aggressively , paused briefly , then cranked again . Don ’ t picture a typical stop-and-go retrieve here . We ’ re talking about burning the reel handle as fast as you can turn it with a high-speed reel ( we prefer 8:1 gear ratio ), pausing for a fraction of a second , then repeating .
This method is incredibly effective around baitfish . The aggressive changes in cadence draws bass ’ attention away from the real minnows , and the extreme speeds trigger a feeding response in bass that will cause them to chase the bait long distances , ready to attack with brute force on the next pause . This method draws some of the most vicious strikes you ’ ll ever experience and is effective in shallow water throughout the fall .
The second reason to turn to squarebills in the fall is that they can be adapted to virtually any condition . From crystal-clear water to the muddiest of conditions , from moderately shallow flats to ultrashallow pockets , squarebills can be fished effectively if you know which baits to choose .
Nearly every angler carries a couple squarebills in his or her crankbait box . Most dive 3 to 5 feet and have a wide wobble when retrieved at a medium pace . Likely colors in your box include sexy shad , ghost minnow and chartreuse mixed with any number of other colors . If this describes your box , you ’ re already headed down the right path , but you ’ ve only begun to scratch the surface .
The true power of a squarebill is only realized when you begin to adapt . The first step in adapting to changing conditions is to have color options . This part really is simple ; if you have something shiny ( chrome ), something clear ( ghost ) and something bright ( chartreuse or white ), you ’ re set . From there , you need to build confidence in both silent and rattling models . Let ’ s talk about the specific baits and their purposes .
Our most consistently productive rattling squarebill is a River2Sea Biggie
The Strike King KVD Magnum 4.0 and SPRO Baby Fat John 50 are vastly different squarebills , but each can serve a specific and important purpose .
( try the abalone shad color ). For silent models , it ’ s the Lucky Craft LC 1.5 ( try American shad ). Many companies make great squarebills , and these are two we ’ ve used effectively for years . We ’ re going to call these two models our primary squarebills .
From there , you ’ re going to want to fill in the outliers ( this is where the magic happens ). Begin by going deeper . Add in a bait that can reach deeper depths , followed by one that is significantly larger . We suggest a Lucky Craft LC 2.5 , followed by a Strike King KVD Magnum 4.0 , and ultimately the Lucky Craft Fat CB BDS6 when it ’ s time to target bass chasing bigger baitfish .
For shallower options , we really like some baits that are often overlooked by anglers and tackle companies alike . We ’ re not just looking for baits that are smaller . They need to actually run shallower than standard baits while maintaining stability and action . This combination is much harder to find than you might expect .
Two of the most effective baits for this approach are the SPRO Baby Fat John 50 and the Lucky Craft LC 1.0 . These smaller offerings can be fished slowly when needed but can also be speed cranked in ultra-shallow water where no other bait besides a topwater would dare go .
Once these different styles are represented in your box in a likely color or two , you ’ re ready to adapt to any situation you ’ ll encounter this fall . If the baitfish move out , you have an option in the box that will reach a bit deeper to elicit bites from the biggest bass in the school . If they move ultra-shallow , you have a bait that ’ s not only effective in the shallows but snag-resistant as well . If you find bass ambushing tiny glass minnows or great big gizzard shad , you ’ re ready for both of those situations , too .
All that remains is finding a quality rod to maximize the effectiveness with which you can fish a squarebill . My rod of choice is a G . Loomis 845 CBR . It ’ s a 7-foot rod , has a very parabolic action and is extremely sensitive . Staying around the 7-foot mark offers the perfect balance of flex ( to absorb the inevitable head shakes as you battle big bass in shallow water on small treble hooks ) and maneuverability around shallow cover .
There are days in the fall when bass are devouring everything that moves , when it seems like every lure from a topwater to a jerkbait to worm is getting bit . Those days are magical , and we all hope to be on the lake when it happens . But not all days are that easy . Sometimes , you have to adapt to the conditions .
Next time you ’ re at the lake and the fish are up shallow but still don ’ t want to bite , remember the squarebill . Adapt to the depth , adapt to the water clarity , and don ’ t be afraid to speed up that retrieve . You might just set off the feeding frenzy you ’ ve been dreaming about .
The true power of a squarebill is only realized when you begin to adapt . The first step in adapting to changing conditions is to have color options .
OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2020 | MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | FLWFISHING . COM 23