What's a " Glide Bait "????

Glide baits have become a go-to lure for anglers targeting trophy fish the past few years, especially big fresh water bass and striped bass in the salt. Known for their lifelike, slow-swimming action, glide baits are designed to mimic a wounded baitfish and entice predatory strikes. Whether you're fishing freshwater lakes or coastal estuaries or beaches, understanding how to fish a glide bait properly can make all the difference.

What Is a Glide Bait?

A glide bait is a swimbait, usually jointed in the center with a single pivot point. Unlike traditional multi-jointed swimbaits that create a tight “S” swimming motion, glide baits move with wide, sweeping side-to-side action when retrieved steadily. This mimics a vulnerable or dying fish—a meal too tempting for a predator to ignore.

Glide baits typically range from 5 to 12 inches long and can be either floating, suspending, or slow sinking. They often feature realistic paint jobs, 3D eyes, and soft rubber tails to offer a life like presentation.

When to Use a Glide Bait

Glide baits excel in conditions where:

• Water clarity is good, allowing fish to visually track the lure.

• Larger forage fish like shad, herring or bunker are present.

• Big fish are feeding shallow, especially in the pre-spawn, post-spawn, and fall feed-up periods.

• You’re targeting trophy fish that ignore smaller lures.

How to Fish a Glide Bait

1. The Steady Glide

This is the bread-and-butter technique. Simply make a long cast and retrieve at a medium, steady pace. The bait will swim in a natural "S" pattern. This approach is great for covering water and triggering reaction strikes.

2. The Twitch and Pause

This retrieve imitates an injured fish. Reel slowly and give the rod occasional light twitches or pulls, then pause. The bait will dart and glide erratically, often drawing a strike on the pause when the bait appears most vulnerable.

3. The 180 Turn

Advanced anglers use rod twitches or reel pops to make the glide bait turn completely back toward the predator—a deadly move. It’s especially effective when a fish is following but hasn’t committed.

4. Slow Roll Near Cover

Use a slow-sinking glide bait and creep it along grass edges, laydowns, or docks. Big fish often hang tight to structure and will ambush the bait as it passes by.

Tackle for Glide Bait Fishing

Because glide baits are often large and heavy, specialized gear is important:

• Rod: A heavy-power, moderate-fast rod in the 7’ to 9’ range.

• Reel: A high-torque, low-speed baitcasting reel (gear ratio 6.1:1 or lower) or similar spinning reel.

• Line: 20–30 lb fluorocarbon for sinking baits; 65 lb braid with a fluorocarbon leader for floaters.

Top Selling Glide Baits at the Goose?

BERKLEY POWERBAIT NESSIE is an innovative soft-bodied glide bait built with a reinforced mesh joint that provides durability while allowing for free range of motion. Fitted with a brush-style tail to mimic the natural movement of baitfish, the Nessie Soft Glide Bait has a slow-sinking rate-of-fall, upright horizontal posture, and stabilizing belly fins to encourage consistent S-shaped swim action.

Tips for Success

• Confidence matters: Don’t be afraid to throw big baits even when others aren’t.

• Sight fishing? Use glide baits: Their visual appeal is unmatched in clear water.

• Practice patience: Many strikes happen near the boat or at the end of a retrieve.

• Match the hatch: Choose glide baits that resemble local forage species in both color and size.

Fishing a glide bait isn’t always about numbers—it’s about quality. They may not produce 20 hits a day, but when one hits, it’s likely to be the biggest fish in the area. With the right presentation and mindset, glide baits can become one of the most exciting tools in your tool box.