Super size, Up scale

Why not?

When a cut-back, minimalist bass size wakebait starts to really excite you, the next logical step is to up scale the design for Murray Cod. Same fundamentals. Same clean lines. Just more timber, more presence, and more authority in the water.

This up sized cod wakebait keeps everything that worked in the smaller version, but adds a serious dose of attitude with the Thump Tail. The result is a lure that thumps hard, pushes water, and announces itself long before it reaches the strike zone,  exactly what a big surface cod lure should do.

Rigged with a single 3/0 hook on a double split ring, sits low in the water, right where a hook needs to be. In theory, it’s positioned perfectly to maintain a clean wake, solid roll, and consistent surface presence at slow speeds.

Now it’s time to take it off the bench and into the real world. A couple more need to be built so they can be properly tested,  cast, cranked, bumped, and fished the way a handmade timber cod lure should be.

Simple ideas. Scaled up.

Now for the real-world test.

Keeping it rolling

Once you start something, it’s usually best to keep the momentum going. After yesterday’s “simple not so simple” wakebait post, I jumped straight back into the shed this afternoon and kept the ideas flowing.

Today saw three different wakebait designs hit the bench:

• One Murray Cod-sized wakebait, a 2-piece timber lure
• Two Bass-sized wakebaits, both 1-piece designs

These cut-back, back-to-basics lures have really got me thinking. Stripping away the bulk and focusing purely on action, balance, and profile forces you to look at lure fundamentals in a new light. It’s the full-circle moment I didn’t realise I needed, returning to the core principles that make a wakebait swim true.

The deeper I go into this minimalist approach to handmade fishing lures, the more potential I see. Cod bait or bass bait, big or small, the concept is proving itself across sizes.

As they say… watch this space. More testing, more tweaking, more pared-back designs to come.

Keeping It Simple… Not So Simple

Funny how the simplest lure designs can sit right in front of you for years before they finally click. This week I found myself circling back to a concept that has been staring me down for far too long, a minimalist wakebait idea that I could never quite justify cutting back to. Not until now.

After spending countless hours working on bigger baits, refining profiles, testing bib angles, balancing weights, and chasing the perfect action, I finally understand what those long nights were teaching me. The fundamentals. The backbone. The non-negotiables of a lure’s behaviour.

Only by going big for so long was I able to confidently go small.

Now, with a much deeper understanding of what truly drives action, I’ve been able to strip this lure back to the bare minimum, no unnecessary bulk, no wasted movement, while still keeping that subtle, true wakebait swim I was chasing. A clean, tight, honest action.

A reminder that “simple” is rarely simple at all.

I’m looking forward to seeing where this cut-back concept leads me next.

Sometimes the best ideas aren’t new, they’re just waiting for you to finally understand them.

Simple. Not so simple. Wake.

Last BIG baits for 2025

 

Big Baits Are Back — A Week of Lure Auctions and Tweaks

This week saw the return of lure auctions, and what a way to bring them back. On the surface the two 300mm timber lures up for grabs almost looked like twins, but put them in the water and they reveal two very different personalities. Designed for anglers who love to fine-tune their gear, these big baits have been a highlight to work on and release.

300mm Wakebait,  With Options to Match the Bite

The first lure was our 300mm Wakebait, but with a twist. This big lure now comes with three tail options,  bucktail, rats tail, and the new Thump Tail. Each one changes the action, feel and presence in the water, letting you tweak the presentation to suit the day’s conditions, fish mood, or structure you’re working.

To top it off, this Wakebait features our new black carbon-look bib. This bib material offers just a touch of flex,  a huge advantage when those wayward casts find rock instead of water. A small detail, but one with a big benefit for anyone who throws big baits around hard structure at night.

300mm CrankDown,  Similar Shape, Different Behaviour

The second auctioned lure might look similar, but it’s actually our 300mm CrankDown model. The bib angle is changed to give it a different job underwater. On a slow roll it will still wake across the surface, but add a little crank and it will dive to around a foot, rolling and flashing just below the surface with that seductive crankbait sway. A perfect crankdown lure for when fish want something sitting a touch deeper.

Wakebait up top. CrankDown underneath. Same size. Two different tools.

These will be our last big bait builds for 2025, so if you’re a collector, a musky-style big bait angler, a Murray Cod hunter, or someone who simply loves handcrafted timber lures, keep your eyes on future drops. More custom lure releases will roll out through the year,  just not in the 300mm class.

Crank down

 Crank it down. Or keep it waking.

This handcrafted timber lure is built for on-the-spot tweaking while you’re mid-retrieve.

Slow roll it for a topwater wake bait action, flashing across the surface with that subtle roll.

Add just a touch more speed and she’ll slip under the surface, swimming with a unique rolling action and a foil gill plate flash that’s hard for fish to ignore.

Surface or sub-surface, how would you roll it? 

#Fishing #LureFishing #HandmadeLures #TimberLures #TopwaterLure #WakeBait #Crankbait #AustralianLures #FishingAustralia #BassFishing #YellowbellyFishing #MurrayCod #FishingLife #CustomLures #NutterjuckLures #FreshwaterFishing #CatchAndRelease #FishingGear #LureMaker #FishingAddict #FishingCommunity #TackleTalk #LureAction #FishOn #SlowRoll #SurfaceStrike

Packaging tweak

 

As part of bringing this long-resting blog back to life, I’ve also taken the opportunity to update and refine some of the Nutterjuck Lures packaging, especially for our smaller Bass lures. Since 2016, a lot has evolved in the world of handmade fishing lures, and it felt like the perfect time to refresh the look while staying true to the simple, minimalist style that has always defined our timber lures.

You’ll also notice a major change for the first time, our small Bass lures: they now come with hooks. From day one, these lures were intentionally sold without hooks, based on the idea that hooks are a personal choice, brand, gauge, style, barb or barbless, everyone has their preference. But over the years, it became clear that many of these custom lures were never actually making it onto the water.

At their core, these lures are designed to be fished. They’re crafted to swim, to be tested, to chase Australian Bass, and ultimately to help create stories worth sharing. If adding hooks encourages more anglers to tie them on and put them to work, then that small change is absolutely a win.

For me, the real magic of handmade timber lures lies in the stories they gather, the scratches, the hook rash, the memories attached to each fish. Seeing these lures out there doing what they were built to do is the heart and soul of Nutterjuck.

With the blog fired back up and new content on the way, this update marks another step forward in keeping the craft alive, sharing the journey, and connecting with fellow anglers who appreciate high-quality fishing lures Australia can rely on.

Tags:
#TimberLures #HandmadeFishingLures #BassLures #AustralianBass #CustomLures #LureMaking #FishingAustralia #MinimalistDesign #FishingGear #BassFishing #FreshwaterFishing #NutterjuckLures #LureDesign #SmallLures #HandcraftedFishingGear

Blog Is Back

 

It’s been a long time coming, but this blog is back! The last post was way back in 2016, and a lot has changed since then, not just in the world of timber lures and handmade fishing lures, but in the way we share and source information as anglers. Back in 2016, forums were fading, and social media was really taking over the conversation. YouTube has gone through several cycles too, from short clips to long production videos, back to shorts, and now a mix of both. New platforms have emerged, and the way anglers connect and share insights is constantly evolving.

Through all these changes, one thing has remained the same: timber lures are still timber. The styles may have shifted slightly over the years, but at their core, they remain functional, handcrafted fishing lures designed to catch. The biggest evolution since my last post has been the rise of big baits, oversized lures like swimbaits and wakebaits are now being used more frequently, with some exceeding 300mm for targeting Bass and Flathead.

My goal with reviving this blog is to create a reliable record of handmade lures, design updates, and the testing that goes into producing effective custom lures. Looking ahead to 2026, I’m aiming for regular monthly updates to share insights, fishing stories, and behind-the-scenes looks at timber lure making and lure design.

So, if you’re an angler who appreciates handcrafted fishing gear, make sure to keep this blog in your favorites. Unlike social media, it’s a space where you can easily find past insights, historical lure designs, and the evolution of ideas in one place. Welcome back to the world of timber lures!

Tags:
#TimberLures #HandmadeFishingLures #CustomLures #LureMaking #FishingAustralia #BassFishing #FlatheadFishing #BigBaits #Swimbaits #Wakebaits #LureDesign #HandcraftedFishingGear #AnglerBlog #FishingUpdates #BassLures

Re-vamped Spybait

Over the past few months, the Spybait has undergone several thoughtful refinements as I continue sharing updates on handmade fishing lures and custom lure development. This space will be where I communicate progress, design tweaks, and insights into timber lure making with customers and fellow anglers.

Recently, the Spybait’s overall length was slightly reduced to improve balance and enhance its performance in the water. These adjustments have noticeably boosted the lure’s action both on the drop and during the retrieve, creating a more responsive and enticing presentation for freshwater species such as Yellow Belly and Australian Bass. The improved action makes this model even more effective for anglers who rely on high-quality freshwater fishing lures.

This update also marks the first time I’ve added foil gill plates to a Spybait build. Not only do they support a clean, minimalist lure design, but they also add a subtle flash and realism—key features when fishing clear water or pressured environments. These refinements reflect my commitment to producing handcrafted fishing gear that performs as well as it looks.

As I continue refining designs and exploring new techniques within the world of lure design, I’ll keep sharing progress, tips, and behind-the-scenes insights with the tackle craft community across Australia.

Tags:
#LureMaking #Spybait #CustomLures #HandmadeFishingLures #FishingAustralia #BassFishing #YellowBelly #LureDesign #TackleCraft #MinimalistDesign

JerkBait

This sweet little slim-profile jerkbait has quickly become one of my favourite designs for chasing Bream, especially for anglers who appreciate handmade fishing lures with a clean, minimalist style. Built with a streamlined body and refined movement, this Bream bait is crafted to deliver precision and finesse, two qualities that matter when targeting pressured fish in estuaries across Australia.

Designed with light-tackle fishing in mind, this slim jerkbait produces a tight, controlled dart that mimics small estuary prey. Its subtle action and compact body make it ideal for structure, shallow flats, and deeper edges. Like all my custom lures, the design philosophy reflects years of timber lure making and a commitment to crafting high-quality fishing lures Australia anglers can trust.

The minimalist shape and fine detailing, core elements of my approach to handcrafted fishing gear, help create a natural presentation that Bream often can’t resist. Whether you’re refining your estuary game or expanding your lure collection, this slim jerkbait is a versatile and reliable addition.

As I continue updating this blog and using it as a platform to share new builds, design tweaks, and insights into lure design, I look forward to posting more prototypes, testing notes, and handcrafted creations tailored for Aussie waters.

Tags:
#LureMaking #BreamLures #CustomLures #HandmadeFishingLures #FishingAustralia #EstuaryFishing #Jerkbait #TackleCraft #LureDesign #MinimalistDesign

Bass Loving Nipple

The local Bass have been absolutely loving the new Reborn Nipple lure, and the early results have been exciting to share. Whether fishing wild river systems or working the deeper edges of stocked impoundments, this updated design has been performing incredibly well. As I continue using this blog as the main platform to communicate with customers, I’ll be sharing more testing notes, photos, and behind-the-scenes updates on all my handmade fishing lures.

The Reborn Nipple has been refined using the same principles I apply across all my custom lures and timber lure making, clean lines, balanced profiles, and responsive action. This particular lure has shown impressive versatility, delivering a natural movement that appeals to both river Bass and impoundment fish. Its subtle vibration and compact body make it a dependable option for anglers chasing Australian Bass in a range of environments.

From fast-moving wild rivers to calm, clear impoundments, the Reborn Nipple has proved itself as a reliable addition to any tackle box. These early sessions reinforce my ongoing commitment to producing high-quality handcrafted fishing gear and innovative fishing lures Australia anglers can trust.

More updates, testing results, and photos are on the way as I continue refining designs and exploring new approaches within lure design.

Tags:
#LureMaking #BassFishing #AustralianBass #CustomLures #HandmadeFishingLures #FishingAustralia #TackleCraft #TimberLures #LureDesign #MinimalistDesign

Coding On

I managed to get out on the water just after the opening day of Cod season to chase some topwater Green Fish, and it turned into an unforgettable session. This space will now be my main platform for sharing updates with customers, showcasing new handmade fishing lures, and giving regular insight into my custom lure development and timber lure making process.

The story of this trip is summed up perfectly in three words:

Click… Click… BOOM.

The explosive surface hit came courtesy of the Clicking Codmotion, a lure designed to create subtle rhythmic sound and clean surface disturbance, key elements when targeting Murray Cod in both rivers and impoundments. This handcrafted design, like all my fishing lures Australia anglers use, focuses on balance, durability, and a natural topwater presence.

Seeing this sweet-water Cod inhale the lure reinforced exactly why I love building handcrafted fishing gear. The Codmotion’s action, combined with its minimalist shape and pronounced clicking sound, proved once again that thoughtful lure design makes all the difference on the water.

More testing photos, design upgrades, and topwater lure insights will be shared here as the season rolls on. I’m looking forward to using this blog to connect more closely with the fishing community and continue showcasing the evolution of my craft.

Tags:
#LureMaking #MurrayCod #TopwaterFishing #CustomLures #HandmadeFishingLures #FishingAustralia #TimberLures #TackleCraft #LureDesign #GreenFish

Topwater weedless

Over the years, I’ve experimented with countless ways to create an effective weedless topwater lure, trying to strike the perfect balance between function and hook-up performance. One of the unavoidable side effects of most weedless lure designs is a reduced hook-up rate, but the trade-off is access to water you simply cannot fish with a standard setup. Thick weed, heavy lilies, dense cover… all the places where Bass love to hide.

This summer, I’ve taken a big step forward in my handmade fishing lures and custom lure development by designing a new weedless model specifically built for tough Australian conditions. This lure wiggles and crawls its way over, under, and around lily pads with ease. It skims across thick weed beds, slips through cover, and, best of all, still hooks fish on the pause.

The magic is in the setup: once the lure stops moving, the hook hangs freely beneath it, perfectly positioned and ready to pin an aggressive Australian Bass waiting in ambush. It’s a design that blends practicality, creativity, and years of timber lure making experience.

This weedless topwater creation has quickly become one of my favourite pieces of handcrafted fishing gear, especially when fishing heavy structure. To see it in action, check out the video on the Facebook page showing a real-world hook-up in thick, unforgiving weed, exactly the place this lure is built for.

More updates, design notes, and future refinements will be shared here as I continue exploring new approaches in lure design and producing innovative fishing lures Australia anglers can rely on.

Tags:
#LureMaking #BassFishing #AustralianBass #WeedlessLure #TopwaterFishing #CustomLures #HandmadeFishingLures #FishingAustralia #TimberLures #LureDesign #TackleCraft

The Nipple Re-Birth

After a few years on the bench, the Nipple lure has officially been reborn, and the wait has been well worth it. Bringing this design back to life has opened up a huge range of possibilities, especially for anglers who enjoy experimenting with handmade fishing lures and exploring different rigging styles. This blog will now be my main platform to share updates, insights, and new developments with customers as the Nipple continues to evolve.

The updated Nipple has been redesigned with versatility in mind. One of the standout features of this model is the sheer number of ways it can be rigged. Whether you’re into finesse setups, heavy structure presentations, or creative topwater tweaks, the options are almost endless. This adaptability makes it a favourite among anglers who appreciate high-quality custom lures and enjoy pushing the boundaries of traditional lure design.

The community has also played a big role in shaping how the reborn Nipple is used. The Nutterjuck Facebook page has been full of great examples, from innovative rigging ideas to real-world success stories. It’s been exciting to see how different anglers tailor the Nipple for Bass, Cod, and other Aussie species, further proving why thoughtfully crafted fishing lures Australia can deliver such standout performance.

As I continue developing new designs and refining classics through timber lure making, I’ll be using this space to share behind-the-scenes insights, rigging tips, and updates on my latest handcrafted fishing gear.

Tags:
#LureMaking #CustomLures #HandmadeFishingLures #BassFishing #AustralianBass #FishingAustralia #TackleCraft #TimberLures #LureDesign #NippleLure #Nutterjuck

ClickingMotion

Over the past month, the Murray Cod bite has been nothing short of incredible. The fish have been absolutely fired up, and it’s been exciting watching so many anglers put my handmade fishing lures and custom lures to work in the rivers and impoundments. As I start using this blog again as my main platform to communicate with customers, I’ll be sharing more stories, updates, and insights into my ongoing lure design and timber lure making process.

The messages I’ve been receiving lately say it all. Every couple of days my phone buzzes with the same unmistakable line:

Click… Click… BOOM.

That’s the sound of a Murray Cod crushing a topwater lure, often the Clicking Codmotion, which many anglers are now calling their go-to in heavy structure and low-light conditions. These real-world results reinforce why I put so much time into building dependable, high-performance fishing lures Australia anglers can trust when targeting big, powerful fish.

When the bite is this good, there isn’t much more that needs to be said. Big Cod. Big surface hits. And big smiles from the anglers sending those texts.

More updates, lure refinements, and on-water testing notes will be shared here as the season continues.

Tags:
#MurrayCod #CodFishing #TopwaterFishing #LureMaking #CustomLures #HandmadeFishingLures #FishingAustralia #TackleCraft #TimberLures #LureDesign #ClickClickBoom

Spybait in the making

The Spybait continues to evolve, and while there’s still a bit of research and development needed, it’s getting closer to the performance I’ve been aiming for. Over the past few months, I’ve been testing different tweaks and adjustments to refine its action, balance, and responsiveness, and the results are promising.

This lure has been part of my ongoing handmade fishing lures and custom lure projects, where the goal is to create high-quality, effective fishing lures Australia anglers can rely on. From the way it moves on the drop to the action during the retrieve, every little adjustment in design and construction makes a noticeable difference when targeting Bass, Yellow Belly, or other freshwater species.

The Spybait is also a great example of how timber lure making and thoughtful lure design come together to produce a versatile, high-performing  lure. I’ll continue using this blog as a platform to share updates, testing notes, and behind-the-scenes insights into the evolution of this lure and others in my range of handcrafted fishing gear.

Tags:
#LureMaking #Spybait #CustomLures #HandmadeFishingLures #FishingAustralia #BassFishing #YellowBelly #TimberLures #LureDesign #TackleCraft #TopwaterLures

Click Click BOOM

This week, I’m excited to roll out just a few of the new Clicking CodMotions, fresh from the workshop and ready to hit the water. These handcrafted fishing lures Australia anglers have been waiting for are designed to deliver exceptional topwater action, especially when targeting Murray Cod in rivers and impoundments.

Each Clicking CodMotion is built with the precision and care I put into all my handmade fishing lures and custom lures. The design focuses on a balanced, responsive action that creates subtle surface disturbance and an enticing click—perfect for triggering strikes from cautious, big Cod hiding in structure or heavy cover.

While only a few are available this week, they represent the culmination of extensive lure design and timber lure making research. I’ll continue using this blog as the main platform to share updates, testing notes, and behind-the-scenes insights into how these handcrafted fishing gear pieces are built and perform in real-world conditions.

If you’re chasing Murray Cod this season, the Clicking CodMotion is definitely one to try.

Tags:
#ClickingCodMotion #MurrayCod #TopwaterFishing #LureMaking #CustomLures #HandmadeFishingLures #FishingAustralia #TimberLures #LureDesign #TackleCraft #HandcraftedFishingGear

Natures Own

A few years ago, I was inspired by a simple foam-back eddy (as shown in the top photo) and it sparked a design concept that has stayed with me ever since. This idea is now being brought back into focus with Nutterjucks, a range of handmade fishing lures designed to capture the essence of where the soul of fishing truly lives, right there in nature itself.

By drawing inspiration from natural water features and the environments where Bass, Yellow Belly, and other freshwater species thrive, the latest custom lures are crafted to move, float, and behave in a way that feels completely natural. This approach to timber lure making combines observation, design, and practicality to produce fishing lures Australia anglers can rely on.

The beauty of this process is that every lure carries a connection to the water it’s designed for, reflecting movement, color, and behavior found in natural habitats. By taking it “back to where the soul is,” Nutterjucks continues the tradition of creating handcrafted fishing gear that not only performs on the water but also respects and celebrates the environment in which it’s used.

As I restart this blog as my platform to communicate with customers, I’ll be sharing more stories, design inspiration, behind-the-scenes build updates, and insights into my lure design process.

Tags:
#Nutterjucks #LureMaking #CustomLures #HandmadeFishingLures #FishingAustralia #BassFishing #YellowBelly #TimberLures #LureDesign #HandcraftedFishingGear #NatureInspiredLures

Five Oh

There’s nothing quite like the thrill of landing Australian Bass that smash the 50cm trophy mark, and I’ve been lucky enough to see some incredible fish hitting that milestone recently. These “Wild Five Os” are a true testament to the power and fight that Bass deliver when hooked, making them a favourite target for freshwater anglers across Australia.

Using carefully crafted handmade fishing lures and custom lures, these Bass were enticed by designs built for precision, action, and natural presentation. From timber lure making to refined lure design, every element is considered to increase your chances of connecting with big, trophy-class fish. These lures perform beautifully in rivers, lakes, and impoundments, helping anglers chase their own “Wild Five O” moments.

Capturing these Bass is not just about size, it’s about the experience. The explosive strikes, the fight across structure, and the satisfaction of seeing a carefully designed handcrafted fishing lure do its job are what make chasing Bass so rewarding. Sharing these successes here allows me to connect with customers and fellow anglers, providing insights into the fishing lures Australia anglers can trust for serious freshwater action.

As I continue using this blog as a platform to communicate updates, testing notes, and behind-the-scenes design work, you can expect more stories, trophy fish highlights, and tips for getting the most out of your custom Bass lures.

Tags:
#AustralianBass #BassFishing #TrophyBass #WildFiveO #LureMaking #CustomLures #HandmadeFishingLures #FishingAustralia #TimberLures #LureDesign #HandcraftedFishingGear