baits to trigger reaction strikes and yank fish out of their shallow hiding places. It also allows you to cover a ton of water efficiently and increase your chances of running into unsuspecting bass. So put that trolling motor on high and make casts to any shallow water cover you see; a Squarebill Crankbait has what it takes to fill the livewell when summer rolls around.

Opt for a rod in the 7’ – 7’5” range with a medium heavy to heavy power rating and a moderate to moderate fast taper. These characteristics will help you make longer casts as well as shorter, accurate casts while directing the fish away from cover and keeping them on the line despite all their headshakes and surges. Many anglers prefer a glass or composite rod when fishing crankbaits because of the slower, moderate bends they inherently provide, but if you are going to be fishing around a lot of grass, a graphite cranking rod with a moderate bend will give you a little more power to snap your Squarebill free.

A casting reel with a 7:1 gear ratio is a great all-around choice because it gives you the ability to fish rapidly through cover and trigger aggressive reaction strikes. It also allows you to slow down if the fish are not in the mood to chase. Due to the larger diameter line typically used with Squarebills, a casting reel in the 100- to 200-size range is ideal. Larger power handles can be an added bonus as well. They provide increased torque and make cranking for long periods of time and winching fish away from cover more comfortable.

Your main goal when fishing a Squarebill, or any crankbait for that matter, is to try to deflect the lure to trigger bites. Heavy fluorocarbon in 15 – 20 lb will offer the increased abrasion resistance needed to navigate through heavy cover without damaging your line. On occasion, you may scale down to 12 lb with a small lure or when trying to fish deeper in the water column, but most of the time, you will want to use heavier line when fishing shallow, snag-ridden areas. When presented with grass or soft cover, some anglers will opt for the no-stretch quality of braided line to help snap the Squarebill free from vegetation.

Considering how frequently your line and Squarebill are contacting hard cover, it is critical to keep an eye on the sharpness of your hooks and swap them out as necessary. It is not uncommon to change out hooks on a daily basis if you are spending much of your day fishing around dock pilings, stumps, rocks, and wood.

When you start to feel the resistance of hard cover, resist the urge to pull or yank the lure with your rod tip. Instead, slow down your retrieve, keep reeling, and most of the time the plug will find its way through. If you feel the Squarebill completely lock up, give it a moment of slack, and often the lure will back itself out. Try experimenting with balsa Squarebills; balsa wood is extremely buoyant and has a tendency to float upwards faster than plastic and entice bites. Also, don’t forget that your main goal when fishing a Squarebill is to contact and deflect off of cover. That is when most of the bites will occur. Experiment with different baits and look for one that will easily make contact with cover without dredging the bottom.

While it’s always smart to consider what type of forage live in the waters you will be fishing, there is no need to overthink color patterns with Squarebills. Keep it simple with craw, bluegill, and shad patterns, while mixing in some chartreuse variations based on water clarity. Most anglers would agree that a shad pattern is a great place to start in the summer, but don’t overlook the bluegill or craw patterns if the fish are short striking or not biting.

Shakey Head Patterns & Techniques
Punching Patterns & Techniques
Hollow Body Frog Patterns & Techniques
Football Jig Patterns & Techniques
Flutter Spoon Patterns & Techniques
Deep Diving Crankbait Patterns & Techniques
Curly Tail Worm Patterns & Techniques