The Savage Gear Wide Glide Scandal is a two-piece glidebait with a hard core and a tough, scented silicone skin. It glides unusually wide, so a pike following behind sees the flank of the bait on every turn instead of its tail. It comes in two sizes, 20 cm and 25 cm, and both sink slowly.
In this guide:
- What makes the Wide Glide Scandal different
- The two sizes compared
- Three ways to fish it, and the one we like best
- Colours, rod and leader
- Questions anglers ask about it
A Hard Core in a Soft, Scented Skin
Most glidebaits are either fully hard or fully soft. The Wide Glide Scandal is both. Savage Gear calls it a Twin Skin construction: a hard inner body that carries the joint, the line tie and the hooks, wrapped in a layer of durable silicone.
That silicone skin does two jobs. It gives the bait a softer feel when a pike closes its jaws on it, and it is infused with scent that is released while you fish. A fish that mouths a soft, fishy smelling bait tends to hold on a moment longer than one that bites into hard plastic, and on a big glidebait that moment often decides whether the hooks go home.
At the front of the body you will find openings that let water run in and flow out through a channel along the side. It is a detail you only notice up close, but it is part of what keeps the bait stable in its wide turns.
The bait comes ready to fish with sharp trebles on ball-bearing swivels, so it goes straight from the box onto your snap.
Two Sizes, Two Jobs
| Model | Length | Weight | Action | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wide Glide Scandal 20 cm | 20 cm | 107 g | Slow sinking | All-round pike fishing, a full day of casting |
| Wide Glide Scandal 25 cm | 25 cm | 190 g | Slow sinking | Big pike, big open water, a bigger profile |
Start with the 20 cm. At 107 g it is still a big bait, but you can cast it all day on a proper big bait setup, and it covers most pike situations. The 25 cm at 190 g pushes a lot more water and shows a much bigger silhouette. Pick it when you are after a specific big fish, or on large open water where you want to pull pike in from a distance.
Neither size is hard to cast. For their weight, both fly surprisingly far and land accurately, which makes it easier to put the bait tight to a feature on the first cast.
Three Ways to Fish the Wide Glide Scandal
Like most glidebaits it responds to rod and reel in several ways. These are the three we use.
1. Steady retrieve: where it shines
This is the retrieve we fish most with this bait. Wind it in at a slow, even pace and it swims a wide, smooth S-curve from side to side. Many glidebaits need rod work to come alive. The Wide Glide Scandal does it on a straight wind, which makes it one of the easier glidebaits to fish if you are new to them.
Fish it slower than feels right. The wider and lazier the S, the longer each flank stays in view of a following pike.
2. Long pulls: make it shoot out
Switch it up with long, sweeping pulls of the rod and the bait shoots out a long way to one side before it turns. Take up the slack after each pull and repeat. This covers a lot of water sideways and tends to trigger a pike that has been shadowing the bait without committing.
3. Twitch and pause
Short, sharp twitches make the turns tighter and the direction changes quicker. Then stop. On the pause the bait sits level in the water before it slowly starts to sink. Takes often come right there, so stay in contact with the bait and be ready.
A good way to work a follower at the bank or the boat: a steady retrieve to bring the fish in, then two or three hard twitches and a pause just before the bait reaches you.
Where and When to Use It
- Clear water: this is where a wide glide is at its best, because the pike sees the full side profile from far away.
- Along drop-offs, weed edges and harbour walls: the slow sink lets you hold the bait in front of the fish.
- Cold water: a slow, wide retrieve with long pauses often works better than speed when pike are sluggish.
- Pressured water: the scented, soft skin can help on days when pike follow but do not bite.
Colours: Naturals First
The Wide Glide Scandal comes in six colours in both sizes.
- Roach, Dirty Roach and Perch: the baitfish pike eat most in our waters. The first choice for clear water.
- Lemon Trout and Green Pearl: natural, but with more flash and contrast. Good on bright days and in slightly coloured water.
- Firetiger: the loud one, for coloured water and low light.
Buying two? Take one natural and Firetiger, and you are covered for most conditions.
Rod, Line and Leader
Easy to fish does not mean light tackle. To cast a bait of 107 or 190 g you need a stiff big bait rod whose casting weight covers the lure, a reel with a strong drag and a solid braid. A rod that is too soft will not cast the bait properly and gives you little control over the glide.
For pike, always fish a bite-proof leader. A titanium leader such as the VMC Titanium Pike Leader or a 7x7 wire leader like the BKK 7x7 Wire Leader HD both work. Finish with a strong snap, such as the VMC Stainless Crosslock Snap, so the bait can move freely. You will find more in lines and leaders.
See It Swim
The best way to understand a wide glide is to watch it. In this clip you see the Wide Glide Scandal swimming its wide S-curve.
Our Video Review
In our YouTube review we take a close look at the Wide Glide Scandal: the Twin Skin construction, the water channel, both sizes and how we fish it.
More reviews and fishing videos are on our channel, CharliesFishingTV.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Wide Glide Scandal a hardbait or a softbait?
Both. It has a hard inner body with a soft, scented silicone skin around it. It fishes like a glidebait but feels softer when a pike bites.
Which size should I choose?
The 20 cm (107 g) for most pike fishing. The 25 cm (190 g) when you want a bigger profile for big fish or big open water.
Does it float or sink?
Both sizes sink slowly. On the pause the bait sits level first and then slowly goes down.
Is it a good glidebait for beginners?
Yes. It swims a wide S-curve on a plain steady retrieve, so it catches without advanced rod work. You do need a rod heavy enough to cast it.
Do I need a wire leader?
For pike, always. Use titanium or 7x7 wire so a pike cannot bite through.
Who Is This Lure For?
For the pike angler who wants a big glidebait that works without much effort, and for anyone who wants to try glidebait fishing without first learning complicated rod work. The soft, scented skin makes it a strong option on days when pike follow but will not commit.
Browse both sizes of the Wide Glide Scandal 20 cm and 25 cm, the full Savage Gear range, or our swimbaits and glidebaits. For more on the brand, read Savage Gear Lures: The Best Baits Explained.
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