The newest bait in Ima’s lineup is the Glide Fluke, which is a jointed hard bait that can be fished numerous ways.
Professional angler Michael Murphy was instrumental in designing the bait and worked on it intensely for over two years until it was just right and ready for production.
Originally, it was designed for the east coast market and specifically for lakes with blueback herring, but it has gained popularity across the country as anglers have learned how versatile it is. Murphy explains more about the bait itself and shares six different ways he fishes the Glide Fluke.
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What Makes it Different?
Murphy was quick to acknowledge that a quick glance at the bait doesn’t do it justice.
“It really doesn’t look special or unique, but the design features and how it can be worked are what makes it so different,” he says.
One unique thing about this bait compared to other hard baits like it is that it has no plastic tail and instead the rear hook is at the very back of the bait.
“This was done to get better hookups since the bass often just come up and swipe at baits like this,” begins Murphy.
Since there is no tail to provide action for the bait, the placement of the joint and weighting system had to be precise to get the bait to work as intended. One additional quality of the bait is how it can be worked back and forth quickly without an angler’s line wrapping around the trebles.
The Glide Fluke is available in two sizes, a 125 (4.9”) and 178 (7”) and both sizes come in a sinking and a floating model. Murphy says the best gauge for deciding between the floating and sinking is simply how shallow the fish are and the water temperature.
“If the water is between 55 and 70-degrees there will be some fish shallow and you should be able to get them to come to the surface to get it,” says Murphy.
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Here are six ways to fish the Ima Glide Fluke
#1 Wake It
Starting from the top, Murphy says waking the bait on the surface is one of his favorite ways to fish this bait.
“I like to use 20-pound mono on a crankbait rod and keep my rod high as I retrieve it. Having less line laying on the water helps and allows it to work slowly back and forth,” he says.
#2 Crankbait Retrieve
This is the easiest way to fish the bait. A standard cast and retrieve will allow the bait to do all of the work and the bait’s drawing power will do the rest.
#3 Jerkbait
Murphy will fish the Glide Fluke just like a jerkbait with the biggest difference being that he uses heavier rods and line.
“I like to fish it with 17 or 20-pound fluorocarbon and a stiffer rod. A dock skipping or pitching rod is what you need because it is not as finesse as jerkbait fishing,” he says.
His retrieve is the standard for jerkbaits and he utilizes a “twitch, twitch, pause” as this allows the lure to work erratically.
#4 Glide Bait
The Glide Fluke can also be fished like a standard glide bait. For this approach, Murphy will opt for swimbait gear and fish it like he does with other big baits.
“You can slowly crawl it on the surface or crank it with an occasional twitch. This pausing allows it to turn around and go back towards itself,” he says.
Both the floating and sinking version work for this approach, but most often he is using the sinking model.
#5 Like a Fluke
The bait was designed to allow it to be fished like a soft plastic jerkbait and both the sinking and floating versions excel with this approach.
“I like to give it a ‘twitch, twitch, twitch,’ and then kill it just like you do with a soft fluke. If it is a calmer day and you are using the floating version, they will come up and swirl on it on the surface just like a plastic bait. If it’s a little windy or I want to cover water quickly, I’ll use the sinking version and do the same thing subsurface,” says Murphy.
#6 Suspended Carolina-Rig
Murphy said the Glide Fluke can also be fished in the middle of the water column like a Carolina-rig.
“I call it the lazy man’s way, you can just pull your rod and then reel up the slack. They will come up and smoke it,” he shares. Murphy says quickly killing the sinking version will allow the bait to turn quickly and then slowly ease downward like a dying baitfish.
The Ima Glide Fluke has proven to be an effective bait for a wide range of situations. Fishing it like a fluke or like a glide bait is what it was built for, but anglers everywhere are learning that there are many ways to fish this unique bait.