Best Square Bill Crankbait – Just Add Water

To be honest, it would be impossible to narrow it down to just one, but I would like to share with you my top 5 square bill crankbaits for bass.

However, I must say this list is by no means exhaustive. There are so many other lures I would have loved to have included in this list.

Enjoy!

What is the best square bill crankbait?

Here is a quick preview of our top 5 favorites

• Jackall ASKA
• Megabass S-Crank 2.0
• Storm Arashi Rattling Square Bill
• Spro Fat John 60
• Lucky Craft LC 1.5 DRS

Let’s take a closer look at each individual model….

The first lure to make our list is the Jackall ASKA. It is available in 3 different sizes. The Jackall Aska 70 is 3 inches long and weighs 5/8 ounces. The Jackall Aska 60 is 2 1/2 inches long and weighs 3/8 ounces. Lastly, the Jackall Aska 50 is 2 inches long and weighs 1/4 ounce.

One of the unique features of this square bill crankbait is the bill. The bill is actually made out of fiberglass for that reason many fishermen know it as the circuit board crankbait. The fiberglass bill is thinner which allows it to grab more water. When the water hits the bill it gives it that rolling/wobble action that drives bass crazy.

Lastly, it is designed in a way that makes it very difficult for the hooks to get tangled up or for the front hook to get tangled up with the bill.

Learn more about the Jackall Aska in the following video:

Next up is the Megabass S-Crank 2.0. One of the best things I like about this lure is the selection of colors. You will have no difficulty matching the hatch with this lure. The only problem you may have it narrowing it down to just one.

The Megabass S-crank is available in three different sizes. The Megabass S-Crank 1.2 is 2 2/5 inches long, weighs 3/8 ounces and can reach a depth of 4 feet. The Megabass S-Crank 1.5 is 2 3/5 inches, weighs 1/2 ounces and has a depth of 5 feet. The Megabass S-Crank 2.0  is 3 inches long, weighs 1 ounce and has a depth of 6 feet.

As you can see from the design of this bait that it has a very narrow nose and a small dimple in the head. By this design it will run with an erratic s-shaped hunting action, thus the name S-crank. By hunting action I mean the lure will dart in one direction, come center and then dart in the other direction. This perfectly imitates a fleeing baitfish and will drive the bass crazy.

You can have some control over the action by the way you tie the bait. If you tie directly to the bait it will have a narrower action. This approach works really well when fishing close to cover. If you tie onto the split ring it will have a wider hunting s-action.

Another thing I really like about this lure is the high buoyancy. Once you pause the bait it quickly begins to float. This works great in allowing the bait to deflect off cover and not getting snagged up.

(Don’t get your lure snagged again with a good lure retriever – Learn more here – Best Lure Retriever)

See the S-Crank in action in the following video:

Another crankbait that is taking many by “storm” is the Storm Arashi Rattling Square Bill.

It is available in two different sizes. The Storm Arashi Rattling Square 03 is 2 1/8 inches long, weighs 1/2 ounces and dives to 3 feet. The Storm Arashi Rattling Square 05 is 2 3/8 inches, weighs 5/8 ounces and dives to 5 feet.

One of the unique features with this crankbait is the line tie. As you look closely at the bait you will notice that the line tie actually moves. This was by design. In fact, Storm calls it a self-tuning line tie. So as your lure is coming back to you in a wobbling action the line tie is free to move. This allows the lie tie to compensate for the motion and thus helps to ensure that it always runs true.

This lure is designed to create commotion, noise and get bass to come up and get it. In the open chamber are 3 bb’s that create a loud high pitch noise that will draw the bass to you.

It also has a very compact body design. This design makes it extremely easy to cast and it helps to make the tail kick out and giving it that wide wobble.

Check it out in the following video:

Spro Fat John 60 is a great square bill crankbait. It is 2 1/3 inches, weighs 5/8 ounces and has a depth of 1-3 feet. It is available in a number of different colors.

Let’s begin by talking about the lip. It does feature a circuit board lip. The flexibility in a fiberglass lip help to give it that erratic motion. Another thing you will notice about the bill is that is isn’t exactly a “square” bill, but it is a little more rounded than other lips on the market. This helps to contribute to its unique action.

Remember, we are trying to mimic a bait fish. Rarely, do you see baitfish swimming in a straight line. So if you want a crankbait that is going to catch fish you need one that has that erratic hunting action such as the Spro Fat John 60.

Another thing to mention about fiberglass lips is that they are much thinner than plastic ones. For this reason, many fishermen avoid them because they tend to break more easily.  However, this one doesn’t seem to have that problem.

Next, let’s talk about body shape. As the name implies it is fat and yes it is! The compact fat body help to allow the tail to kick out and make it wobble on the retrieval. If you would like to enhance the wobbling action, even more, I would recommend going with a light fishing line such as 12 to 15 lb test if possible.

Another great feature is that it has a single tungsten weight on the inside towards the mouth. This isn’t to make it rattle, but rather to add weight to the lure. This added weight allows it easily to be launched a mile.

See it in action in the following video:

A very high quality square bill crankbait that will last you a long time is the Lucky Craft LC 1.5 DRS. It is 2 inches long, weighs 1/2 ounces and has a maximum depth of 3-4 feet.

As you can see this is the DRS version. DRS stands for Deep Rattling Sound. This bait, in particular, is it has a single knocker which creates a nice subtle sound.

That single knocker sound can make all the difference when fishing with a square bill crankbait. This is especially true when deflecting off the cover.

Imagine your bait deflecting off the bottom it makes both a change of direction and a change of sound. Great way to generate a strike! However, if you prefer a silent version is available as well.

Besides the sound, Lucky Craft has designed a lure that will move erratically and generate strikes.

You may also enjoy reading: Fishing With The Best Fishing Rod For Square Bill Crankbaits.

What do you think is the best square bill crankbait? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.