Budget Glide Baits That are Legit
We’ve spent plenty of time trying to learn about high-end big baits like those from Sherpa and Phoney Frogs, and we’ve also discussed some of the mid-priced models. If even that latter category doesn’t fit your budget or your loss tolerance, don’t despair. You can still get into the glide bait game for not much more than you’d spend on conventional lures.
Here are three that have widespread appeal, two of which I’ve used successfully and the last of which is promoted by no less an authority than Ben Milliken.
The 168 size is the first glide I actually got bit on, solid 4-pounder who was almost as surprised as I was. I can see why it doesn’t do some of the things the more niche lures accomplish, but it’s pretty darn close I’ve used mostly shad color, but I’m told that the Lite Trout is a killer even on trout-free lakes.
I learned about this one from my idol and big bait mentor Steve Kennedy, who then used it to catch some spots on Lake Martin while I caught some smaller ones on a worm. It’s choppier that some of my bigger glides, but still pretty easy to work
6th Sense has been on the forefront of affordable big bait development, and part-owner Ben Milliken has a great video out about how to modify the Flow Glider to make it act “like a $200 Chad Shad.”
If you’re just getting started, and keeping expenditures down is important, you can likely fish these lures on tackle you already have – heavy action rods, upsized reels, and 17-25 pound fluorocarbon or copolymer.
