Barb Catch Fishing

Glide baits can be a tremendous way to catch giant bass. But they can be very intimidating for anglers who don’t have any experience using them. 

They are often very big, heavy, and expensive. So let’s look at the best entry level glide baits that will give you tons of confidence, experience, and big bass catches.

What Makes a Great Entry Level Glide Bait

There are three main things that make a great entry level glide bait. First, it has to be very cost effective. 

When you are just getting into glide baits and want to gain some confidence with them, you shouldn’t break the bank with a super high end and expensive glide bait. 

The cheaper you can get the better. Second, it has to be small and light weight enough. 

Most of the really big, heavy glide baits require specialized rods, reels, and lines to throw the huge baits. 

But as an entry level bait, you have to be able to use it on a standard medium-heavy action baitcaster that you almost certainly already own. 

And third, it has to catch bass. There is no point in tying on a lure if it isn’t high quality and able to catch bass at a high rate. 

The whole reason you use glide baits is to catch huge bass, so the catching part is always top priority with any lure.

1. Berkley Nessie

If you have never used a glide bait before, the Berkley Nessie should definitely be your first purchase. 

The main reason for this is the price. The 7″ size, which is the size I recommend getting, is only $9.99. 

That is by far the cheapest glide bait on the market. The reason is is so cheap is that the Nessie is a soft plastic glide bait. 

So yes, the durability is far lower than others, but when you are just getting used to fishing glide baits, durability is not an issue.

Price and durability aside, the Nessie performs much like any other glide bait out there. 

It has a super realistic profile and paint job and glides back and forth very, very well. 

With the paintbrush style tail, and bendy body, the Nessie swims incredibly fluently and realistically in the water. 

For only $10, the Nessie will teach you the vast majority of how, when, and where to fish glide baits properly. 

And while you are learning, you are definitely going to catch some very big bass.

2. River2Sea S Waver (120)

Moving on to the standard, hard-plastic glide baits, the River2Sea S Waver should be your first choice. 

Outside of the Nessie, the S Waver is the cheapest glide bait you can find. 

I specified the 120 size because that is the smallest model, and will make it much easier to use and learn with than the bigger lures. 

The S Waver is a mass produced lure, so it performs with incredible consistency and is ready to go right out of the box. 

The hard-plastic material will last quite a while as long as you don’t cast into too many rocks or bridges, and the lure is much lighter than most glide baits. 

This is very convenient for new glide bait fisherman because it means you don’t have to buy a whole new rod, reel, and line setup to throw huge baits. 

The S Waver has a very wide gliding motion that swims consistently at just about all retrieve speeds, giving you the freedom to test out a bunch of retrieves and learn a lot more about successfully using glide baits. 

The River2Sea S Waver is a super budget friendly, hard-body glide bait that is perfect for those looking to practice and learn how to catch huge bass on glide baits. 

3. 6th Sense Flow Glider

6thsense has quickly become one of the top tier companies in the fishing industry. 

I have full confidence that anything they make is extremely high quality and effective. 

The Flow Glider is their budget friendly glide bait model. It comes in a 130mm and is a bit heavier at 1.6 oz. 

Personally, I think the overall profile and visual appeal of the Flow Glider is a bit better than both the Nessie and the S Waver. 

Additionally, there are a bunch of fantastic color options that are incredibly realistic and allow you to match the exact baitfish that you are trying to imitate. 

Of course, this is the most expensive glide bait out of the three, but at only $24.99, it is still an absolute bargain compared to most of the glide bait industry. 

The Flow Glider comes in slow sinking and medium-fast sinking versions. 

I recommend getting a slow sinking one because it will help you keep it up and away from snags as well as make it easier to keep within your sight while you are retrieving it. 

The Flow Glider has gained a lot of popularity recently, and for good reason. It catches huge bass.

Reeling this In

While glide baits can initially seem intimidating due to their size, weight, and cost, starting with the right entry-level options can build your confidence and experience. 

With the proper glide baits, you’ll be well on your way to catching giant bass and mastering this effective fishing technique.

Also Read: Best Small Glide Baits