Was wanting to throw some hard swimbaits, the type that are one piece with the hinge in the middle like the 6th sense draw. I don't want to spend $70 on a bait though. What are some cheaper options for comparable jointed swimbaits? Something in the $30 range would be more reasonable. Was wondering if any used any cheaper options and had any suggestions or am I stuck having to pay big money

@Speedy Turtle First off although I don’t throw swim baits I will say you can definitely find some much cheaper alternatives. I just google searched a few and here’s what I found. Best of luck.

9 minutes ago, Eric 26 said:

@Speedy Turtle First off although I don’t throw swim baits I will say you can definitely find some much cheaper alternatives. I just google searched a few and here’s what I found. Best of luck.

Yeah I've seen some like those, but was wondering if someone actually used some of the cheaper options and would recommend a brand

I know a guy that uses knockoffs with great success, many are less than $5 each.

23 minutes ago, Speedy Turtle said:

Yeah I've seen some like those, but was wondering if someone actually used some of the cheaper options and would recommend a brand

Ok I guess I didn’t understand what you were asking.

I have used the Bucca Trick Shad a few times I found it easy to use. I have also used River 2 Sea SWavers. They work well too. Both are cheap in the swimbait word.

I use Bass Pro’s Real Image. Decent price and they work.

Don't do it. You are talking about taking the first step down a long dangerous road. It starts out as just one cheap glide bait, before you realize your mistake, you are living in a van that cost way less than your favorite bait, and the Bait Monkey is your only friend. I have been tempted, but I refuse to take that first step. I know I'm weak, and my days of living with the Bait Monkey and eating nothing but Ramen are a not too distant memory.

If you feel you are smart and strong enough to avoid falling into the trap, go ahead and buy an S Waver, remember you were warned.

My favorite cheap glide bait is the BPS swerve but I’m also fond of the shine glide and the Walmart one. With some zappu floating boards - just about any glide bait can be fished very skillfully.

https://a.co/d/0bhwlg98

6" trick shad for $25

I don’t have the word swimbait in my name for nothing 😂 Let me tell you this, I have baits worth $400 and baits worth $10. There is a time and place for all. If you’re looking for inexpensive glide baits here’s some great baits. I will say this, don’t skimp on a rod. If you don’t have the gear to do this correctly, it will be miserable and uncomfortable. If it is, you won’t like it and you won’t stick with it. If you ever want rod/reel recommendations, just message me.

River2sea Swaver…comes in several sizes and great colors. I like rainbow, powder and lite trout. Also like the 200 size best. Can be found for $40 and under. I’ve caught many 5 and 6lbers on it

Savage gear glide swimmer 210. This is a very underrated bait! Around $30

Spro Chad shad is a great option. Not too heavy around 2.5oz. It’s a 7” bait and gets bit well. Easy to fish. You can find em used in good shape for $40-$50

Bullshad bucca trick shad. Comes in 6” and 8”. I didn’t love them but they get bit. I think they’re $30-$40

The 6th sense draw does well for people but I think they’re up around $60-$70 and they’re a bigger bait for a newbie.

Another is the G-ratt sneaky Pete. That’s 8” and pretty light. Only about $25

If you get your heart set on something and want a deal or can’t find it let me know. I do a LOT of swimbait dealings. I’m honestly much more into wakes and cranks than glides, but here’s some little confidence boosters…

Glideway 126 and 176

Trick shad

Chad Shad

Poke around and Deps 175 are in your price range.

S waver 168 and 6th sense trace (6”). Send me a PM and I’ll get one of each out to you. I’ll send you a pic of them so you can choose colors.

I am a fan of the s-waver 200 and have a few of the 168s that I throw as well. The abs trick shad fishes nicely, they have fixed the hook hanger issue(s) in the more recent releases. while not a single jointed bait, the jackall gantarel and gantarel jr fish like a glidebait.
100% agree with Swimbaitstud's assertion that having the right rod will make all the difference in the world for "comfort".
many anglers see the size of a "swimbait" and immediately downsize, because "my fish won't hit that". 2lb bass will absolutely attack a 200mm bait.

6 hours ago, Swimbaitstud said:

River2sea Swaver…comes in several sizes and great colors. I like rainbow, powder and lite trout. Also like the 200 size best. Can be found for $40 and under. I’ve caught many 5 and 6lbers on it

Savage gear glide swimmer 210. This is a very underrated bait! Around $30

Two good responsibly priced swimbaits. I have and use both. (And I can still afford lunch and a car payment 😜)

Get the spro chad Shad and don’t look back

1 hour ago, 5by3 said:

Get the spro chad Shad and don’t look back

As for this - I agree. However, don’t leave it tied on in your truck in the summer for days on end. It WILL swell and it WILL develop a crack and start taking in water. Then, you’ll notice one side of the bait looks fat and the other doesn’t…

Or so I’ve heard…

6th Sense Draw (Huge sale)

KGB Chad Shad

Storm Arashi

6th Sense Flow Glider with modifications

River2Sea S-waver

Berkley Chop Block (Best for the money)

Bucca Trick Shad

Lot of good mentions in here already.

Another around the $30 mark which is fantastic is a baitsanity Antidote 7 (the basic version, not the TUG as that's a bit more expensive)

On 4/12/2026 at 6:34 PM, Smirak said:

As for this - I agree. However, don’t leave it tied on in your truck in the summer for days on end. It WILL swell and it WILL develop a crack and start taking in water. Then, you’ll notice one side of the bait looks fat and the other doesn’t…

Or so I’ve heard…

Can also confirm this rumor.

This was a Shine Glide 185 fish, still my biggest glide bait fish.

Still have that bone colored Shine Glide, it's covered in scratches, just never gets fished anymore in favor of the more expensive options.

Ive caught a TON of bass on the Sebile Magic Swimmers. Sebile isnt around anymore, but Berkely bought the rights and mold. I think the Sebiles were a little more refined and came with better components, but the Berkely versions have mostly great feedback.

On 4/16/2026 at 11:45 PM, GetFishorDieTryin said:

Ive caught a TON of bass on the Sebile Magic Swimmers. Sebile isnt around anymore, but Berkely bought the rights and mold. I think the Sebiles were a little more refined and came with better components, but the Berkely versions have mostly great feedback.

I have 3 or 4 in a box of plugs I use for strippers. I never thought about using them for bass. 👍

14 hours ago, Dogface said:

I have 3 or 4 in a box of plugs I use for strippers. I never thought about using them for bass. 👍

Just one "P", but I know what you mean.

I think when they first came out, the bigger sizes weren't available. As Pat Sebile started to striper fish more and more, the big Stik Shads, Magic Swimmers and Soft MSs came out.

Seemed like about 10 years ago the Magic Swimmer and SP minnows were all striper anglers were talking about. Theyre fun to catch em on, but they are terrible casting when compared to other plugs.

2 hours ago, GetFishorDieTryin said:

Just one "P", but I know what you mean.

I think when they first came out, the bigger sizes weren't available. As Pat Sebile started to striper fish more and more, the big Stik Shads, Magic Swimmers and Soft MSs came out.

Seemed like about 10 years ago the Magic Swimmer and SP minnows were all striper anglers were talking about. Theyre fun to catch em on, but they are terrible casting when compared to other plugs.

It's obvious my spell check is not a fisherman. 😉

I first learned about the Magic Swimmer at a striper seminar. I cast the smaller ones but troll the bigger swimmers.

On 4/18/2026 at 5:11 PM, Dogface said:

It's obvious my spell check is not a fisherman. 😉

I first learned about the Magic Swimmer at a striper seminar. I cast the smaller ones but troll the bigger swimmers.

Yeah, they really picked up some heat after taking a bunch of #40+ bass up and down the coast. For whatever reason the CCC was getting a ton coverage on YT, websites and publications. The current in there is crazy and it can get tight structure wise, so the rods, reels, plugs and components are made for the CCC or heavily customized to be effective there. Sebile had fast sink version of the bigger model, that could be used in the canal right out of the box. The rear hook was already replaced with a blade. (which most guys removed anyway) Although the stock rings were pretty dang good, the canal guys would use those XH triple wire Wolverine rings and put either the 4/0 4x VMCs or ST 76 5x 4/0 Owners. I use the VMCs in 2 and 3/0 and that about as heavy as I go. The ST 76s are tuna, billfish and other large pelagic grade hooks.