Bill Lewis · Squarebill Crankbaits
PopularBill Lewis SB-57 Squarebill Crankbait, 3/8 oz
Check price on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate First Cast Fishing earns a commission when you buy through links on this site, at no extra cost to you.
Options
- Item weight
- 0.38 Ounces
- Product dimensions
- 3 x 1 x 1 inches
Quick take
A 3/8 oz squarebill crankbait with honeycomb wall construction and sharp, reactive hunting action.
The Bill Lewis SB-57 in Sneaky Shad is a 3/8 oz squarebill about 2.2 inches long that runs 3 to 6 feet deep. Its square lip helps it deflect off wood and rock, and it carries Mustad Triple Grip hooks. A natural pick for bass anglers working shallow cover.
Best for
- Bass in dense cover and shallow timber
- Reactive strikes when bass are aggressive
- Deflecting off submerged wood and rocks
Skip if
- You need a deep-diving crankbait; this maxes out at 6 feet
- You fish open water where aggressive deflection is not useful
Strengths
- Honeycomb wall construction is 25% thinner yet stronger than standard plastic
- Thin circuit board lip is sensitive and provides natural diving action
- Sharp square bill deflects powerfully off cover without snagging
Trade-offs
- Delicate lip design may bend if collided hard with structure
- Triple Grip hooks are large and can foul each other on missed strikes
- 3/8 oz is light, limiting casting distance and depth on heavy line
Fishing fit
- Water
- Freshwater
- Techniques
- Casting
- Skill level
- Intermediate
Specifications
| Type | squarebill crankbait |
|---|---|
| Weight | 3/8 oz |
| Dive depth | 3-6 ft |
| Body construction | Honeycomb wall |
| Hooks | Triple Grip, 2 pieces |
What can I catch with this?
At 3/8 oz, this crankbait is sized for bass and walleye.
- Bass
- Walleye
When and where to fish it
Its silver baitfish pattern suits clear to lightly stained water. Crankbaits are often fished in spring and fall, when fish are feeding on baitfish.
- Season
- Spring
- Fall
- Water
- Pond
- Lake
- Reservoir
- River
- Clarity
- Clear
- Stained
- Light
- Bright
- Overcast
- Water temperature
- Cool (50 to 60°F)
- Warm (60 to 75°F)
- Fished from
- Bank
- Boat
- Kayak
How to fish it
A crankbait with a square lip kicks away from wood and rock, so it is fished right through cover.
Deflecting off cover
- Cast past a stump, a laydown or a rock and reel the lure into it.
- Keep reeling as the lip hits; the lure kicks to the side and rights itself.
- Pause for a moment after each deflection, then carry on.
Steady cranking
- Cast past the target and point the rod tip down toward the water.
- Reel at a steady medium pace until the lure reaches its depth.
- Keep it ticking the bottom or the cover, and pause when it deflects.
How deep and around what
At 3/8 oz it runs down to 6 ft, in the mid depth zone, around the outside edge of grass, wood and rock.
- Surface
- Shallow (to 5 ft)
- Mid (5 to 12 ft) (this product)
- Deep (12 to 25 ft)
- Very deep (over 25 ft)
- Maximum diving depth
- 6 ft
- Depth zone
- Mid (5 to 12 ft)
- Cover
- Grass
- Wood
- Rock
What you need with it
A 3/8 oz crankbait is usually fished with a casting rod, a baitcasting reel and 10 to 14 lb fluorocarbon line.
- Casting rodsA medium-power rod with a moderate action keeps the hooks pinned on a steady retrieve.
- Baitcasting reelsA slower gear ratio makes a steady cranking pace easier to hold.
- Fluorocarbon lineSinks, so the lure reaches its depth; 10 to 14 lb for this weight.
Pairs with
A 3/8 oz lure pairs with a medium-power, moderate-action rod made for 1/4 to 5/8 oz lures and with 10 to 14 lb line.
| Item | Range |
|---|---|
| Rod power | Medium |
| Rod action | Moderate |
| Rod lure weight | 1/4 to 5/8 oz |
| Line test | 10 to 14 lb |
What it imitates
Its silver baitfish pattern imitates shad.
- Shad
How to choose a color and size
Color
| Options | When to pick it | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Chartreuse Shiner | Stands out in stained or muddy water and in low light. |
|
| Lavendar Shad, Sneaky Shad, Tennessee ShadThis one | Flashes like a baitfish in clear to lightly stained water. |
|
| Bluegill | Looks like real forage in clear water, where fish get a long look. |
|
| Mustard Craw, Ozark Craw, Red Glitter Craw, Strawberry Craw | Matches crawfish in cold to cool, stained water early in the season. |
|
Which one should I pick?
Choose the version by the depth you need to reach, then choose the color by water clarity.
| Version | Lure weight | Length | Maximum diving depth | Color | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Lewis SB-57 Squarebill Crankbait, 3/8 oz, Bluegill | Lure weight:3/8 oz | Length:2.24 in | Maximum diving depth:6 ft | Color:Bluegill | Suits:Mid (5 to 12 ft), clear water, bass and walleye |
| Bill Lewis SB-57 Squarebill Crankbait, 3/8 oz, Red Glitter Craw | Lure weight:3/8 oz | Length:2.24 in | Maximum diving depth:6 ft | Color:Red Glitter Craw | Suits:Mid (5 to 12 ft), stained water, bass and walleye |
| Bill Lewis SB-57 Squarebill Crankbait, 3/8 oz | Lure weight:3/8 oz | Length:2.24 in | Maximum diving depth:6 ft | Color:Sneaky Shad | Suits:Mid (5 to 12 ft), clear and stained water, bass and walleye |
About this type
A crankbait is a hard-bodied lure that wobbles on a steady retrieve; most have a lip that sets how deep they run.
On a lipped bait, a bigger or steeper lip usually sends it deeper.
Most lipped crankbaits float at rest and dive when reeled, so a pause lets the lure back up and away from a snag.
Compared with Jerkbaits: A jerkbait is worked with twitches and pauses and often suspends or floats; a crankbait is reeled.
Facts
| Lure weight | 3/8 oz |
|---|---|
| Length | 2.24 in |
| Minimum diving depth | 3 ft |
| Maximum diving depth | 6 ft |
| Lip | Square |
| Color | Sneaky Shad |
| Color family | Shad and silver |
| Target species | Bass |
Common questions
How deep does it run?
It runs to a maximum depth of 6 ft.
How much does it weigh?
It weighs 3/8 oz.
How long is it?
It is 2.24 in long.
What color is this version?
This version is Sneaky Shad.
Updated