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Circuit board vs regular square bill

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What is the difference between the 2 types of square bills other than the circuit board is more fragile?  I’m throwing square bills more and more especially in rivers.

 

 I bought some of the circuit boards 8+ years ago. Never used them and gave them away.  Recently bought another one due to liking the color and it has been working well. 

1.

The key to squarebills is how well they deflect and get through structure. This is why they are one of the most popular baits for targeting shallow water structures like laydowns, docks, or rock piles.

The reason squarebills work so well around cover is their flat lip doesn’t let the bait gently turn when it hits. Instead, it's very abrupt and forces the bait to turn almost upside down as it goes over the structure. This keeps the hooks away from what it’s hitting and prevents them from getting hung up.

The short square bill prevents the bait from diving too deep, most dive less than 8 feet. It is at these shallower depths that have the most areas to get hung-up. This is why shallower baits often have a squaredbill.

2.Circuit board bills are made from the same material as the circuit boards in electronics. The key difference in circuit board bills is they flex. When they strike cover they absorb some of the shock and load up slightly, as a rod would. As it unloads off of the structure it can draw in a reaction bite. 

  • Super User
2 hours ago, Ski said:

1.

The key to squarebills is how well they deflect and get through structure. This is why they are one of the most popular baits for targeting shallow water structures like laydowns, docks, or rock piles.

The reason squarebills work so well around cover is their flat lip doesn’t let the bait gently turn when it hits. Instead, it's very abrupt and forces the bait to turn almost upside down as it goes over the structure. This keeps the hooks away from what it’s hitting and prevents them from getting hung up.

The short square bill prevents the bait from diving too deep, most dive less than 8 feet. It is at these shallower depths that have the most areas to get hung-up. This is why shallower baits often have a squaredbill.

2.Circuit board bills are made from the same material as the circuit boards in electronics. The key difference in circuit board bills is they flex. When they strike cover they absorb some of the shock and load up slightly, as a rod would. As it unloads off of the structure it can draw in a reaction bite. 

So a circuit board lip is just better? Lol. Been a while since I’ve tossed crankbaits but curious

The one circuit board squarebill I have, storm arashi square, got thrown all day in a shallow river, grinding sharp rocks and didn't break at all.  They seem A LOT stronger than regular lips.  

  • Super User

PCB or circuit board material is usually glass reenforced epoxy FR-4 and very strong. Most diving crank baits use polycarbonate (Lexan) molded bills, also a strong clear material. 

You don’t usually find PC board crankbait bills on production lure, usually custom made.

Tom

  • Author
10 hours ago, HaydenS said:

The one circuit board squarebill I have, storm arashi square, got thrown all day in a shallow river, grinding sharp rocks and didn't break at all.  They seem A LOT stronger than regular lips.  

I had some of those storms too.  Those were part of what I gave away.  
 

ive broken a couple of the circuit board ones before back in the day but, that’s only because it took a direct hit on rock while casting it a 100000mph.   Not the cranks fault 

I guess I should pick some more up.  
 

Anything spro has been killer this year for me.  They have been worth the extra little bit of money.  Plus they come with decent gammy hooks and I don’t swap them out until they get damaged 

  • Super User

   I've broken polycarbonate/clear plastic bills. I've never broken a circuit board bill. Maybe it was just my luck, I don't know.         jj

  • Global Moderator

I've never broken a circuit board crankbait lip. I've broken who knows how many standard crankbait bills. 

  • Super User

Can’t tell you much on a squarebill cb lip but the rounded OG Slim lips have held up fine on rock so far for me so far. 

 

Either could break. So don’t the clear lexan/plastics one. 

Fish on and try to not overthink it. It will be fine. 


 

 

  • Super User

I tend to find the computer board lips hold up pretty well.  Do they catch more fish? > I don't see much of a difference there.

I’m not sure but the Spro Lil John catches more fish than any other square bill in my box. But that could just be specific to my lake. I did break the lip on one by slamming into a bridge piling. But that’s on me. 

  • 2 weeks later...
  • Author
On 8/2/2021 at 9:25 PM, GReb said:

I’m not sure but the Spro Lil John catches more fish than any other square bill in my box. But that could just be specific to my lake. I did break the lip on one by slamming into a bridge piling. But that’s on me. 

Like I said anything spro has been on fire this year.  Including the little John’s 

6 hours ago, schplurg said:

 

 

Now I under$tand why I've never $een one.

Yeah ?

  • Super User

The Bill Lewis model has a circuit board lip and it’s a nice bait.  Spro Little John is my favorite with that material lip.

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