Fishing with squarebill crankbaits in the spring can be a great way to catch bass. Warmer temperatures and longer daylight hours trigger the bass to become more active and feed more aggressively.
Following are the basics of squarebill crankbait fishing in the spring, including what gear you'll need, where to look for fish, and how to retrieve the bait.
Gear for Squarebill Crankbait Fishing in the Spring
Before you hit the water, you'll need to make sure you have the right gear. Here's a breakdown of what you'll need for squarebill crankbait fishing in the spring:
Rod: A 6.5-ft to 7-ft medium or medium-heavy power rod with a fast tip is recommended for fishing squarebill crankbaits. This will allow you to cast the bait more accurately and farther to present the squarebill around bass holding cover.
Reel: A baitcasting reel with a 6:1 or 7:1 gear ratio is ideal for squarebill crankbait fishing, as it allows for fast retrieves and quick hook sets.
Line: A 12-20 lb fluorocarbon or monofilament line is recommended for squarebill crankbait fishing, as it provides good sensitivity allowing you to feel the bait and detect strikes.
Bait: A squarebill crankbait in natural color patterns, such as bluegill, shad brown or green crawfish in clear water and black-back chartreuse, chartreuse or red crawfish when fishing in stained water, is a good choice for fishing squarebills in the spring. A good starting size when fishing squarebills in the spring is a 1.5 size then experiment with smaller and larger sizes and let the bass indicate their preference during that outing.
Where to Look for Fish
In the spring, bass tend to move from their winter haunts in deeper water towards shallower areas where they can feed and spawn. In early spring start your search around points and breaklines closest to main lake wintering areas. As you move deeper into spring, look for areas with shallow water and cover, such as weed beds, docks, fallen trees, boulder fields or rock banks. These areas provide cover for the bass to hide and ambush prey.
Basic Squarebill Retrieve
When fishing with a squarebill crankbait, the key is to make the bait look as natural as possible. To do this, you'll want to retrieve the bait in a stop-and-go motion, with occasional twitches and pauses to mimic the movement of prey.
Here's how to do it:
1) Cast the bait to the target cover.
2) Reel the bait in slowly, allowing it to bump into any cover feature you're fishing.
3) After contact, stop reeling for a few seconds, allowing the bait to float back up toward the surface.
4) Twitch the rod tip to make the bait dart and dive erratically, then pause again for a few seconds.
Repeat steps 2-4 until the bait is back to the boat.
The key is to experiment with the retrieve speed and cadence until you find what works best for the fish in your area. Also though squarebill crankbaits are designed to deflect off of cover, they can also bounce along the bottom to mimic a fleeing crawfish or other bottom-dwelling prey.
Remember, the goal is to make the bait look as natural as possible, so don't be afraid to mix up your retrieve until you find what works best.
Vary Your Casting Direction
When fishing with squarebill crankbaits, it's important to vary your casting angles when fishing a piece of cover. Sometimes it takes a specific retrieve direction to trigger finicky or pressured bass into striking.
Fishing with squarebill crankbaits in the spring can be a great way to catch bass. By using the right gear, targeting the right areas, and using the right retrieve, you can increase your chances of success and have a great time on the water.
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