Real World Tests: Not really knowing where to start, I acquired a bunch of these cranks in various sizes so I could experiment with each. I quickly narrowed down my preference to the 2.5 as the size (2.75") and weight (5/8oz) as being the closes to what I usually throw in our local waters. They all feel like they have their time and place really, but the 2.5 is definitely better in tune with my confidence.

Shaw Grigsby prefers the Magnum sizes when hunting for that kicker

Castability: All of the KVD Square Bill Cranks are silent runners so there are no moving parts inside to aid with casting the bait. Nevertheless, these baits cast well and are easy to fire off on targeted casts and about average when casting for distance. There are really no issues with casting this bait.

He managed just that on Clear Lake, CA recently too!

Dive Time: Click your reel over to begin your retrieve and the KVD Square Bill gets right to work diving down. I fished the 2.5 mostly on 12lb Seaguar Tatsu Fluorocarbon so it only got down to maybe four or five feet on my casts. Running depth for this bait is rated to six feet. A depth I'm sure is easily achieved if using eight or ten pound test line.

The bait's bill is literally a square

Hooks for the Strike King KVD Square Bill aren't specified which surprises me. I'd have thought a KVD hard bait would come equipped with Mustad KVD hooks and if so, the co-branding would be quite obvious. I can say the hooks are short shank similar to the KVD Mustads but other than that, I am not sure. The hooks do feature a round bend rather than the kind of wide gap profile of the KVD Triple Grip trebles, but of course, there are KVD Round Bend trebles too.

Hooks are not named, but they do the job

Regardless of the actual hook brand, after a couple of those telltale deflections and you receive that strike, the stock trebles do a good job of sticking the fish and holding on until you get to the boat. I didn't have any issues with hook stickiness or durability, and yes, these baits bounce off rocks, stumps, wood, all very well. I did manage to get hung up a couple of times in a rock pile with some gnarly holes and edges, but nothing a little slack and snap of the line couldn't resolve.

Conclusion: One of the most thrilling ways to catch a bass is throwing a square bill crankbait up shallow, bouncing it off whatever is on the bottom and feeling a hungry fish slam the bait, then pull your rod sideways. Strike King's KVD Square Bill is an excellent choice in pursuit of these shallow water bass. What I like about these baits is they're available in a bunch of different sizes and colors and it won't break your tackle budget (if you have one) to stock up on the colors and sizes you want. Notice I said "want" instead of "need" because you're going to want a bunch more than you probably actually need, but don't worry, we won't tell.