The swimming movements of a suffering baitfish, especially when separated from a school, demonstrate why a wake bait’s action is so effective. Wake baits (at least those covered in this fishing article) are lures that have a drastically sloped lip or other design feature that causes them to swim methodically near the water’s surface. Some wake baits work on top of the water, others just below the surface, and a couple can even do both. Each different style of bait tends to leave a tempting wake in its trail — hence the name.