Why Vertical Glide Baits Should Be a Staple Lure for Ice Anglers

Vertical Glides vs Traditional Ice Jigs

When most people think of ice fishing lures, they picture tiny vertical jigs and spoons that move almost straight up and down under the hole. Vertical glide baits for ice fishing are different. They’re designed to glide, swing, and dart out to the sides when you lift and drop them, covering a much wider area beneath the ice.

Common traits of vertical glides include:

• A horizontal or slightly angled hanging position
• Fins, wings, or flat sides that catch water and create a gliding action
• Compact, baitfish-shaped bodies that mimic small minnows

Think of them as the ice fishing equivalent of a swimming jig or glide bait—they search, they hunt, and they trigger reaction strikes.

Key Design Features That Make Vertical Glides Effective

The magic of an ice fishing vertical glide comes from its design. A few details matter a lot:

• Horizontal balance: Hanging level gives a natural baitfish profile.
• Hydrodynamic shape: Flat sides, flared fins, or swept wings create a side-to-side glide on the fall.
• Weight distribution: Center-balanced baits tend to glide in wide circles, while tail-heavy models dart more aggressively.
• Eyes and color: Large eyes and contrast-heavy paint jobs help fish lock on and commit.

It’s this combination of profile and motion that sets vertical glides apart from traditional teardrop or tungsten jigs.

Different Vertical Glides for Different Species

Like any lure family, vertical glides come in a range of sizes and shapes:

• Panfish models: Micro glides with tiny hooks and subtle glides for bluegill, crappie, and perch.
• Walleye models: Mid-sized jigs that mimic shiners, smelt, and young-of-year perch.
• Big predator models: Larger gliding baits and heavy jigs designed for lake trout, pike, and giant walleye.

Once you understand the action, you can scale the size to match whatever species you’re targeting.

Covering More Water Under the Ice

The biggest reason vertical glides should be a staple lure for ice anglers is simple: they cover more water. Every time you lift and drop one of these jigs, it glides out and swings in a wide arc away from the hole, then returns under you as it settles.

That means you’re not just fishing a tight vertical column—you’re efficiently scanning a wider “circle” beneath the ice. When fish are spread out or roaming, that extra reach can be the difference between marking nothing and triggering a wolf-pack of angry perch or aggressive walleyes.

Triggering Reaction Strikes From Finicky Fish

Cold-water fish often follow lures without committing. Vertical glides shine here because their glide-and-pause action screams “injured baitfish.” That sideways slide followed by a stall frequently triggers reaction strikes from fish that ignored spoons or simple jig-and-plastic combos.

When I first committed to fishing vertical glides on a heavily pressured midwinter walleye lake, I watched fish follow my spoons repeatedly on sonar with no bites. As soon as I tied one on and let it glide out, the same fish crushed it on the first pause. That pattern repeated the rest of the season.

Versatility Across Species and Depths

Vertical glides are incredibly versatile:

• Work them shallow over weeds for big bluegill and crappie.
• Fish them mid-depth on gravel bars and rock points for walleye.
• Drop them deep over basins for jumbo perch or lake trout.

Once you understand the basic cadence, you can apply it to almost any species. That’s exactly why these baits deserve permanent real estate in your ice box.

Perfect for Hole-Hopping and Search Mode

If you like drilling lots of holes and staying mobile, vertical glides are ideal search lures. They let you quickly test whether there are active fish in the area. If you get followers but short strikes, you can always switch to more finesse-oriented jigs—but the vertical glide finds them fast.

Early Ice: Active, Shallow Fish

At first ice, oxygen is high, weed beds are still green, and fish are usually aggressive. This is prime time for vertical glides for ice fishing:

• Target shallow weed edges for bluegill, crappie, and perch.
• Fish shoreline-connected points and humps for walleyes.
• Use brighter colors and more aggressive cadences.

The gliding action lets you comb those shallow flats quickly so you’re not wasting time in dead holes.

Midwinter: Pressure, Cold, and Tough Bites

Midwinter is where vertical glides really earn their spot. Fish slide deeper, the water cools, and heavy pressure makes them picky. Switch to:

• Slightly smaller vertical glides.
• More natural colors (silvers, browns, perch patterns).
• Longer pauses between lifts.

Use your electronics to locate subtle humps, basin edges, and transition lines, then let the jig glide slowly through that zone. You’d be surprised how often a lethargic mark suddenly streaks up and eats when you stop the bait.

Late Ice: Pre-Spawn Movements

As ice begins to melt and days get longer, fish shift shallower toward spawning areas. Vertical glides excel at:

• Finding staging schools of perch and crappie along breaks leading into bays.
• Locating walleyes moving up onto points and flats near spawning rivers or shoals.

It’s a perfect time to blend aggressive search tactics with finesse—start with vertical glides to find life, then dial in with live bait or smaller jigs if needed.

Basic Vertical Glide Cadence

Here’s a simple, reliable cadence to start with:

1. Drop the jig a few feet above bottom or just above the fish you see on sonar.
2. Lift the rod 1–3 feet smoothly, then quickly drop the rod tip while maintaining light tension so the jig can glide out.
3. Pause and let the jig swing back under the hole—watch your line closely.
4. Repeat with occasional higher lifts or longer pauses.

Most strikes come either as the vertical glide starts its glide or during the pause when it stalls and wobbles.

Adjusting Cadence for Mood and Species

A few quick tweaks can completely change how fish respond:

• For aggressive fish: Higher lifts, quicker snaps, and shorter pauses.
• For neutral fish: Medium lifts with smooth falls and moderate pauses.
• For negative fish: Small lifts, long hangs, and minimal movement.

Use your flasher or sonar to watch how marks react. If they chase but don’t eat, lengthen the pause. If they ignore you completely, try a different size or color—or move.

Using Electronics to Tune Your Presentation

Electronics and vertical glides are a perfect pair. On a good graph, you can see:

• How far your jig glides out from the hole.
• Whether fish rise to meet the jig or drop away from it.
• How changes in cadence impact their interest.

Use that feedback loop to experiment: adjust one variable at a time (lift height, pause length, or jig weight) until you find what triggers that mark into a bite.

Color and Size Selection

As with any lure, let water clarity and light conditions guide your vertical glide color choice:

• Clear water: Natural baitfish tones (silver, white, perch, smelt).
• Stained water: Brighter options (chartreuse, orange, glow) to stand out.
• Low light or deep water: Glow finishes and UV accents help fish home in.

When fish are following but not committing, try downsizing or switching from a loud color to something more natural.

Panfish: Bluegill, Crappie, and Perch

For panfish, choose micro vertical glides:

• Use tiny sizes and light line (2–4 lb test).
• Keep lifts small (6–18 inches) to avoid spooking fish.
• Hold the bait just above the school and let it swing slowly with long pauses.

Perch often respond to a faster, more aggressive style than bluegill—don’t be afraid to pound bottom and then lift into the school.

Learn more:

• Ice Fishing for Bluegill and Sunfish: Techniques, Gear, and Tips
• Ice Fishing for Crappie: Tips, Techniques, and Gear
• Ice Fishing for Perch: Tips, Gear, and Techniques

Walleye and Sauger

Vertical glides are deadly on walleyes when they’re chasing baitfish off structure:

• Fish them on main-lake points, humps, and saddles.
• Start with medium-sized vertical glides that mimic local forage.
• Use confident lifts of 1–3 feet and vary your pause length until they commit.

Glow patterns can be especially effective during low-light periods or night fishing sessions.

Learn more: Ice Fishing for Walleye: Expert Techniques, Gear, and Strategies

Lake Trout and Pike

For big predators, upsize everything:

• Use heavier vertical glides or large gliding minnows.
• Fish deep structure, drop-offs, and suspended bait schools.
• Work aggressive, sweeping lifts and let the jig fall and glide freely.

Lake trout often track the bait for several lifts before striking; stay patient and don’t stop working the cadence.

Learn more:

• Ice Fishing for Lake Trout: Techniques, Gear, and Tips
• Ice Fishing for Pike: Techniques, Gear, and Expert Tips