The glide bait is an amazing way to catch big bass. There is something about the action and gliding motion of these baits that trigger big bass into biting. What makes this category so unique and special is its drawing power. These baits are known for drawing big bass from long distances even when they aren’t particularly active or hungry.
These days there are so many different sizes, colors, styles and brands of glide baits out on the market that it can be hard to know which ones to throw and invest your hard-earned money and time into.
I’ve done a ton of research and have experimented with several baits. In this article I’ll share with you the best glide baits out on the market, when to use each one, how to select the right color & size and some tips and tricks that will help you catch big bass on a glide bait.
Let’s get into it.
The 5 Best Glide Baits
It’s no secret you can spend several hundred or even thousands of dollars on a swimbait. They certainly aren’t cheap. However, there are a handful of baits that still offer high performance at a reasonable price point.
I’ve put together the following list of the best glide baits that are readily available, come at a good price point and flat out catch giant bass. Here are the baits that I have the most confidence in.
S-Waver
The number one glide bait that I would recommend to any angler is the S-Waver by River2Sea. This is a phenomenal swimbait that’s known for catching giant smallmouth, largemouth and spotted bass all over the country.
The S-Waver was designed to have an enticing S-Action as it glides through the water which makes it almost impossible to resist for any nearby bass.
If you are just getting into the glide bait game, then I’d recommend starting off with the 168 size. The great thing about this bait is that you don’t need to have dedicated gear to fish it effectively. This along with the inexpensive price point makes this the best entry level glide bait out there.
If you are targeting bigger fish in open water than I’d recommend throwing the 200 size. It’s almost 2 inches bigger and has a wider glide than the smaller sizes. However, this bigger size will require a more dedicated swimbait rod to be the most effective.
Tip: If you want to learn how to properly fish the S-Waver, check out this video by TacticalBassin where they show you exactly how to work this bait to catch big fish.
Storm Arashi
The Storm Arashi Glide is a hard plastic, super durable single jointed glide bait. The creators of this bait nailed the single joint and it has just the right amount of flex which allows the tail end to move side to side creating some great action.
Another thing that sets this bait apart from others is its versatility. You can fish it in a variety of ways and at different speeds. A lot of swimbaits in this category will blow out and not run right at higher retrieval speeds. That isn’t the case with this bait, you can burn it or fish it slow and it will run true.
As far as colors go you can’t go wrong with the Oikawa Mesu pattern. This is Brandon Palaniuk’s favorite color. When asked about it he said “It really doesn’t look like anything, but looks a little bit like everything. It’s really the action, the shades and tones of those colors that make fish react.”
The action, color patterns, overall features of this bait and its ability to potentially land you a bass of a lifetime is what truly makes the bait a must have.
Baitsanity Explorer
The Baitsanity Explorer is an incredible open water glide bait that has a wide and seductive “S” action that big bass can’t resist. This thing catches monster’s bass, stripers and any predator you can imagine.
This bait comes at a higher price point than most of the baits listed, but it’s still a fraction of the cost when compared to others in its category and is well worth the investment.
The Baitsanity Explorer is a slow sinking glide bait that is just over 9 inches long and weighs about 5 oz. You are definitely going to want to have a dedicated swimbait setup for this bait.
You can throw this bait 365 days of the year, and at any speed to match the conditions you’ll face and the mood of the fish. This is phenomenal glide bait and is well worth the initial investment.
Jackall Gantarel
The Jackall Gantarel is a unique and extremely effective blue gill style glide bait. A lot of blue gill swimbaits end up being too tall making it difficult for the bass to get their mouth around, resulting in lost fihs. This bait is just the right height to make sure you get a great hook up ratio.
Whether you are fishing in a pond or at a lake that doesn’t have a lot of bait fish but has blue gill, you need to throw a blue gill profile swimbait.
When the bass are targeting blue gill or other pan fish there is no better bait to use than the Jackall Gantarel. The unique action, vibration and realistic colors makes this an absolute bass catcher.
When & Where to Throw a Glide Bait
A lot of anglers often wonder when the best time to throw a glide bait or swim bait. The great thing about this lure is that you can catch bass on them year-round.
However, where they really shine is in the spring during the pre-spawn when the water is warming up and the bass are actively feeding as they prepare for the spawn.
Fishing a glide bait during this time period will give you the best odds at catching some of the biggest bass you’ll see all year.
With that said, don’t just think of this as an early springtime bait. You can catch big bass on a glide bait year-round.
Best Glide Bait Colors
As you look at glide baits at your local tackle shop or on tackle warehouse, you’ll notice there are a ton of different color options you can choose from. So how do you decide which one is best?
There are three main factors you should consider when deciding on a color; bass forage, water clarity and drawing power.
Drawing Power
The wide gliding action of a glide bait does a great job at drawing in any nearby fish, but the right color can expand your range and allow the fish to see it from further away. Bolder and bright colored glide baits are my number one choice in most situations. Fish will see it from further away and there is something about these bold colors that triggers more bites.
Water Clarity
Another factor to consider when deciding on what color is best for you and your fisheries is the water clarity. In clear water situations, I tend to go more natural if the fish are less aggressive. On the other hand, when the water is murky bright colors like white, yellow and chartreuse will help your bait stand out.
Forage
Matching the hatch should always be considered when selecting your glide bait color patterns. The best way to do that is to find out what forage the bass in your lakes have available and select colors that best resemble what they are eating. This is especially important when fishing in clear water.
For more information on choosing the right color when targeting bass check out this article: How to Choose the Right Bass Fishing Colors
Swimbait Fishing Resources
- What Line to Use for Swimbaits
- How to Store Big & Small Swimbaits
- Glide Bait Fishing Bass: A Beginner’s Guide
- Learn to Fish Glide Baits for Giant Bass
Final Thoughts
Glide baits are an incredible way to draw big bass from long distances and entice them into striking. The drawing power and pure ability to catch giant fish is what truly makes these baits so special.
I’ve spent many hours researching and trying out different baits to learn this fishing technique. There have been many growing pains and lessons learned along the way.
In this article I’ve shared with you the best glide baits out on the market today as well as some helpful tips and tricks that will increase your odds of success out on the water.
I hope you have found this post to be insightful and helpful as you select and fish a glide bait on your next fishing adventure
Best of luck out there.