Bill Lewis · Squarebill Crankbaits
Bill Lewis SB-57 Squarebill Crankbait, 3/8 oz, Bluegill
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Options
- Item weight
- 0.38 Ounces
- Product dimensions
- 1 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 Bluegill 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
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 natural pattern suits clear water, where fish get a long look at the lure. Crankbaits are often fished in spring and fall, when fish are feeding on baitfish.
- Season
- Spring
- Fall
- Water
- Pond
- Lake
- Reservoir
- River
- Clarity
- Clear
- 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 natural pattern imitates bluegill and perch.
- Bluegill
- Perch
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 Shad | Flashes like a baitfish in clear to lightly stained water. |
|
| BluegillThis one | 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 | Bluegill |
| Color family | Natural |
| 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 Bluegill.
Updated