Kings of the River: Mastering Murray Cod with Nomad Design
For many Australian anglers, landing a Murray cod is a lifelong dream, and with the right gear and approach, it’s absolutely achievable. The key is simple: persistence and patience. An apex ambush hunter with a mouth the size of a dinner plate and a strike that can stop your heart, Murray cod are the kings of the river, thriving in timber-laden pools, rocky banks, and deep snaggy bends. They hit hard, fight dirty, and demand gear and tactics that can take punishment.
The Nomad Design range has you covered from the Live Ops soft plastics to an array of hardbodies, vibes and topwater options that are engineered to survive punishment, while giving you the finesse and innovation to tempt Australia’s most iconic freshwater predator.
In this guide, we’ll cover how to fish each lure for Murray cod across classic cod country from rivers and creeks to dams and flooded timber plus rigging and retrieve techniques to make each bait deadly effective. Cod success isn’t just about finding them. It’s about triggering that brutal, eat-or-be-eaten response.
Maniax Paddle Tail - Versatility Meets Power
The Maniax Paddle Tail is the all-rounder cod hunters dream of with a brutal tail thump, full-body roll, and built tough for monster jaws. Available pre-rigged with a twin hook breakaway system and tungsten balance cavity or unrigged for total control over depth and sink rate.
How to Fish It for Murray Cod:
Slow Rolling Dams, Points, and Standing Timber
When cod are suspended or holding deep around trees, this is your go-to.
• Pre-Rigged Setup & Technique: Fish it straight from the pack. Cast along tree lines, rocky drop-offs, or flooded points. Count it down to just above the structure and slow roll. Throw in the occasional rod twitch or pause, that sudden change often flips following cod into attack mode.
Custom Rigging for Shallow Flats, Weed Edges, or Big River Pools
The unrigged version lets you fine-tune for depth and cover.
• Unrigged Setup & Technique: Rig weedless on a 6/0–10/0 hook for heavy timber or shallow weed beds or use a 1/2–1oz jighead for deeper pools and river bends. Add tungsten to the belly cavity for slower, more horizontal falls or to the tail for a diving, nose-down presentation. The Reactor UV glow and Tracer Scent pull big cod in from cover, even in low light or murky conditions. On LiveScope, a slow, steady retrieve with micro pauses mid-column can trigger trailing giants to hit.
Dozer Minnow: Big Presence for Slow-Mo Cod
Cod love a big, lazy meal. The Dozer Minnow delivers a full body roll and heavy tail thump even at ultra-slow speeds, making it deadly when cod are sluggish or sitting in deep cover.
How to Fish It for Murray Cod:
Weedless for Snaggy Creeks and Timber
The flexible body and belly slot make the Dozer Minnow ideal for weedless rigging and bumping through structure.
• Setup & Technique: Fish on a 6/0–8/0 EWG swimbait hook or a light jighead if cover isn’t too gnarly. Cast long and wind as slow as possible just enough for the tail to pulse. Cod will often track for metres before smashing the bait. If you feel weight or see a follower on the sounder, pause briefly, then resume. Target laydowns, deep snags, or shadowed banks, especially late afternoon when cod start to move.
Slow-Rolling Rock Walls and Deep Holes
When cod are sitting deep or conditions are tough (cold water, bright days), a slow, steady retrieve can outfish every other approach.
• Setup & Technique: Rig on a 3/8–1oz jighead depending on depth and flow. Cast past the structure, count it down, and slow roll just above bottom, letting the tail thump steadily. Occasional bottom contact will puff up silt or sand and trigger reaction bites.
Pro Tip: Add a spinnerbait skirt to the jighead to give it more bulk, profile, and flare, and it can be a very effective mod for Murray cod, especially when you want to slow the lure down or add vibration and visual pulse.
Sumo Shrimp - Precision Weapon for Structure Fishing
Cod aren’t shy about eating big shrimp and yabbies, and the Sumo Shrimp nails that natural profile with added innovation. Available in pre-rigged and unrigged options, the Sumo gives you the flexibility to fish shallow snags or plumb deep timber with total control. Tungsten tuning, a glow-infused body, Tracer Scent, and a patented breakaway hook system make it the most advanced crustacean bait you can throw at cod.
How to Fish It for Murray Cod:
Casting Timber Lines and Shady Banks
When cod are holding tight to submerged logs or undercut banks, present the Sumo naturally and keep it in the strike zone as long as possible.
• Pre-Rigged Setup & Technique: Tie on straight from the pack. Cast tight to structure and let it sink naturally. Use a twitch-pause retrieve to mimic a fleeing shrimp or yabby. The Sumo’s flutter on the fall and glowing body make it stand out in dirty or tannin-stained water. Long pauses can tempt a cod to inhale it.
• Unrigged Setup & Technique: Rig weedless on a 6/0 swimbait hook or with a jighead matched to current speed and depth. Insert tungsten balls in the cavity to fine-tune sink rate and fall angle, tail-down for a fleeing crustacean or horizontal for a natural glide. Add scent to the chamber for a slow-releasing trail to keep cod interested.
Targeting Big Dam Cod with Swimtrex & Vertrex Vibes
Australia’s impoundments from Copeton and Burrinjuck to Blowering are home to some of the biggest Murray cod in the country. These giants often hold deep around trees, submerged creek beds, and rock ledges. This is where Swimtrex and Vertrex Max vibes shine.
Swimtrex Vibe - Cover Water and Find Fish
A fast-sinking, tight-vibrating bait that lets you cover huge areas and search for active cod.
• Setup & Technique: Cast long and let it sink to the desired depth, then slow roll with the occasional sharp lift and drop. On the fall, the Swimtrex shudders and flashes, often triggering reaction bites from cod glued to bottom or structure. Great for finding fish along submerged timber lines, deep points, and old creek channels.
Vertrex Soft Vibe - Deadly Vertical or Slow-Hop
When cod are schooled deep or sitting tight to timber, the Vertrex gives you a controlled, highly natural presentation.
• Setup & Technique: Use your sounder or LiveScope to position directly above fish. Drop the Vertrex to depth and work it with slow hops or gentle lifts. Maintain bottom contact and long pauses, often the bite comes as the lure hangs still. In cold or pressured conditions, this subtle approach can be the key to tempting stubborn metre-plus cod.
Surface & Subsurface Mayhem - Maverick, Madscads & Riptides
Few things beat the visual chaos of a Murray cod smashing a topwater or subsurface lure. Nomad’s Maverick, Madscads, and Riptide bring explosive surface and wake action to your cod arsenal.
Maverick - Walk, Glide & Wake
With its unique body shape, the Maverick can be walked, popped, or glided just under the surface, creating irresistible commotion.
• Technique: Fish it slow early and late in the day along rock walls, weed edges, or big timber. Use subtle rod sweeps and long pauses to trigger big surface strikes.
Madscads - Wide Rolling Wakebait
Cod love an easy meal sliding across the surface. The Madscads produce a rolling wake and subtle thump that’s perfect for calm water or night sessions.
• Technique: Simply cast and slow roll to leave a consistent V-wake. Add the occasional pause near structure for heart-stopping eats.
Riptide Stickbaits - Subsurface Flash & Dart
For slightly deeper presentations just below the surface, the Riptide stickbait is a killer option when cod shy off true topwater.
• Technique: Sweep the rod with long pulls for a darting, wounded baitfish action or twitch and pause to keep it hanging just below the surface film. Perfect when cod are feeding shallow but not fully committing to a topwater bite.
Murray cod fishing is brutal on gear with snaggy timber, bone-crunching bites, and fish capable of inhaling baits whole. Nomad Design lures built tough for Australian conditions from the Maniax and Dozer Minnow to the Swimtrex, Vertrex, Maverick and more you know every cast counts. Keep casting. Stay patient. The next hit could be the fish of a lifetime.
