Pre-Spawn Glide Bait Patterns & Techniques

There is no denying the incredible drawing power of a Glide Bait, and Pre-Spawn is one of the best times of year to throw one - and potentially catch the fish of a lifetime. Regardless of the season, the tantalizing s-shaped motion of a Glide Bait is known to garner the attention of hungry females looking for an easy meal. Don’t be discouraged if you find that more fish follow the lure than bite it. Often times it’s all about dialing in timing, weather conditions, profile, color or retrieve to convert a follower into a biter.

Due to the oversized nature of many Glide Baits, it is important to match the power and length of your rod to the size of bait you want to fish. For small to medium sized Glide Baits, a 7’6" - 8’ Heavy or Extra Heavy swimbait rod will get the job done. When fishing magnum-sized Glide Baits, increase rod length and power. Typical of most treble hooked baits, a rod with a Moderate or parabolic bend will help you to keep the fish pinned. Using an underpowered rod when Glide Bait fishing is exhausting, so choose a rod that is rated for a slightly heavier lure weight than what you’re throwing.

Cranking power, fast gear ratios, and copious amounts of line capacity are recommended for Glide Bait fishing. Opt for a 200 to 300-size reel for small to medium Glide Baits and even up to a 400-size reel for magnum glides. High capacity reels are necessary because you want to be able to make a long cast without completely sending out all of your line. A 7:1 gear ratio will pick up line efficiently, and allow you to reel the lure quickly and erratically. The speedier gear ratio helps you impart the proper action with small handle turns, making the lure turn and dart to trigger bites. Glide Baits are right up there amongst some of the worst casting baits, so you need to be comfortable with your equipment.

Generally speaking, you’re targeting the biggest fish in your waters with oversized baits, so typically heavier lines are associated with Glide Baits. Much like rod selection, the size of your line will be dictated by the size of Glide Bait you intend on throwing. Being a sub-surface lure, most anglers prefer using heavy fluorocarbon in the 15-30lb range. Fluorocarbon turns virtually invisible under water and has minimal stretch to help you quickly and reliably bring the fish back to boat.

Most Glide Baits are made with such close attention-to-detail, they often come with quality stock hooks. If you are ever in doubt or the hooks have simply dulled from fishing, always swap them out. Sharp, stout trebles are needed to get good hook penetration, but also so you can grind these fish back to the boat. Adding a split ring to your line-tie will keep things loose and maximize action. Naturally, Glide Baits will have a tendency to rise when being retrieved, so try using suspend strips or lead tape to help dial in your preferred depth and sinking rate for the day.

The best way to learn how to fish any Glide Bait is to study how the bait reacts based on what kind of action you impart. Try playing with retrieves. Pump the rod as you reel. Speed it up. Slow it down. Give it a yank. Incorporate a pause. The point is to try and find a retrieve that you think will trigger a bite and be able to replicate it when you can’t see your bait. When you get a follower, avoid letting the bait stall out. Instead, maximize the length of your retrieve with a quick twitch and pause, and take note of how the fish reacts to your bait. Fish hooked on a Glide Bait are typically lost when they jump or are given the room to fight. When you hook a fish, put a good bend in the rod, position your rod tip towards the water, and grind the reel handle as hard and steady as you can.

When selecting the color of your Glide Bait, consider what types of large forage live on the body of water you are fishing. The old adage of 'match the hatch' applies. If your lakes are regularly stocked with trout, try using trout colors. If your waters have gizzard shad, try using baitfish or shad patterns. During Pre-Spawn, a Glide Bait can be an effective tool to locate fish, so incorporating flashy or bright colors can draw fish from farther distances and help you generate more follows.