Back to Basics: Chasing Aussie Bass with Nomad Design
Summer in Australia means long, simmering days, deafening cicada choruses, and the distant rumble of an afternoon thunderstorm. For anglers, it also means one thing, the Bass are fired up and feeding, making it the perfect time to hit the water for heart-stopping action.
These iconic native fish prowl the wild rivers and impoundments of the east coast, lurking deep in shadowy pockets of fallen timber, tangled lily pads, and under overhanging vegetation. They wait for an unlucky cicada to fall or a baitfish to wander too close and when they strike, they hit like a freight train.
The Surface Game: Light, Subtle & Explosive There’s nothing quite like watching a Bass smash a lure off the surface. Pound for pound, they’re one of Australia’s hardest-hitting freshwater sportfish, delivering explosive surface strikes and dogged runs back into snags that will test any angler’s reflexes.
Fishing topwater during the warmest months is pure adrenaline. The key is a slow, teasing retrieve: cast tight against structure, let the lure sit until the ripples fade, then begin a stop-start retrieve with subtle twitches and pauses. Often, the surface will erupt in a flash of silver and spray.
How to Fish the Chug Norris, Madscad & Maverick for Aussie Bass
Nomad Design lures aren’t just made for the salt. Several of our favourites including the Chug, Madscad, and Maverick are deadly in freshwater for Bass when matched to the right conditions and retrieve styles. Here’s how to get the most out of each lure.
Chug 50 & 72 - Topwater Mayhem.
When to Use: Early mornings, late afternoons, pre-storm windows, or anywhere you’re hearing cicadas and surface activity. Perfect for still or lightly rippled water around timber, lilies, and shaded banks.
Retrieve Tips: Short Chugs & Pauses: Give 2–3 short downward rod pops to make the lure spit and bloop, then let it sit still. Strikes often come during the pause. Walk-the-Chug: Work the rod tip side-to-side while applying gentle pops to create a subtle zig-zag with a spit of water. Long Casts into Shadows: Bass love ambushing from cover; get as tight to the bank or under branches as possible.
Madscad Suspending 65 & 78 - Twitch, Pause, Strike.
When to Use: Midday or when Bass move slightly deeper off the surface but still hold near structure. Ideal around submerged timber, rock walls, and steep banks where baitfish would pass.
Retrieve Tips: Twitch & Suspend: Cast tight to structure, crank down to depth, give 2–3 sharp twitches, then pause. The suspending action keeps the Madscad sitting perfectly in their face. Slow Roll & Jerk: Slowly wind with intermittent small jerks to mimic an injured baitfish. Rip & Kill: In cooler or pressured conditions, a fast rip followed by a long pause can trigger a reaction strike.
Maverick - Subsurface Glide & Versatility.
When to Use: When you need a lure that can work just under the surface or down a couple of feet perfect for pressured Bass that shy from surface commotion. Great on wind-blown banks, points, and when fish are chasing but not committing to topwater.
Retrieve Tips: Sweep & Pause: Use long sideways sweeps with the rod tip; let the Maverick glide and pause, its side-to-side slide looks like a wounded baitfish. Burn & Kill: Fast crank for 3–4 turns, then kill it, the sudden stop is a key trigger. Subsurface Walk: Small twitches with slack line can create a walk-the-dog action just under the film.
When Heat Cranks Up Go Subsurface As the day heats up and surface activity slows, Bass often push deeper into shadows and structure. This is when soft plastics and subsurface lures become essential allowing you to reach fish that have left the topwater zone but are still actively feeding.
Live Ops Soft Plastics - Radiax Grub, Spectre Minnow & Switcher Shrimp
Radiax Grub A subtle, highly versatile soft plastic perfect for pressured Bass. Its finely tuned tail kicks at slow speeds, making it deadly on a simple slow roll or bottom-hop. Rig weedless to fish through heavy timber, lilies, or sunken logs with minimal snagging. Let it sink to depth beside structure, then crawl it back with long pauses as many strikes come as it hovers or drops.
Spectre Minnow A slim, baitfish-profile soft plastic designed to mimic small shad or smelt. Best fished on a light jighead or weedless hook when fish are feeding deeper but still hunting natural prey. Use a twitch-pause retrieve along steep banks, submerged points or fallen timber edges. The subtle darting and gliding action is perfect for fussy Bass. Great option when fish won’t commit to louder or bigger presentations.
Switcher Shrimp A lifelike prawn/shrimp profile that excels when Bass are feeding on crustaceans or hugging the bottom. Fish it on a weedless jighead or weighted worm hook to get into gnarly timber and rock edges. Slow roll or small hops keep it looking natural, perfect for shut-down fish that ignore faster-moving baits.
Hardbodies - Atlas Crank & D-Trak Crank
Atlas Crank A compact shallow diving crankbait ideal for grinding through timber, rocks and steep banks. Its wide wobble and natural buoyancy allow it to deflect off snags, simply pause and let it float out before continuing. Use a slow to medium retrieve, mixing in stop-starts to imitate a fleeing baitfish suddenly pausing. Excellent for covering water and triggering reaction bites from Bass holding deep.
D-Trak A deep diving crankbait with an erratic vibration and internal rattle to call fish from cover. Can be burned and paused, hopped along bottom contours, or slow-rolled through deep holes and even slow trolled from the kayak. Perfect for targeting Bass tight to structure or suspended mid-water where other lures can’t reach. The heavy, compact design casts long and sinks fast which is ideal when fish are hugging the bottom.
Vibe It Up with Swimtrex & Vertex Max
Swimtrex Hard, tight vibration on the lift and a smooth flutter on the drop, deadly when fish are hugging the bottom. Ideal for yo-yo retrieves through deep schools or hopping across creek beds and submerged points. Cast long, count it down, then use a lift–pause–drop retrieve; most strikes come as it flutters back.
Vertrex Max Heavier and faster-sinking than most vibes, built to punch deep quickly and stay vertical in current or wind. Perfect for probing deeper water fast and ideal when fish are holding at 20–40 ft and you need to stay in the strike zone. Great for both slow rolling just off bottom or vertical jigging over schools found on the sounder.
Pro Tip:
Use the Swimtrex when you want a slightly more subtle presentation or need that long fluttering fall. Switch to the Vertrex Max when you need to get down faster, hold depth, or work vertically in current or wind-blown dams.
Targeting Impoundment Bass with Live Ops Tungsten Weight System
Big Bass behave differently in large dams and impoundments compared to wild rivers. While they’ll feed along edges early and late, once the sun is high they often school up in deep water sometimes 20–40 ft down over flats, old creek beds or submerged timber. When you’ve found a school of deep impoundment Bass, keeping your lure in the strike zone is everything. The Tungsten Live Ops system with Cobra, Fallout, and Delta gives you compact, fast-sinking presentations with lifelike action. Rig them straight, adjust your weight for depth, and work slow and deliberate. These plastics will tempt everything from cruising mid-water fish to stubborn bottom huggers.
Cobra Jerkshad A slim, shad-style bait with a tight, high-frequency tail beat that holds true at any retrieve speed. The unique winged head design gives the Cobra a side to side head action and allows the lure to “jump” upwards with maximum action from the slightest rod twitch.
Best Use: Long casts and slow rolling through suspended schools or along deep points. Why It Works: The Cobra gets down fast thanks to the tungsten weights, then holds depth beautifully, keeping you in the strike zone for longer.
Fallout Minnow Rig the Fallout Minnow for a horizontal hover, twitch-pause presentation, or vertical drop finesse - its Adjusta-Ball Tungsten System lets you dial in fall rate and trajectory to match fish behaviour and current.
Best Use: For bottom-hugging schools let it sink on a heavier head, then slow hop or roll along deep timber lines or old creek beds. Why It Works: Big presence and heavy tail pulse tempt even shut-down or wary fish into striking.
Delta Soft Lipped Jerkbait Streamlined, darting baitfish imitation that excels on finesse retrieves. Engineered to track straight, hold depth, and stay in the strike zone longer. Its unique soft-plastic bill creates consistent swimming depth whether you're slow rolling, twitching, or pausing mid-retrieve. Tuned with the patented Adjusta-Ball Tungsten System, you can customise sink rate and presentation without bulky jigheads. Add or remove tungsten balls to fish mid-water or deep structure with total control.
Best Use: Suspended mid-water Bass that respond to a twitch-pause action. Great when fish are holding higher in the column but won’t chase fast retrieves. Why It Works: Subtle side-flash and tight shimmy match natural baitfish, and the tungsten weight system keeps it perfectly balanced.
Whether you’re chasing explosive topwater hits or working deeper for shutdown midday fish, Nomad Design lures are purpose-built for Aussie conditions. Their durability, innovative shapes, and realistic finishes make them a standout choice for anglers who demand performance. So this summer, load your tackle box and get ready for some unforgettable Bass sessions. When the cicadas sing and the shadows deepen, it’s game on.
