Summer Squarebills- Blaukat Blog

Summer Squarebill Fishing

Now that early summer is in full swing, fish personalities begin to change with the warming water temperatures.

In most lakes, both natural and man-made, there are two distinct populations of bass…those who live shallow all summer, and those who prefer offshore, deeper structures.

Bass anglers therefore have two options in summertime fishing. As far as shallow, warm water fishing goes, few things can top the effectiveness of the squarebill crankbait.

Squarebills have been around for nearly 50 years, since the invention of the famous Big 0 back in the early 1970’s.

Bait technology has grown with this lure category, and now squarebills come in a variety of profiles, colors and internal balancing mechanisms.

The effectiveness of a squarebill comes in its ability to be fishing around heavy, shallow cover and deflect off objects. This deflection, combined with speed, will trigger a reaction strike from even the most lethargic summer bass.

Here are a few key points to remember when fishing squarebills…

1.     Retrieves are critical. In water temperatures over 75 degrees, a fast, stop and go retrieve is the best way to fish a squarebill crankbait.

2.     Try and cast into cover or hit objects on each cast. Regardless if you are fishing wood, rock or stumps, deflecting off whatever you are fishing is the most important element in squarebill fishing. When you hit an object, always pause for a second then begin your retrieve. This hesitation usually generates the strikes.

3.     Casting angles are also critical. When fishing isolated cover, make sure to hit the target from as many angles as possible. Most of the time, sluggish bass in low oxygen, shallow areas need the bait to come by at just the right position to generate the strike.

4.     Multiple casts are also important. Make sure to cast up to 20 times to an object if it looks promising. Many times, during the summer, these repeated casts are the only way to get a fish to bite.

5.     Use heavy line. Heavy line…15-25lb. test not only will keep the bait shallower easier; it makes the bait react easier during a stop and go retrieve. As well, the heavy line makes controlling a bass easier during the fight.

6.     Look for stained water. Squarebill fishing is at its best in water visibilities of 6-18 inches.

7.     Colors are also key. Usually, a variation of a shad, a bluegill or a perch color are best. Let the sunlight, wind and water visibility determine your color selection. Stay with the brighter colors in the more stained water, and more natural tones in the cleaner water or on calm, sunny days.

So, if you are one of those anglers who prefer shallow power fishing all year long, rest easy and know there are plenty of opportunities to continue fishing like this all summer long.

Spend some time learning and understanding the controlled variables in squarebill fishing, and it will add up to some rewarding summertime action this year!

Squarebill Crankbait Link: Fish the Moment

Author: Randy Blaukat

Follow Randy on Social Media!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/randy.blaukat/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blaukatrandy/

“Squarebills have been around for nearly 50 years, since the invention of the famous Big 0 back in the early 1970’s.”