The Fish Luck E Square Bill is a highly effective made in U.S.A. lure for targeting shallow bass, particularly in the fall. Manufactured by Luck E Strike, a company with over 50 years of experience in producing fishing lures, it is renowned for its ability to mimic baitfish and help anglers cover a large area of water efficiently. Owned by the Toby Keith family, the brand has built a reputation for creating high-quality fishing tackle, aptly called the "World’s Luckiest Tackle."
On a warm late-summer day, while fishing in an eastern Oklahoma lake, the Fish Luck E Square Bill crankbait proved to be a game changer. The lake, with about two feet of visibility—considered clear for the region—featured water temperatures in the high eighties. A light breeze under five miles per hour created ideal conditions for bass fishing. The key to success was locating schools of shad around ambush points like channels, ditches, and points along the bank, which bass use to trap their prey. Since this time of year can make bank fishing inconsistent, it was crucial to cover a lot of water quickly, with wind-blown banks being particularly productive.
The Fish Luck E Square Bill excels at imitating the size and behavior of shad. On this occasion, the shad in the lake ranged from two and a half to three inches in length. To match this, I selected the "Tasty Shad" color pattern, which closely resembled the shad flickering on the water’s surface. This half-ounce lure casts exceptionally well, offering excellent control for both short, precise casts and long-distance casts.
I employed a setup consisting of a seven-foot, medium-heavy composite cranking rod paired with a 6.3:1 gear ratio baitcasting reel. This setup allowed for a fast to medium retrieve, which worked effectively to attract bass. Twenty-pound monofilament line was used, offering the right balance of strength and flexibility. The Fish Luck E Square Bill was cast near visible cover such as wood, rocks, and shallow drops along the bank. Rather than relying on electronics, I fished by instinct, using awareness of the water and surroundings to locate bass.
One of the key features of the Fish Luck E Square Bill is its ability to run at depths of three to five feet, depending on the length of the cast, line size, and rod position. Anglers can control the lure’s depth by holding the rod tip up or down, adjusting the bill's dive to match the fish's depth. Its square-shaped bill is designed to deflect off cover like rocks and wood, causing erratic movements that trigger reaction strikes from bass.
Equipped with #4 Eagle Claw needlepoint hooks, the Fish Luck E Square Bill offers strong, reliable hooksets, ensuring a good chance of landing large bass once they bite. On this particular day, fishing around steep, main-lake channel banks with rocky structures and abundant shad yielded excellent results, and the Fish Luck E Square Bill crankbait was the most productive lure, landing the largest bass.
In summary, the Fish Luck E Square Bill is an exceptional choice for covering water efficiently and targeting shallow bass in various conditions. Its realistic baitfish imitation, coupled with its versatility in depth control and strong hooks, makes it a valuable tool in any angler's tackle box.