Went out sunday with some friends and had planned on doing some deep jigging and such but ended up on a pretty productive shallow square bill bite around wooded cover.  Luckily one of my friends had some Lucky Craft RC 1.5 the did the job wonderfully.  I plan on buying some of these baits but wondering about others as to there effectiveness.  I like the size and weight of the RC 1.5, allows for easy casting and and produces bites from all sizes but for me the price is a bit much.  Does anyone use any of these types of baits that are a little lighter on the pocket?

Norman Fat Boy

Bomber Square A

Bagley B2

8-)

Rapala Dt Fat.6.99 to 8.99. I can throw them in some pretty heavy brush and laydowns.

I'm a big fan of the Norman thin N.  Great bait for the price and good color selections.

I like the RC 1.5's as well.  But the price makes me think twice about using them all the time.  I like the Fat DT3 and the Normans - but for me they are not quite as productive as the RC 1.5 - maybe just a mental deal though...

I like the RC 1.5's as well. But the price makes me think twice about using them all the time. I like the Fat DT3 and the Normans - but for me they are not quite as productive as the RC 1.5 - maybe just a mental deal though...

Same here, we were also using Cotton Cordell Big O's but they didn't produce like the LC RC's did.

Thanks for the input, I just took a look at the Norman Thin N and the wide variety of colors is leaning me toward them

If you catch it just right @ BPS they run a sale on the RC's and sell them for 9.99 each.  I always load up then.  

The Academy brand H2O Xpress makes a very nice square billed crankbait believe it or not.  Lots of color choices and @ roughly 3 dollars you don't feel bad when you hang it.  I'm also not just recommending these from a value standpoint.  They are very good cranks.

The Bagley B2 is the only lure in this group that was instrumental in winning the Bassmasters Classic:

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/tournaments/classic/columns/story?columnist=tucker_tim&page=bass_col_tourney_trail_040803

8-)

The size, profile, and action of the bait are very important when you start talking shallow cranks.

If you want something as close as you can get to a LC 1.5 in both size and action, you should probably check out a Bagley Killr' B II. Slightly tighter action than the LC, but the same kind of action - and with a similar profile and size. About $10.00 retail - - sometimes you can find them much cheaper (BPS was blowing them out for $5.00 awhile back)

I know that's not much cheaper than the LC - so you have to decide on exactly what it's worth to you.  

I would rather have ONE great crankbait than a whole box full of "decent" crankbaits.    

A lot of big fat baits like the B2, Fatboy, and to some extent the Rapala Fat 3 have a wider, more exaggerated wobble. That's not to say they aren't good baits - when fish are on that type of vibe......but if you start using them and aren't getting bit, the culprit can be that big wide action.

Wider does not = better. Certain conditions - yes - wide produces. Other times, they won't touch it. I generally have more consistent success on tighter wigglers in the conditions I fish. I consider the RC 1.5 pretty moderate....not what I consider wide, and I think that's one reason it is so successful in so many different conditions.

[move]DT FAT 03!!!!!!!!!![/move]

I haven't caught a fish worth talking about on the Lucky Craft pointer that I bought.  It's been over a year now.  It's hard for me to invest any more money into that product line when the Bass Pro and Rapala Jerkbaits in similiar colors out produce it.  But that's just me.

Most of my crankbaits are the strike king line up and normans.  I have a few mann's and rapalas in there.  I do extremely well with them when I put down the jigs and soft plastics.  I am not saying that Lucky Crafts don't work.  Just like the GYCB senkos...just not a bait that has worked well for me.

If you are going to get serious about square billed shallow cranks, then you will have to pick up a few different brands in the colors you need.  That will help you decide upon which type of sound, profile, and action that works best for you.  If it's the lucky crafts, then by all means, get a couple of them along with a lure retriever.  But try a few others out too to see what really works best.  

As Willzx225 mentioned BPS usually have these on sale a couple of times a year for 9.99$, don't overlook the 0.5 in the Ghost color. This one has bailed me out several times when I've been faced with light wind, clear skies and clear water by ripping it through shallow weeds, even though it's a square bill it rips through weeds surprisingly well. I also caught a few yesterday on the 1.5 size DD with the surface temp 46 degrees at the lake I was at, these series of cranks are fantastic throughout the year! As you can tell I'm a huge fan and I just read in BASS Times that they are now coming out a "knocker" version of this bait. The " bait monkey" is begging me to pick up several more when they are on sale.

Hands down Timber Tiger DC5, hard to find but well worth it.  I KNOW it will always come through where ever I throw it.

I must say I also love the LC RC line of baits. I use the .5 - 2.5. For a cheaper bait though I like the Bandit 100. It's a square bill that has caught me a lot of fish and it is a lot easier on the wallet.

Tigt lines  8-)

bandit 100 x 2!!

I've also had good results from the Timber Tiger.  They are great at not getting hung in the bushes.  

I must say I also love the LC RC line of baits. I use the .5 - 2.5. For a cheaper bait though I like the Bandit 100. It's a square bill that has caught me a lot of fish and it is a lot easier on the wallet.

Tigt lines 8-)

These are the 2 best crankbaits I own.

Allen

The Academy brand H2O Xpress makes a very nice square billed crankbait believe it or not. Lots of color choices and @ roughly 3 dollars you don't feel bad when you hang it. I'm also not just recommending these from a value standpoint. They are very good cranks.

I have had great success using these chartreuse shallow cranks this fall.  Also the BPS XPS shallow runners as well.  Both are productive for me and right around $3-$4.

I like the RC 1.5  & 2.5.  I have also tied the Spro's Little John and really like it.  It is about $5 cheaper than the RC 1.5 and is really a quality crankbait.  If you want a great handmade squarebill for more $, try Brian's Bees.  I have caught a bunch of fish with it.  Many times behind the guy at the front of the boat.

manns 1- for me.  Cant beat it.

I picked up a Mann's Baby 1-minus after reading the shallow cranking article in the recent issue of Bassmaster mag. It is a very shallow running square billed crankbait. Depending on your retrieve speed, it will run right at the surface creating a bit of a wake, or a couple of inches below the surface. Have had a lot of fun catching a few fish with it in and around flooded timber and lay downs. I think I only paid $4 or $5 for it at wally-world. It definitely wouldn't be the end of the world if I lost it.

Go real cheap with the bandits 100s they work great and less than $4 sometimes. Bomber square As also work.