It’s hip to be square, so hip to be square. You probably think that it’s crazy but it’s hip to be square, so hip. Bassmaster Elite Series professional angler Bill Lowen says it hip to be square if you are a crankbait. It’s so hip to be square if you are a crankbait. So hip, if you are a stubby, rounded body square bill that wobbles, hunts, and crashes into cover at breakneck speed or can be waked, twitched, and burned to provoke a strike from a bass.

 
The ima Square Bill is hip. Just ask Lowen who played a major part in the design of the ima Square Bill (www.imalures.com). “It’s one lure that really catches them when bass are shallow; basically there are three seasons that the Square Bill is a really effective lure,” said Lowen. Seasonal patterns play a major factor in where Lowen will fish the ima Square Bill. “In the spring, I concentrate on fishing rocks and shallow shoreline cover adjusting to where the bass are going to or are spawning. During that I will use crawdad color patterns like brown or orange. Another spot I will fish the Square Bill is around grass. I work it just like a lipless crankbait, ticking the top of the grass and if it gets stuck I rip it free with a snap of my rod tip. Bass just can’t stand it when it pops free” explained Lowen.

 

After the spawn Lowen changes tactics. “I will fish flat areas like shallow pockets or bays targeting lay downs, stumps, and other cover. Most of the time my boat is only in three feet of water. As for color selection, I keep it simple. I use chartreuse or chartreuse/black in stained water and in clear water, I like to fish with Square Bill in bluegill or bait fish patterns,” said Lowen.

Once fall comes around, Lowen gets really excited about the ima Square Bill. “The later the better it is for this lure. I will fish it in the back of pockets or mud flats. The real key to catching them is schools of bait fish. If there isn’t any in the area, I won’t fish that area. If you have bait fish around it’s a good sign that bass will be chasing them. The other important thing is to reel fast. The lure should really be moving quickly. As for color patterns during the fall I stick with shad patterns,” said Lowen. Lowen also noted that the Square Bill can be reeled in extremely fast without rolling or coming out of the water.
As for the winter months Lowen had this advice. “Go to a heated lake and fish shallow cover with the Square Lip. It just can’t go deep enough on reservoirs without heat,” explained Lowen. Lowen mentioned several of these reservoirs. There’s probably one close to you.

The ima Square Bill weighs 3/8-ounce and comes in 12 color patterns to select from. It only measures 2.25-inches and is rigged with #6 Owner hooks.

Similar to a custom built balsa wood crankbait, the ima Square Bill has a unique hunting action when retrieved. Lowen described this action as it tracks left or right and works itself back to the center triggering bites. Like balsa wood crankbaits the Square Bill is extremely buoyant.

Lowen knows its hip to be square especially if you are a crankbait. Now you may think that’s crazy, but it’s hip to be square, so hip.