I'm down to my last Rapala CRR-5 squarebill. This isn't the deep diver, this is the 4-5' model. These have been the best rattling shallow crank around rocks that I've ever had, and Rapala discontinued them. I can still get a few off fleabay, but the price is exorbitant, considering I only need "chrome". What's your ideas on a good 4-5' rattlin' squarebill for use in and around rocks? BTW .... local water is definitely NOT clear.     Thnx.    jj

Are you talking about these ?

Perhaps check out a few selections from the 6th sense square bill line . . . 

Both quality baits that I've had quite a bit of success with. 

 

https://6thsensefishing.com/collections/crush-50x/products/crush-shad-burst

 

 

https://6thsensefishing.com/collections/6th-sense-crush-flat-75x-square-bill/products/crush-75x-chrome-truese-shad

 

A-Jay

I second the 6th Sense recommendation.  I love all their baits, starting with their jigs, and now most of my cranks including squarebills are 6th Sense.  You won't be disappointed. 

2 hours ago, Columbia Craw said:

Are you talking about these ?

 

  Yup, but different color.

 

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

Perhaps check out a few selections from the 6th sense square bill line . . . 

Both quality baits that I've had quite a bit of success with. 

 

https://6thsensefishing.com/collections/crush-50x/products/crush-shad-burst

 

 

https://6thsensefishing.com/collections/6th-sense-crush-flat-75x-square-bill/products/crush-75x-chrome-truese-shad

 

A-Jay

 

    Those look good. What I liked about those particular Rapalas was their durability around rocks.  How are the 6th Sense around rocks and riprap?  And how often do you need to re-tune them?     jj

2 minutes ago, jimmyjoe said:

 

  Yup, but different color.

 

 

    Those look good. What I liked about those particular Rapalas was their durability around rocks.  How are the 6th Sense around rocks and riprap?  And how often do you need to re-tune them?     jj

IMO everything in the 6th Sense line is as high a quality & as durable as anything on the market - at any price.

And it's interesting to hear your take on the Rapala baits - because my personal experience with Rapala cranks is that they may be The single most fragile baits on the market.

YMMV

A-Jay

 

23 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

IMO everything in the 6th Sense line is as high a quality & as durable as anything on the market - at any price.

And it's interesting to hear your take on the Rapala baits - because my personal experience with Rapala cranks is that they may be The single most fragile baits on the market.

YMMV

A-Jay

 

I’ve noticed that too, I love the scatter rap but had to give it up because I was just constantly breaking them.

2 hours ago, ratherbfishin1 said:

I’ve noticed that too, I love the scatter rap but had to give it up because I was just constantly breaking them.

  I used to use the Countdown a lot, including around rocks. They broke so often, I joked that I kept Rapala in business! But these particular Rapalas seem to be very durable. Other models .... nah, not at all. And these CRR-5s attract bass like fresh doughnuts attract cops.   jj

8 hours ago, A-Jay said:

IMO everything in the 6th Sense line is as high a quality & as durable as anything on the market - at any price.

And it's interesting to hear your take on the Rapala baits - because my personal experience with Rapala cranks is that they may be The single most fragile baits on the market.

YMMV

A-Jay

 

My favorite crankbait was the rapala dt-6 but I can't afford to spend $8 on a bait that breaks every other outing.

18 hours ago, A-Jay said:

IMO everything in the 6th Sense line is as high a quality & as durable as anything on the market - at any price.

 

 

I have a handful of 6th Sense squarebills with broken or cracked bills that say otherwise. These broke only after a handful of casts. I love their colors, action and the fact that they now come with EWG hooks, but they have a quality control issue. Moreover, when I tried to get them replaced I was told that due to the nature of how squarebills are fished some breakage should be expected and they wouldn’t replace them. I convinced several guys in my club to purchase them and they’ve all had the same problem. 

 

Don’t get me wrong, I like 6th Sense, but they’ve got to get this fixed before I purchase any other of their normal squarebills. This is coming from a guy that could possibly argue that the Flat75 is the best coldwater squarebill of all time (I’m such a believer in that specific bait that I’d almost be willing to buy a new one every 10 casts if necessary).

 

IMO the strike king squarebills are hard to beat once you switch out the hooks. Cheap, come in lots of colors, deflect fantastically, and super durable.

The Berkley Squarebull 5.5 treated me good this season. The price is just right and the fusion hooks are very sharp so no need to change them out.

17 minutes ago, Dirtyeggroll said:

I have a handful of 6th Sense squarebills with broken or cracked bills that say otherwise. These broke only after a handful of casts. I love their colors, action and the fact that they now come with EWG hooks, but they have a quality control issue. Moreover, when I tried to get them replaced I was told that due to the nature of how squarebills are fished some breakage should be expected and they wouldn’t replace them. I convinced several guys in my club to purchase them and they’ve all had the same problem. 

 

Obviously I have never experienced anything remotely close to your experience.

A-Jay

10 hours ago, Joshua van Wyk said:

My favorite crankbait was the rapala dt-6 but I can't afford to spend $8 on a bait that breaks every other outing.

I swear I could flinch at a DT-6 and it would split in 2 pieces

11 minutes ago, NYWayfarer said:

The Berkley Squarebull 5.5 treated me good this season. The price is just right and the fusion hooks are very sharp so no need to change them out.

I like the Berkley baits and have had success with the squarebill and the dredgers.

Got a couple of their topwaters but may have to wait until spring to really see how well they work.

   Well, today is surgery. No more fishing until spring. You guys have given me several ideas for the Christmas sales, and it looks like I will have to buy several brands and wait to see what works for me. I will say one thing; I've never gotten anything bad from Strike King. Maybe I'll explore them a little more.   Thanks, to all of you!   jj

1 hour ago, jimmyjoe said:

   Well, today is surgery. No more fishing until spring. You guys have given me several ideas for the Christmas sales, and it looks like I will have to buy several brands and wait to see what works for me. I will say one thing; I've never gotten anything bad from Strike King. Maybe I'll explore them a little more.   Thanks, to all of you!   jj

Hope all goes well with surgery!

BX brat is my new favorite

Berkley Wart Hogs are quality, catch fish and come in a 5.5 and 7.5 version.

  Never heard of a Berkley product called a Wart Hog. Luck E Strike had a Warthog. Fiasco, I heard. Dunno. Sure it's Berkley?  jj

I like the Rapala Crankin Rap too and have several of them  in every size . They are a Storm design and i have not had a problem with any of them .

With your broken baits- do you keep them and send them back to rapala?  They will replace them for free from my experience.

 

I just usually wait until the end of the season and take all my broken bills or cracked plastic and send them back.

 

Since 2 newborns I have not got to go out as much and use this- so I do not know if they still do it.

45 minutes ago, dgkasper58 said:

With your broken baits- do you keep them and send them back to rapala?  They will replace them for free from my experience.

 

I just usually wait until the end of the season and take all my broken bills or cracked plastic and send them back.

 

Since 2 newborns I have not got to go out as much and use this- so I do not know if they still do it.

  I had no idea. My relationship with Rapala was limited to the smiling face of the clerk behind the cash register at my local retailer.  I'll DEF look into it. Thnx.  jj

On 11/14/2018 at 11:14 PM, jimmyjoe said:

  Never heard of a Berkley product called a Wart Hog. Luck E Strike had a Warthog. Fiasco, I heard. Dunno. Sure it's Berkley?  jj

My bad, meant Pitbull 5.5.

I think the new Berkley’s is called squarebull

The two SquareBills I've never broken are the Storm Arashi 3 and 5 also the Cotton Cordel Big O. These two lures see the bulk of my shallow cranking duties over the past few years. 

What I want to know is where y'all are fishing with 4-5 foot lures. I don't know if I want to catch anything that big.