Strike King Kevin Van Damme Crankbait

Strike King’s KVD Squarebill 2.5 Crankbait is a squarebill crankbait from the KVD series, designed and tested with the involvement of professional angler Kevin VanDam. The Size 2.5 model is designed for efficiently covering shallow water, with an official catalog diving depth of 3–5 feet and a weight of 5/8 ounce.

The squarebill lip helps the lure stay within a consistent depth range and allows it to deflect off cover and the bottom while using the lip to navigate around obstacles. It also features the KVD series’ signature hunting action, which produces an erratic side-to-side movement while maintaining a straight course, creating a varying action during a steady retrieve. As a common specification across the series, it uses a silent design without internal rattles.

The basic technique is a steady retrieve at a consistent speed after casting, making it suitable for covering shallow water horizontally while lightly contacting cover or the bottom with the lip. When the lure contacts an obstacle, continue reeling rather than stopping, allowing it to pass through while taking advantage of the squarebill shape and hunting action. The lure is intended to be used with the stock hooks, but when replacing them, choose hooks of a size and weight close to the original specifications so as not to compromise the lure’s intended buoyancy or action.