GLIDE
MATT ALLEN ON
Matt Allen and his fishing partner, Tim Little,
are well-known big-bass specialists from
California who publicize their fishing tech-
niques at TacticalBassin.com and
YouTube.com/tacticalbassin.
BAITS
THE “TACTICAL BASSIN” EXPERT BREAKS DOWN A BIG-BASS
BAIT THAT HAS TOURNAMENT APPLICATIONS, TOO
G
lide baits have blurred the line between the average angler and
the trophy guy. The old rules about giant rods and fishing for
days between bites are gone; glide baits changed all that. They’re
putting huge fish in the boat for weekend warriors, tournament pros
and big-bass specialists alike. If you enjoy power fishing with a crankbait
or jerkbait, you’re a glide bait fisherman in the making.
Glide baits represent a wide range of single-jointed swimbaits. They
come in a variety of sizes, shapes and patterns, but the marked similari-
ties between all include a single joint, no lip, and a slow, rolling “S”
action on a steady retrieve.
The Advantage of the Glide
PHOTOS BY TACTICAL BASSIN
ILLUSTRATIONS BY KEVIN HAND
SPRING 2019 I FLWFISHING.COM
A glide bait’s combination of size and action creates incredible draw-
ing power. Even in the smaller 5- to 6-inch offerings, a glide bait can pull
bass 10 to 20 feet in clear water to examine the lure. A traditional lure
often attracts fish from a few feet away, but an angler with a glide in
hand is effectively fishing a larger section of the water. Tournament
anglers know covering water is key to finding the right fish. Why not fish
a 10- to 20-foot-wide zone on every cast?
The second advantage is the size of fish that take notice when a glide
bait swims past. Plenty of 1- and 2-pounders are willing to swipe at one,
but glide baits can also draw out the biggest fish from the depths. If
you’ve ever wondered how big the biggest fish in your lake really are,
spend a few days fishing with a glide bait, and chances are they’ll rise
up and show themselves.
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