A squarebill catches big bass and numbers alike. A shallow-water workhorse that’s surprisingly snag resistant, this bait has become a staple in every anglers’ tackle box. But with its popularity have come more than a plenty of choices. Every hard-bait company offers at least one squarebill option, if not multiples under the same brand. So here’s our take on the best squarebill crankbaits.
OUR PICKS FOR BEST SQUAREBILL CRANKBAITS
- Best Standard-Size Squarebill Crankbait – Strike King KVD Elite 1.5 Squarebill
- Best Small Squarebill Crankbait – Lucky Craft LC 1.0 Silent
- Best Large Squarebill Crankbait – Shimano MacBeth 63
- Best Balsa Squarebill Crankbait – Rapala Rocco OG 5
BEST STANDARD-SIZE SQUAREBILL CRANKBAITS
Strike King KVD Elite 1.5 Squarebill
Arguably the gold standard for squarebills, Kevin VanDam’s collaboration with lure manufacturer Strike King brought us one of the best shallow-water baits of all time in the KVD 1.5. Now, the pair have updated the iconic squarebill crank with the introduction of the Elite 1.5. The Elite treatment consists of upgraded treble hooks and premium components, making this an improved version of the baits KVD used to win a Bassmaster Classic win and 7 Angler of Year titles.
Like its predecessors, the Elite 1.5 measures 2 and 1/4 inches and divies 3 to 6 feet with its signature wobble, making this one of the best squarebills out there. Available in a variety of KVD-approved color schemes, the Strike King KVD Elite 1.5 can match the hatch in just about every lake.
Duo Realis Apex Crank 66 Squared
The bulbous body of the Duo Realis Apex Crank 66 Squared catches the eye of every bass it passes, and ensures it wiggles its way out of cover. Designed in collaboration with three-time Bassmaster Elite Series Angler of the Year, Aaron Martens, this one excels in the 5 to 7-foot range. Though the body is somewhat less than aerodynamic body shape, it still casts well. The bill grabs water almost immediately, giving you the shimmy you need as soon as it splashes down.
The 2 5/8 inch, 5/8 ounce bait comes in 12 color schemes. Each has realistic 3D scale patterns and gill rakers, and downward facing eyes that turn on indecisive bass. Plus, this one comes with a great set of hooks right out of the box.
Bill Lewis SB 57
The Bill Lewis SB 57 (full review) is another bait in the “normal” size range. Comparable to the KVD 1.5, the SB 57 measures 2 and 1/4 inches and dives 3 to 6 feet. What this bait brings to the conversation though is a microchip bill with rounded corners and a wider face, as well as upgraded stock Mustad Triple Grip treble hooks. Though a relative newcomer to the squarebill market compared to the KVD 1.5, the SB 57 has becomes a quick favorite many anglers.
The color choices are more limited with the SB 57 as compared to the KVD 1.5, but the standard colors are all there and there’s something for most water colors and bait types that you may want to mimic with a squarebill. This is a slower floating bait than some squarebills, allowing it to stay down and grind the bottom better, and it comes equipped with a rattle as well.
BEST SMALL SQUAREBILL CRANKBAITS
Lucky Craft LC 1.0 Silent
Though there aren’t many squarebills comparable to the KVD 1.5 in lore and all-time earnings by tournament anglers, Lucky Craft makes a few squarebills that can hang right there with it. The LC 1.0 is one of them. This baits overall profile is slightly smaller than that of the KVD 1.5 and SB 57, offering a great option for highly pressured bass.
This is an ideal bait for cranking along shallow rock and wood, as well as in open water along gravely bottoms and shallow humps. The LC 1.0 dives the shallowest of the squarebills on our list, maxing out around 3 to 4 feet depending on the line size. It’s also only available in a few colors, but the mainstays are there.
Bandit Lures Series 100 Cranks
The Bandit 100 is one of the longest standing squarebill favorites of many anglers. This lure is also a little undersized, measuring 2 inches. The rounded corners of its bill helps this bait slip through cover better than many other crankbaits, while also offering a little less deflection and getting back on track a little quicker.
When you’re looking for a bait to keep down and grind through cover like laydowns and rocks without having to worry about hanging up all day, the Bandit 100 is a great option. Diving 2 to 5 feet and available in an extensive color range, the Bandit 100 is perfect when fishing around pressured fish shallow and when matching the hatch is particularly important.
BEST LARGE SQUAREBILLS
Shimano MacBeth 63 Squarebill
Moving into the larger squarebills, we find a pretty wide range here. There are some really big baits, like the Sixth Sense Cloud 9 Magnum Squarebill (4 inches), the Strike King KVD 8.0 Magnum Squarebill (4.5 inches) and even larger others. But keeping it a little closer to normal and upsizing just a bit, we find baits like the Shimano MacBeth, measuring 2 and 1/2 inches.
The MacBeth has a fairly unique profile, which gives it more of a rolling wobble as compared to some other squarebills on this list. This bait is good when you’re wanting to offer the bass a little something larger to look at as compared to the smaller baits. It dives down to about 6 feet on 15-pound test line with your rod tip pointed down. For more pointers on how to fish the Shimano Macbeth 63, read our hands-on review.
Rapala OG Big Rocco 6 Crankbait
Ott DeFoe went big when he designed the OG Big Rocco 6. Like the other baits he’s known, this one is constructed with a balsa wood core that helps it float up and over obstructions. The 2 3/4 inch bodied lure runs silent, so it is perfect for pressured bass. The square circuit board lip produces a medium rolling action, which can turn even neutral bass into biters. Plus, the added size translates to a little more weight for added casting distance.
Premium, sticky-sharp VMC Black Nickel 1X strong hybrid treble hooks help turn short-strikes from lethargic fish into hookups. You can get this one in 15 colors to start, running the gamut from bream to crawdad.
Strike King KVD 2.5 HC
The Strike King KVD 2.5 HC Squarebill is slightly larger than the MacBeth, coming in at 2 and 3/4 inches. This squarebill has more of a traditional, harder rocking action. It’s great for moving a little further out on the riprap and rocky banks. It can be fished through the same areas as an average-size squarebill as well though, just hold your rod a little higher.
The key appeal to these larger squarebills is that they have more drawing power and they offer a bass a bigger meal. This can be a big difference maker when fishing through laydowns for instance, allowing you to cover the whole tree in a cast or two and fish all the way through the deeper branches.
BEST BALSA SQUARE BILL CRANKBAITS
Rapala OG Rocco 5 Squarebill
Much like the other baits in the OG collection, it is made of highly buoyant balsa wood. This allows the bait to float up out of cover while still being heavy enough to make long casts. The body shape of this bait is very similar to a typical square bill. It has rounded sides and a 2-1/2 inch long body. The compact shape allows the bait to maneuver through cover with ease, while mimicking small forage that often uses this shallow cover for protection.
The OG Rocco 5 comes equipped with a square shaped circuit board lip. This bait also comes stock with two hybrid VMC treble hooks for maximum hooking power. These squarebills have that East Tennessee flair with a mass produced price point to make a great option for anglers across the country.
Black Label Wreck
Balsa Wood is super buoyant and is a longtime favorite of old-school anglers and lure makers. This wood can be hard to work with and brittle if the grain isn’t in the proper orientation to the body of the bait. The challenges in this realm of the bait world make balsa a bit of niche market. But for those that love balsa baits, lures like the Black Label Wreck are pure gold.
The Wreck has the buoyancy you expect from a balsa bait, making it especially snag resistant. If you feel this bait start to bog down in the cover, simply drop your rod tip and give the bait a little slack and it will usually float right up. This is also when a bite will often come, as the bait collides with the cover and then appears stunned as it floats up. The Wreck comes in at 2 inches, dives 2 to 3 feet and is well equipped with Mustad EWG Trebles.
