Left top to bottom: Bill Lewis ATV, Rapala BX Brat, Strike King KVD. Right top to bottom: Lucky Craft LC, 6th Sense Crush.
April 25, 2024
By Shane Beilue
There are a lot of squarebill crankbaits on the market, and many, if not most, work as intended. However, some—whether they be established classics or relatively newer arrivals—have proven to be reliable performers. Here are five of my favorites.
Strike King KVD Series Designed by Kevin Van Dam himself, this is an all-time classic. The KVD series comes in 1.0, 1.5 and 2.5 sizes, but it’s also available in the bigger 4.0 and even the jumbo 8.0 size when seeking trophy bass in the spring. These squarebills are offered in a wide assortment of colors to fit any desired forage pattern. ($7.99-$16.99; strikeking.com )
Bill Lewis ATV Series While Bill Lewis is best known as the maker of the lipless Rat-L-Trap , the company’s ATV series offers improved deflection and harder wobble than other shallow runners in the lineup. The Bill Lewis ATV Series is also available in 1.0, 1.5 and 2.5 sizes to match the size of the prevailing shallow-water forage. ($5.69-$9.99; rat-l-trap.com )
Rapala BX Brat Capable of running at a depth of 3 feet or 6 feet depending on the model, the Rapala BX Brat is a rather small balsa lure body encased in a very durable co-polymer outer shell. The Brat runs true right out of the box, has incredible action and deflects off cover exceptionally well. ($11.49; rapala.com )
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6th Sense Crush The Crush is offered in a variety of sizes , both with rattles and without. It’s also available in a flat-sided squarebill, which has a more subtle wobble in the water. 6th Sense offers some of the most realistic paint finishes on the market, and squarebills come standard with premium treble hooks. ($7.99-$10.99; 6thsensefishing.com )
Lucky Craft LC Series Another squarebill classic, the Lucky Craft LC series is one of the best-selling squarebills on the market. It’s available as a silent
runner or with rattles, and it comes in a wide array of color options. ($5.88-$18.99; luckycraft.com )
