Strike King · Squarebill Crankbaits
Strike King KVD Square Bill Crankbait
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Options
- Product dimensions
- 1 x 1 x 1 inches
Quick take
Square bill crankbait that deflects off cover with an erratic action to entice strikes from territorial fish.
The Orange Belly Craw pattern gives this 2.5 square bill crankbait a crawfish look, and its square bill front helps it deflect off cover. It was built to the specifications of pro angler Kevin VanDam and runs about 3 to 6 feet deep.
Best for
- Bass in shallow structure like rocks and downed wood
- Covering water quickly with reaction-strike presentations
- Fish holding around hard cover rather than soft vegetation
Skip if
- You need precise depth control for deep structure
- You fish areas where erratic action spooks fish
Strengths
- Square bill allows fishing shallow cover without snagging consistently
- Deflecting action creates unpredictable movement that provokes strikes
- Durable hard bait construction holds up through repeated contact with rocks
Trade-offs
- Erratic action may spook pressured fish in clear water
- Cannot be cast as far as streamlined crankbaits
- Requires active angler manipulation to maximize the deflecting advantage
Fishing fit
- Species
- Bass
- Crappie
- Panfish
- Water
- Freshwater
- Techniques
- Casting
Specifications
| Type | square bill crankbait |
|---|---|
| Profile | Square bill |
| Color option | Orange belly craw |
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 it imitates
Its craw or red pattern imitates crawfish.
- Crawfish
How to choose a color and size
Color
| Options | When to pick it | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Green Gizzard Shad, TN Shad | Flashes like a baitfish in clear to lightly stained water. |
|
| Blue Craw, Org Belly Craw, Sam Rayburn Red CrawThis 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 | Maximum diving depth | Color | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strike King KVD Square Bill Crankbait, 5/8 oz, Sexy Sunfish | Lure weight:5/8 oz | Maximum diving depth:5 ft | Color:Sexy Sunfish | Suits:Shallow (to 5 ft), clear water, bass, walleye and pike & musky |
| Strike King KVD Square Bill Crankbait | Lure weight:— | Maximum diving depth:— | Color:Org Belly Craw | Suits:Stained water |
| Strike King KVD Square Bill Crankbait, TN Shad | Lure weight:— | Maximum diving depth:— | Color:TN Shad | Suits:Clear and stained water |
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
| Lip | Square |
|---|---|
| Color | Org Belly Craw |
| Color family | Craw and red |
Updated