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Cotton Cordell · Squarebill Crankbaits
Cotton Cordell Big O Square-Lip Crankbait, 3/8 oz, Crawdad
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Options
- Item weight
- 0.38 Ounces
- Product dimensions
- 3.6 x 1.5 x 1 inches
Quick take
A classic square-lip crankbait with a buoyant body and proven fish-catching shimmy, available in multiple patterns.
This is the larger Big O, a 3-inch square-lip crankbait weighing three eighths of an ounce, in a Crawdad finish. The extra size and weight suit casting a bit farther while still working shallow cover. Bass anglers who like a crawfish look will find it a natural fit.
Best for
- Shallow-water bass in lakes and streams
- Deflecting off docks, logs, and rocks
- Anglers seeking a historical design that still produces strikes
Skip if
- You need a deeper-diving crankbait
- You prefer lipless designs for grass fishing
Strengths
- Exceptional cover-deflecting ability without snagging
- Buoyant body self-rights and maintains depth consistency
- Proven design since 1973; trusted by generations of anglers
Trade-offs
- Limited depth range of 2-4 ft; not ideal for deep structure
- Small size and light weight limit casting distance in wind
- No. 8 treble hooks may be too large for small-mouth bass
Fishing fit
- Water
- Freshwater
- Techniques
- Casting
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 craw or red pattern suits cold to cool, stained water in spring. Crankbaits are often fished in spring and fall, when fish are feeding on baitfish.
- Season
- Spring
- Fall
- Water
- Pond
- Lake
- Reservoir
- River
- Clarity
- Stained
- Water temperature
- Cold (under 50°F)
- 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
- Cover
- 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 craw or red pattern imitates crawfish.
- Crawfish
How to choose a color and size
Color
| Options | When to pick it | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Chartreuse Perch | Stands out in stained or muddy water and in low light. |
|
| Fire Tiger | A loud pattern that shows up in stained and muddy water under cloud. |
|
| Chrome Black Back, Super Shad | Flashes like a baitfish in clear to lightly stained water. |
|
| Bluegill, Perch | Looks like real forage in clear water, where fish get a long look. |
|
| Crawdad, Natural Crawdad, Olive Craw, Pearl Red EyeThis one | 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 | Hook size | Color | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton Cordell Big O Square-Lip Crankbait, 2", 1/4 oz | Lure weight:1/4 oz | Length:2 in | Hook size:#8 | Color:Baby Bass | Suits:Clear water, bass, trout and crappie |
| Cotton Cordell Big O Square-Lip Crankbait, 1/4 oz, Pearl Red Eye | Lure weight:1/4 oz | Length:2 in | Hook size:#8 | Color:Pearl Red Eye | Suits:Stained water, bass, trout and crappie |
| Cotton Cordell Big O Square-Lip Crankbait, 3/8 oz, Crawdad | Lure weight:3/8 oz | Length:— | Hook size:— | Color:Crawdad | Suits:Stained water, bass and walleye |
| Cotton Cordell Big O Square-Lip Crankbait, Triple Threat 3-Pack | Lure weight:— | Length:— | Hook size:— | Color:Triple Threat 3-Pack | Suits:Bass |
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 |
|---|---|
| Lip | Square |
| Color | Crawdad |
| Color family | Craw and red |
| Target species | Bass |
Common questions
How much does it weigh?
It weighs 3/8 oz.
What color is this version?
This version is Crawdad.
Updated