2025 BUYER'S GUIDE: The Best Swimbaits For Bass Fishing! (Glide Baits, Soft Baits, Hard Baits)

Don't be intimidated by swimbaits! Swimbait fishing is easy! Today we're diving into the world of swimbaits. We're showing you the best glide baits, soft baits, and hard baits for bass fishing. Forget the hype, forget the high dollar price tags, we're showing you affordable baits that outperform nearly all of the pricey options on the market!

Whether you like line thru baits, glides, wakes, or bluegill imitators, there is a bait here for you! We're also covering the best swimbait rods and swimbait reels! In our travels around the country we've had the unique opportunity to dial in which baits are most effective across a variety of conditions. We've let the niche baits fall away and focused all our attention on the core baits that will catch fish for you regardless of where you live.

Below you'll find links to the exact baits and equipment discussed int he video. We've included our favorite colors for each, as well as any specific components you need to fish them properly. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.


FULL SWIMBAIT SEMINAR: https://youtu.be/mAuslfbxtBk


TOPWATER...

•River2Sea Tactical Wake 210: https://bit.ly/3aV6peA

Colors: Chrome Gill, Copper Carp


COVER GLIDE BAITS...

•Clutch Eco Glide: https://bit.ly/4bsZX9q

Colors: Gizzard, Threadfin


•Savage Gear 6.5" Glide Swimmer: https://bit.ly/4eGJ5No

Colors: Ghost Trout, Ghost Bone, Dirty Silver Flash


SHAD GLIDES...

•Spro Chad Shad: https://bit.ly/3AqivoQ

Color: Threadfin Shad, Gizzard Shad


•Bucca Brand 6" Trick Shad: https://bit.ly/4hFD5Go

Color: Gizzard Magic, Threadfintastic, Matte Shad


OPEN WATER GLIDES...

•Baitsanity Explorer Trout: https://bit.ly/33bQyxY

Colors: TW Steelhead, Kokanee, Hatchery Trout


•Baitsanity 11.5" Chimera Shad: https://bit.ly/3U1em4P

Colors: Ghost Gizzard Shad, Gizzard Shad


•Savage Gear Scandal 250: https://bit.ly/48q7MNJ

Colors: Rainbow Trout, Hitch, Ghost Bone


BLUEGILL HARD BAITS...

•Jackall Gantarel: https://bit.ly/2adZI3R

Colors: RT Bluegill, RT Ghost Gill


•Baitsanity Explorer Gill: https://bit.ly/3F65FxK

Colors: Female Bluegill, Bluegill


BOOT TAIL SOFT BAITS...

•Megabass Magdraft Swimbait: https://bit.ly/2mc8bfK

Preferred Sizes: 6" and 8"

Colors: White Back Shad, Nude Rainbow, Albino Pearl Shad


Bacca Burrito Swimbaits (Fast Sink): https://bit.ly/3p5SkiW

Sizes: 5" and 6"

Colors: Tactical Shad, Tactical Gizzard Shad, Tactical Chart Shad


•Zman Swag LT: https://bit.ly/3Kpz6l3

Colors: Threadfin Shad, Sight Flash


WEEDLESS SWIMBAIT...

•Megabass Magdraft Freestyle: https://bit.ly/3bRG3Wi

Colors: White Back Shad, Albino Pearl Shad


Jighead– ZMan Diezel Eye: https://bit.ly/4db6LI2

Size: 6/0 Hook


Hook– Owner 8/0 Beast: https://bit.ly/2ancP66

Size: 1/2 oz or 3/4 oz


BLUEGILL SOFT BAITS...

•Megabass Sleeper Gill: https://bit.ly/3HPvgMT

Colors: Gill, Gillkko


•Savage Gear RTF Bluegill: https://bit.ly/2xx1zjH

Colors: Bluegill, Ghost Bluegill


•Savage Gear Line Thru Bluegill: https://bit.ly/3pCRab7

Colors: Bluegill, Ghost Bluegill


SOFT WEDGE TAILS...

•Huddleston 8" Trout (ROF 12): https://bit.ly/2UVHiuQ

Colors: Rainbow Trout


•ZMan 6" ShadTron LT: https://bit.ly/46oXNoG

Colors: Blueback Herring, Threadfin Shad


SOFT GLIDE BAITS...

•Savage Gear Soft Shine Glide: https://bit.ly/3WE2eIP

Colors: Gizzard Shad


•Raid Osakana Slide: https://bit.ly/417QgrV

Colors: TW Shad, Hustler


•Grow Design Flag 170: https://bit.ly/46LrrVS

Colors: Albino Purple


SWIMBAIT RODS...

•Dobyns Fury Swimbait: https://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

Model: 806 Heavy


•St. Croix Victory: https://bit.ly/3f4tcEb

Model: 7'10" Heavy (SB Ranger)


•Shimano Outlier: https://bit.ly/3EuHPiT

Models: 7'9" MH, 7'11" H


•Megabass Valkyrie World Expedition: https://bit.ly/3J1gchq

Model: 7'11" XH


SWIMBAIT REELS...

•Shimano Tranx 300 B (HG): https://bit.ly/40QzQ7b


•Shimano Conquest MD: https://bit.ly/3ZBEK5p


PREVIOUS BUYER'S GUIDES...

•Best Spinnerbaits/A Rigs– https://youtu.be/ipLAgQwf_t0

•Best Entry Level Combos– https://youtu.be/4O2ewrZzuJw

•Best Budget Baller Combos– https://youtu.be/sTtrvJ6xPYE

•Best "Affordable" Combos– https://youtu.be/HU5KG3rENDA

•High End Combos– https://youtu.be/7tj_awFmJLM

•Best "Enthusiast" Rods And Reels– https://youtu.be/J7ikDrkx6fU

•Spinning Reels– https://youtu.be/vie_pr69cdI

•Casting Reels– https://youtu.be/QLsdeEaVLJg


WANT TACTICALBASSIN GEAR??

We have a variety of custom lure designs and apparel available! Everything from Swimbaits and crankbaits, to apparel and merch! See it here…

•TacticalBassin Apparel and Merch: https://bit.ly/3ZxEI0z

•TacticalBassin Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz

Swimbait Fishing For Bass Made Easy! Full Seminar (Beginner To Advanced)

SWIMBAIT FISHING IS EASY! You only need a few baits to consistently catch fish, no matter where you live! Most anglers act like catching big bass with swimbaits is difficult, but aside from some little tricks, there isn't much you need to know to start catching bass with swimbaits.

Matt breaks swimbaits into basic categories, including bluegill, baitfish, and trout profiles. Based on what bass are primarily eating in your lake, he covers which baits to focus on, and how to fish them effectively. Once you've got the basics it's all about building confidence with those key baits. You can catch a giant swimbait fish this year, all you have to do is commit to it!

Below you'll find links to the exact baits discussed in the video. We've included our favorite sizes, sink rates, and colors. We've also included some great rod and reel combos, as well as some other swimbait videos. All the gear links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.


SIMPLE BAITS…

•Savage Gear LT Gill: https://bit.ly/3pCRab7

Color: Bluegill


•Megabass 6" Magdraft: http://bit.ly/2mc8bfK

Color: White Back Shad


•Bucca Brand 6” Trick Shad: https://bit.ly/4hFD5Go

Color: Matte Shad


•Big Bite Baits B6 Swimbait: https://bit.ly/3bw7lWR

Colors: Blue Gizzard


•Zman 6" Diezel Minnow: https://bit.ly/3VHVhFi

Colors: Bad Shad

•Zman Diezel Eye Jighead: https://bit.ly/4db6LI2

Size: 3/4 oz


BLUEGILL HARD BAITS...

•Jackall Gantarel: https://bit.ly/2adZI3R

Colors: RT Bluegill


•Baitsanity Explorer Gill: https://bit.ly/3F65FxK

Colors: Bluegill


•Bucca Bull Gill: https://bit.ly/2f1ASHn

Colors: Bluegill


•Bucca Brand 3.75" Baby Bull Gill: https://bit.ly/3IBscss

Colors: Violet Brim


•Megabass Vatalion: https://bit.ly/367AOxD

Colors: GG Gill


SHAD GLIDES...

•Clutch Eco: https://bit.ly/4bsZX9q


•Spro Chad Shad: https://bit.ly/3AqivoQ


•Shimano Gravitator: https://bit.ly/43HbYpQ


COVER GLIDES...

•River2Sea S Waver 168: http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh


•Savage Gear Glide Swimmer: https://bit.ly/4eGJ5No


•Bucca Trick Shad: https://bit.ly/4hFD5Go


OPEN WATER GLIDES...

•Deps Slide Swimmer 250: https://bit.ly/2AfXQnF


•Savage Gear Scandal 250: https://bit.ly/48q7MNJ


•Baitsanity Trout Explorer: https://bit.ly/33bQyxY


•Baitsanity 11.5" Chimera Shad: https://bit.ly/3U1em4P


•Savage Gear 8" Glide Swimmer: https://bit.ly/4eGJ5No


MULTI JOINT...

•22nd Century Triple Trout (7"-8"): https://bit.ly/2E8Up5P


•Bucca Bull Shad (6"-7"): https://bit.ly/2eJ8gWM


•Shimano Armajoint SS: https://bit.ly/3RsENjw


WAKEBAITS...

•River2Sea Tactical Wake 210: https://bit.ly/3aV6peA


•Spro 8" Floater: https://bit.ly/2cU1x5P


•Bucca Wake: https://bit.ly/2yceVRt


SOFT BLUEGILLS...

•Savage Gear LT Bluegill: https://bit.ly/3pCRab7

Color: Bluegill, Ghost Gill


•Mattlures Hammertail Gill: https://bit.ly/2FsZhA3

Colors: Male Bluegill


•Savage Gear 4" RTF Bluegill: https://bit.ly/2xx1zjH

Color: Bluegill, Ghost Gill


•Megabass Sleeper Gill: https://bit.ly/3HPvgMT

Colors: Gill, Gillkko


SOFT GLIDES...

•Grow Design Flag 170: https://bit.ly/46LrrVS

Colors: Albino Purple


•Raid Osakana Slide: https://bit.ly/417QgrV

Colors: TW Shad, Hustler


•Savage Soft Shine Glide: https://bit.ly/3WE2eIP

Colors: Gizzard Shad


WEDGE TAILS...

•Huddleston 8" Trout (ROF 12): https://bit.ly/2UVHiuQ

Colors: Rainbow Trout


•Huddleston 68 Trout (ROF 12): https://bit.ly/2dj5apG

Colors: Black Gizzard Shad


•Mattlures 6" Shad: https://bit.ly/2vM8cKF

Colors: Light Gizzard


•ZMan 6" ShadTron LT: https://bit.ly/46oXNoG

Colors: Blueback Herring, Threadfin Shad


PADDLE TAILS...

•Bacca Burrito Swimbait (5" and 6"): https://bit.ly/3p5SkiW

Colors: Tactical Shad, Tactical Gizzard Shad, Tactical Chartreuse Shad


•Megabass Magdraft (6" and 8"): https://bit.ly/2mc8bfK

Colors: White Back Shad, Albino Pearl Shad


•Zman Swag LT: https://bit.ly/3Kpz6l3

Colors: Threadfin Shad, Sight Flash


•Big Bite B5: https://bit.ly/3LLU4pm

Colors: Blue Gizzard, Sunny Shad


•Megabass Magdraft Freestyle: https://bit.ly/3bRG3Wi

Colors: White Back Shad, Albino Pearl Shad


SWIMBAIT HOOKS...

•ZMan Diezel Eye Jighead: https://bit.ly/4db6LI2

Size: 6/0 Hook


•Owner Beast: https://bit.ly/2ancP66

Size: 8/0


TREBLE HOOKS AND HARDWARE...

•Owner ST–36 Trebles: https://bit.ly/2cWpeyw


•Owner ST–56 Trebles: https://bit.ly/2cVg7xW


•Gamakatsu 2X Big Bait Trebles: https://bit.ly/42ot615


•Owner HyperWire Split Ring: https://bit.ly/2aTH3f1

Sizes: 4-6


•Owner UltraWire Split Ring: https://bit.ly/3bQgswL

Sizes: 3-5


•Single Strand Wire: https://bit.ly/2IwNAiE

Size: 174 lb


•SuspenStrips: https://bit.ly/2YDQNUf


•Zman Rattle Snaker: https://bit.ly/48q8mLp


•Gamakatsu Trigger Nail Weight: https://bit.ly/48EMWtI


STORAGE...

•Plano Flex Box: https://bit.ly/3kngvEG

•Savage Gear Bag: https://bit.ly/4mCGC9x

•Spro Surppa: https://bit.ly/3N3JEo4


SWIMBAIT LINE/LEADER...

•Sufix 832 Braid: https://bit.ly/2ae93Ji

•Sunline Saltimate: https://bit.ly/47MCfkR

•Seaguar Gold Label: https://bit.ly/3UqrUbi


SWIMBAIT RODS...

•Megabass Valkyrie 8' XH: https://bit.ly/3J1gchq

•Shimano Conquest MD: https://bit.ly/3ZBEK5p


•Shimano Outlier: https://bit.ly/3EuHPiT

Models: 7'9" MH, 7'11" H

•Shimano Curado 300: https://bit.ly/2HbZ3E4


•Fenwick Elite 7'8" MH: https://bit.ly/3MyC6tb

•Abu Garcia Beast 300: https://bit.ly/3VJM3Zp


•St. Croix Victory 8' H: https://bit.ly/3f4tcEb

•Shimano Tranx 300 HG: https://bit.ly/40QzQ7b


•Savage Squad 8' H: https://bit.ly/3tT8bS2

•Abu Garcia Beast 300: https://bit.ly/3VJM3Zp


•Dobyns Fury 8' H: https://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

•Daiwa Tatula 200: https://bit.ly/4ig0woA


•Shimano SLX 7'8" Heavy: https://bit.ly/3QbMjvs

•Cardiff 300 A: https://bit.ly/2cvhtMO


WANT TACTICALBASSIN GEAR??

We have a variety of custom lure designs and apparel available! Everything from Swimbaits and crankbaits, to apparel and merch! See it here…

•TacticalBassin Apparel and Merch: https://bit.ly/3ZxEI0z

•TacticalBassin Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz

If you plan to do any shopping, using these affiliate links before doing your shopping at Tackle Warehouse is the single greatest way to support us! You won't be able to even see a difference but they'll know you're one of us!