Squarebill Crankbait

Crankbait — shallow squarebill

Written by — professional Central Texas bass fishing guide since 2000. 50+ years fishing these waters, 26+ years guiding, thousands of trips across all 16 lakes he personally fishes. More about Bryan →

· · Knowledge base v2026.07

The squarebill is a shallow-diving square-lipped crankbait that ricochets off laydowns, stumps and riprap to trigger reaction strikes. It is a top shallow power bait in spring and fall on Central Texas lakes for cover-oriented bass.

Why: Bounce it off cover, hang on.
Evidence: Verified knowledge from Bryan Cotter, 26+ years guiding all 16 Central Texas lakes.
Related: Squarebill Cranking · Crankbait Fishing · All bass lures

Verified Answered by , Texas Hawgs guide · Updated Jul 12, 2026

89% confidenceSources: Bryan Cotter's first-hand experienceUpdated Jul 12, 2026

Why it works

The erratic deflection off cover imitates a fleeing baitfish or crawfish and triggers reaction bites.

Brands that make this style: Berkley Squarebull sponsor, Strike King KVD 1.5, SPRO Fat John

As an Amazon Associate, Texas Hawgs earns from qualifying purchases. Brands marked sponsor are companies Bryan proudly represents — see the sponsors page.

Squarebill Crankbait at a glance

Family
Crankbait
Sizes
2-2.5 in
Weights
3/8-1/2 oz
Water temp
50-80°F
Skill level
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Bryan's confidence
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Catches: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass

When to throw it

Best seasons: Spring, Fall

Best conditions: Wind, Warm Front, Spring Warm-Up

Where to throw it

Depth: 1-6 ft; cover: Wood, Rock; structure: Laydowns, Riprap, Stumps, Banks.

How to fish it

Rig it with: Squarebill Cranking, Crankbait Fishing.

Retrieve: Steady retrieve that bumps and deflects off shallow cover; pause briefly after a deflection.

Color selection

By water clarity — Clear: shad, ghost · Stained: chartreuse-black, shad · Muddy: chartreuse, red

By forage — Shad: shad, sexy shad · Craw: red craw

Lakes where it produces

Lake Travis

Common mistakes

  • Avoiding cover instead of hitting it
  • A stiff rod ripping the bait away
  • Reeling too fast to feel deflection

Pro tips

  • A red craw pattern shines in the pre-spawn
  • Deflection off cover is the trigger — aim for it

Keep exploring

All bass lures · Squarebill Cranking · All techniques · Central Texas bass fishing guide

Want to catch 'em on a Squarebill Crankbait? All tackle is provided on a guided trip. See rates and book or call 512-762-0190.