Squarebill

A squarebill is a shallow diving crankbait with a wide, flat lip instead of a rounded one. That lip shape makes the bait dart and deflect off cover instead of digging in and snagging. It is one of the main baits anglers reach for when fishing shallow, hard cover like laydowns, stumps, and riprap.

The flat lip lets the bait bounce off wood and rock, then kick back into its wobble right after contact. That deflection often triggers reaction strikes from bass holding tight to cover. Most squarebills run from one to five feet deep, so they work best around shallow flats, bank cover, and grass edges rather than deep structure. They pair well with a moderate retrieve, with pauses added after the bait bumps something.

A practical tip is to fish it on fluorocarbon line in clear water and braid to fluoro leader around heavy wood, since braid has less stretch and helps pull the bait free from thick cover. Keep a few color patterns on hand for different water clarity.

• Best around wood, rock, and shallow grass lines
• Runs shallow, usually one to five feet
• Works well for reaction bites after bouncing off cover

See the full lineup of squarebills for shallow cover fishing.