Glide baits are fantastic fishing lures, especially when we speak about bass fishing. After reading many posts and discussions about Glide Baits, I realized that some anglers still don’t know exactly what are these lures for, and how to fish them properly. Having that said, Glide baits are gaining massive popularity in recent years. And I am sure that if you will learn how to use them, your fishing will be much better.
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So, What are Glide Baits Exactly?
Glide baits are simply hard sinking swimbaits, that has a single jointed part. These hard swimbaits swim with a wider S-motion in the water. The S movement is the reason for their name. And for that, some call them “Slide swimmers”.
In addition, you should know that glide baits are to be used as slow swimming baits. And as such, the fish will have more time to look at the lure. So, the more details on the lure the better.
The Glide baits have a hard body that also employs a tungsten ball on a spring that vibrates in the throat of the bait. It gives the bait subtle pressure waves that a predator can detect when the bait comes to rest or is slowly sinking on a pause.
As for their size, glide baits are available in several sizes and styles, such as 125, 185, and some even 250. The bigger you use, the more chances for you to catch bigger bass. For example, in the following video, you can see Butch Brown, a big bass and swimbait expert, catching several 10LB bass fish with his favorite glide bait, the “Deps 250”.
Let’s Start
So, let’s learn how to master Glide Baits in our favor, and cut down your learning curve. First, keep in mind that glide baits are no different than any other lure in terms of presentation that should fit the right conditions. So it is important to choose the right size and the right color.
When to Use Glide Baits?
Well, if you will ask Butch Brown for example. Butch Brown sought to perfect his technique with glide baits. Learning the nuances of retrieve speed, weight, and cadence.
There are several opinions about when using the glide baits. For that, we will be looking at the water temperature and spawn season – which are related to each other.
Going by temperature, when the water is at the low 50’s degrees, some will say that glide baits won’t attract the fish. However, I know a few anglers that did catch bass. I would say that if you will be learning how to fish with glide baits you will catch at low 50’s as well. As the temperature will go higher, up to the low 60’s degrees, glide baits become very effective.
Having said that, bass that didn’t spawn yet are more likely to attack the glide bait, and also the ones that are preparing themselves before going to the beds (this is since they tend to eat much more).
In addition, the post-spawners fish, which are leaving their beds, will attach the glide baits as well since their instincts are instructing them to eat.
Remember, glide baits are effective fishing lures that you can use most of the time. By doing so, you will extend your abilities and possibilities in bass fishing.
Where to Use Glide Baits
For many different types of lures, you need to know where to fish them. But in the case of glide baits, you have an additional advantage. The advantage is that by using the glide baits, you can also target the spots where the bass fish are. By that, I mean that it will show me that there are fish in the area, even though they are not biting. So you will know that you need to come back, later on, to try again. So the glide bait can be used as a tool to find fish.
Reeds
We all know that bass can be found next to reeds. So, shallow places next to the reeds are key areas for you. Especially during springtime and fall. So stay focus when the lure is leaving the reeds area because, once the lure is changing the direction towards you, this is when you will get most of the bites.
Shelves
Keep in mind that shelves are also great places as well. I will recommend you to try the glide baits in places where the water goes deep. Search for spots where you have shelves in the water and use the glide baits in shelves of 5 to 15 feet, and also from 15 to 30 feet.
From a boat
If you are fishing from a boat, stand in the middle of the boat. Also, make sure that the sun will be at your back. Also, let the lure sink between the twitches (by doing slow twitches). This way, when you twitch, the lure not only makes the S turn, but also goes up in the water. this will “hide” you from the fish and will get you most of the bites (probably up to 75% of the bites).
Glide Baits – How to use them
Even though the glide baits only glide, still, there are several techniques to fish them.
Of course, you can catch bass by only reeling it back and let the lure glide slowly. But you can also get bites by stop-and-go twitches that will be near the bottom.
The retrieve is not being done with your rod tip but with your reel. You basically reel it, pause a bit and then snap. This will cause the lure to do the S turn and glide. The turns on the reel should be around a quarter of a turn up to half a turn.
The speed of reeling should be slow enough so you can feel the lure at the end of the line. You need to make sure that your lure swims naturally. By doing so, the shadows behind your lure will appear. And when you see that shadow, this is the time for you to give another small turn, I would say a quarter of a turn, to make the bait do something different which can trigger the bite.
If that extra turn won’t do the change, try next time to twitch or even raise your rod tip a bit up. Again, by doing so, you will let the lure act differently, seeing like the fish is trying to escape the bass. And this is why it’s good timing for the bass to bite.
Some days they will track behind 10 feet and it’s probably not going to happen for you. But those days when you see them tracking like a foot behind it. That’s when you better get ready.
Why Glide Baits?
There are several reasons for it. One of them is quite simple. Bass don’t see glide baits very often. They have such a different action that even the suspicious bass has not grown accustomed to yet. In addition, the action of the glide baits, the S-wave, is unique and different.
But don’t think you will have success with them right away. If you haven’t tried them yet, you need to give it a try and practice them for several days. One thing I can almost say, once you will get the idea, you won’t leave your house without them.
Glide Baits – What else you should know…
Polarized Sunglasses
Well, when you are fishing with glide baits, remember to have a good polarized sunglasses. This is since most of the time you will have a fish following your lure and you won’t know it. Sometimes you will even have 3 fish following your lure. And knowing that you have a follower, well, it is a key thing in your fishing.
Preferred fishing line
Well, it all comes to a point that your instincts and experience will tell you which type of line to choose. No matter what you choose, whether it is mono, fluorocarbon, or even braid, each one of these lines will affect the swim of your lure. Remember that mono floats. That means that if you want the glide bait higher in the water, use mono. In case you want it deeper, I will suggest you use fluorocarbon. There is no right or wrong. You just need to use the properties of the line in your favor.
Value for your money
Look, there are lots of glide baits out there. Their prices can start at 10$ per unit and go up to 950$ per lure. Yes, you heard it right 950$ for one single lure.
I, in general, refuse to spend more than 40$ on a fishing lure, and I don’t even remember when was the last time I spent even 30$ on a single lure. Also, as a rule with glide baits, if you pay more for it, it does not mean it well worth it. Unfortunately, there are garbage lures everywhere, and the price is not your indication for quality.
A good glide bait should “sit” well in the water. I mean, it should not sink on its side. Also, it should hold water properly. For that, there are great non-expensive glide baits that will be enough for you.
The S waver is not an expensive lure, and it works beautifully on bass fish. They have several different styles and they come in different sizes like 125 and 185. They worth a try and will provide you with great monster bass.