Big baits big bites

This might come as a shock, but for the first time, I headed out with one goal in mind, throwing big lures in search of a big Murray cod at my local. 

For the past five years I’ve spent a few hours on one of Australia’s premier Murray cod fisheries. But I’ve always downsized, specifically targeting smaller cod and yellowbelly. This trip was different. The plan was simple, cast big lures and commit to the bite.

Over the last few months I’ve been watching plenty of the guys using scopes (forward-facing sonar). Whether you’re for it or against it, there’s no denying how much you can learn by simply observing. Not just fish behaviour, but where anglers consistently position their boats and why.

So with this information and applied it from the bank.

The interesting part? The bank I chose was one I would’ve walked straight past a few months ago. It looked almost featureless, but the pattern of where boats repeatedly stopped told a different story.

The first morning delivered two encounters. One fish followed right to my feet, and the second committed. Success, on the 300mm wakebait.

The following morning gave me something I’ll be thinking about for years.

A boat with a scope had just drifted through the area, and I figured my chances were gone. A few casts later, everything changed.

It only lasted about two seconds, but what a two seconds.

The explosion, the hole it left in the surface, and that sound, I’ll be hearing it in my head for a long time.

I never really came up tight, and there wasn’t a single tooth mark left on the lure. But what it managed to do to a 2/0 hook in those couple of seconds shouldn’t have been possible.

Sometimes you don’t need to land the fish to know you’re onto something.

Safe to say, I’ll be spending a lot more time casting the bigger lures from the bank. 

When everything finally lines Up

 People often say persistence pays off, and this lure is proof of that.

I honestly don’t know what version this is anymore. It’s been years in the making. Two good mates have been on my case for a long time, asking me to build a jewfish lure that would do 

This and that

On paper it sounded simple, but combining those two key actions into one lure has pushed every lure-making trick I’ve learned over the years.

Time after time I’d get one characteristic perfect, but the other would be completely off. Back to the drawing board. 

Adjust. Test. Repeat.

That’s the reality of handcrafted lure design. Sometimes the smallest change completely transforms how a lure behaves in the water.

Then comes the moment that makes it all worthwhile. The first proper test session, and it gets eaten.

One fish doesn’t mean the job is finished, but it tells me I’m heading in the right direction.

So here’s a little sneak peek at where most of my attention has been over the last couple of years. There’s still plenty of testing ahead, but I’m excited to finally share a glimpse of what’s been keeping me busy.

Stay tuned, I think this one’s got plenty to give.

P.s yes the background has been Ai in these photos to protect the innocent 😂

Week wrap

Auctions & Fixed Price Baits

This week marked the final run before a short break, wrapping up with two lure auctions and a small release of fixed price baits. A solid mix of handcrafted timber lures went out, each one a reflection of where things are currently sitting in terms of design, refinement, and on-water intent.

Leading the charge were the two wakebaits, the Ghost Wake and the slim wakebait variant. Both built around the same core idea of surface presence, but each offering a different feel in the water. The Ghost carried that clean wake profile, while the slim version leaned into a tighter, more controlled action, making it a versatile crossover lure suited to multiple species and conditions.

Alongside the wakebaits, a sets of bass walkers went through as a yin yang combo. Opposing in look, but matched in purpose.  A balance of contrast, symmetry, and function. These topwater lures continue to prove themselves as a time-tested design to produce that signature walk and click that draws fish in.

The fixed price release rounded things out, with a handful of these bass walkers timber finding their way to new owners. As always, these smaller runs are a chance to keep things moving while still focusing on quality over quantity.

From a lure building perspective, this week was a good snapshot of progression,  refining existing designs like the wakebait series, while continuing to experiment with variations in profile, action, and application.

With the out of office about to kick in, things will slow down on the release front. There’s still plenty happening at the bench, testing, tweaking, and quietly building toward what’s next.

As always, appreciate the support from those who jumped into the auctions and picked up a bait

Shou Sugi Ban char lure

 A New Direction at the Bench

Inspiration doesn’t always come from within the fishing space. Sometimes it shows up in everyday surroundings, and this time it came from a house being built just behind us. The builders were using Shou Sugi Ban cladding, and it immediately stood out. The depth, texture, and contrast of that charred timber finish is hard to ignore — raw, refined, and full of character all at once.

It got me thinking about how that same approach could translate into lure design.

Shou Sugi Ban, for those unfamiliar, is a traditional Japanese timber preservation and finishing technique where the surface of the wood is charred to enhance durability while bringing out a unique grain pattern. It’s commonly used in architecture, but applying it to handcrafted timber lures isn’t something you see every day.

Naturally, the question was — why not try it?

The challenge was finding the right balance. In lure building, appearance is only one part of the equation. The finish still needs to hold up to water, impact, and repeated use. I wanted to retain that authentic burnt timber character, with all its texture and visual depth, while still sealing the lure properly with a protective epoxy clear coat.

After a bit of trial and adjustment, it came together. The result is something that feels quite different in the hand — slightly raw in appearance, but still clean and durable where it needs to be. The char brings out a natural pattern that paint simply can’t replicate, giving the lure a distinct identity without overcomplicating it.

This is the first time I’ve used this kind of timber finishing technique in my builds, and like anything new, it raises a few questions. How will it hold up over time? Will the finish maintain its integrity after repeated sessions? Does the altered surface have any subtle effect on lure performance in the water?

There’s only one way to answer those questions.

The next step is to get it out on the water for proper lure testing. That’s always where theory meets reality. You can shape, build, and refine all you like at the bench, but until a lure swims, tracks, and responds under real conditions, the process isn’t complete.

My feeling is this won’t be the last time I experiment with Shou Sugi Ban in lure construction. There’s something about the balance of tradition, function, and aesthetics that fits well within the broader philosophy of keeping things simple but purposeful.

For now, it’s a matter of putting it through its paces.

Time will tell.

At the Bench

Well, Really the Glue-Up Desk

There are plenty of moments in lure building that look exciting from the outside — shaping timber, painting patterns, testing a new design on the water. But the reality is that a large part of the process happens in the quieter stages, and today was one of those days. Not at the shaping bench, not in the paint booth, but at what I call the glue-up desk.

This stage is where the individual components of a handcrafted timber lure start to come together. After the cutting, shaping, and preparing of the individual pieces, the focus shifts to assembly, alignment, and bonding. It might sound simple, but this part of the lure building process is critical. If things aren’t straight, balanced, and seated correctly at this stage, it will show up later in the lure action and swimming performance.

Over the last little while I’ve been slowly bringing a handful of custom fishing baits together. Nothing rushed, nothing forced — just steady progress as each lure moves through the early construction stages. Timber selection, body alignment, and making sure everything sits exactly where it needs to before the adhesive sets. With timber lure construction, patience is everything.

The goal with this current batch is to have them ready just in time for what many anglers know as the end-of-season big bite. As the water temperatures shift and fish begin feeding differently, it can be one of the most rewarding windows of the year for lure fishing. Having a few fresh handmade fishing lures ready for that period always adds a bit of excitement.

If everything goes to plan, these custom timber lures should be ready and available next week. As always, I prefer to take the time needed to get things right rather than rush them out the door.

For those interested in picking one up, keep an eye on this page over the coming days. I’ll be sharing more lure release details, updates from the bench, and a closer look at the finished handcrafted fishing baits as they move through the final stages.

One. One for Myself.

 At Christmas I was gifted two small pieces of Tasmanian Huon Pine, and anyone who knows timber understands just how special that is. Huon Pine isn’t just another Australian timber; it carries history, character, and a grain that deserves respect. It’s tight, consistent, beautifully aromatic when worked, and it tells its own story before you even shape it.

It felt only right that these pieces wouldn’t become client builds or auction pieces. Over the course of this year, they’re for me. Personal projects. Lures built without pressure, without deadline, just a quiet pursuit of doing the timber justice.

The first off the bench is a semi-nude diving lure, designed to showcase the natural grain rather than bury it under layers of paint. Staying true to the material is important. With Huon Pine, less is more. The goal wasn’t to overpower it, but to complement it.

A subtle flame treatment was used to lift the grain and bring depth to the surface. Just a small amount of black detailing was added to frame the profile without dominating it. In the final stages, a touch of gold fleck suspended in the clear coat gives it life when it catches the light, understated in the workshop, but alive in the water.

To finish it off, I added two fluro eyes as a defined hot spot, a clear strike point without taking away from the natural aesthetic. They provide contrast and intent, balancing tradition with function.

In the hand, this handcrafted timber lure feels special. There’s weight, warmth, and that unmistakable feel that only natural timber provides. But as always, looks mean little without performance. Fortunately, it backs it up. The diving action is clean and deliberate, tracking true with the kind of movement that only comes from careful shaping, ballast placement, and time spent refining the details.

This one isn’t about hype or release dates. It’s about craftsmanship, restraint, and building something personal from a timber that deserves nothing less

3.7 Tarpon

I’ve been asked a number of times over the years about the little skiff I’m running, so here it is, the 3.7 Tarpon 

Specs, straight up:

3.7m

42kg

15hp

Fibreglass / Kevlar composite

These skiffs first popped up on the Australian boat market when I was much younger. They grabbed my attention straight away, even though at the time I didn’t really want a boat, I was more than content fishing the rocks. 

Years rolled by, four boats came and went, and then one popped up on Gumtree. Thirty years on, these things are hard to find in good condition, and of course this one was in Brisbane, some 900km away. But you do what you have to do. The next day we made the journey.

That was seven years ago now.

Since then, this little skiff has performed exactly as it should. Lightweight, flies with a 15hp, and floats in next to nothing over the flats. For tight water fishing, I still reckon it’s one of the best small-boat platforms going.

It’s not without its limits. Open water with chop, or the wake from a tug boat, will see water come over the bow. But pick your days and even a 15km run up a dam is doable and safe.

Over those seven years, plenty of things have come and gone. Gear sold, swapped, upgraded, always chasing something bigger, better, or simpler. Everything on this rig has come from Marketplace or swaps. Nothing is brand new, and that suits me just fine.

For a small fishing rig, she’s just right for my style of fishing.

Not everyone’s cup of tea — but no boat ever is. 

Cut Back Thumping Wake

 Small by nature, but big on presence. This cut-back wakebait design keeps everything clean and simple, while the thumping tail does the heavy lifting,  pushing water, sending out the right sonics, vibration, and surface disturbance to get noticed.

Built specifically for surface fishing, tuned for feel and feedback, and made to be fished slow, this is a lure that comes alive at minimal speed. No excess, no fluff,  just the fundamentals done right.

A simple wakebait, but far from subtle

Cut Back Rat

 Small by topwater rat bait standards, but still holding onto the key features that matter. This compact surface lure is designed to keep things minimal without giving up action.

Weighing in at just 15g, this lightweight topwater lure lands softly on the water, perfect for tight spots and spooky fish. Once it starts moving, though, it pushes water and creates a solid surface presence well beyond its size.

A simple lure design, but still big on surface action

Another Wake-Up Call

 Well,  the kind you want.

Another lure doing what it was built to do,  telling stories from the water. This time it was a message from Adam, which went something along the lines of:

“Finally got a chance to cast your lures around. Loved it,  and so did 20-odd Murray Cod”

220mm Wakebait with the added Thumper tail

That’s always a welcome wake-up call. Real fish, real rivers, and handmade timber lures doing their job exactly as intended. Whether it’s a wakebait or swimbait, there’s no better feedback than time spent on the water and fish willing to commit.

These moments are a reminder of why I keep building, tweaking, and testing custom cod lures,  not for the bench, but for days like that.

Stories like this never get old.