Nomad Design Tuna Trolling Masterclass

How to Master High-Speed Tuna Fishing with Nomad Design Lures
When it comes to chasing tuna from school-sized yellowfin to barrel-class bluefin, success depends on more than just throwing out a spread and hoping for chaos. It’s about understanding how lures behave at speed, how depth and distance interact, and how to rig for maximum hook-up and hold.
This masterclass is your all-in-one breakdown of how to use Nomad Design’s DTX HD Minnows, Madmacs & Madscad 190AT to raise more tuna and lose fewer fish.

Why Lure Design Matters in Tuna Trolling?
Most lures are built for average conditions. Nomad lures aren’t. The DTX HD series and Madmacs are designed with Hydrospeed technology, Autotune towpoints, and internal ribbing systems that do one thing better than anything else on the market: they track deep, fast, and straight under pressure. 
What that means for you:
•    Less line tangles
•    Better lure action at wide speed ranges
•    More hook-ups at depth
•    Fish that hit like freight trains and stay stuck

Understanding Each Lure Series & What Each One Does

DTX 220 HD

This thing is an absolute missile underwater. Troll it between 4 and 12 knots and it’ll hold depth and direction like it’s locked on rails. When run at least 200 feet back behind the boat, especially on lighter braided line like 65-80lb, it can hit depths of up to 50 feet. That’s massive for a hard-bodied minnow. And it does it without needing any extra lead, planers, or gimmicks.

·        Trolling Speed: 4–12 knots

·        Depth Range: Up to 50ft when trolled 200ft back on 65–80lb braid

·        Application: Ideal for targeting big tuna, wahoo, marlin, and kingfish when depth is critical

Pro Tip: Trolling at least 200ft back reduces prop wash noise and gives the lure time to dig. Braid has less drag in the water than mono, letting the lure reach deeper. A small solid-ring connection allows the towpoint to tune properly, helping the DTX swim straight.

DTX 200 HD

This size also pulls its weight. It can be pushed at speeds over 10 knots and still tracks like a dream, diving to 40 feet when run at the correct distance. Use it to target yellowfin, mahi, or school-sized bluefin.

·        Trolling Speed: 4-12 knots

·        Depth: 40ft+ at 6–8 knots

·        Application: School-size and mid-grade tuna, mackerel, or marlin in offshore currents

Pro Tip: Use this as your long-rigger or mid-line deep diver in a five-lure spread. It’ll give you depth without needing downriggers or leaded lines.

DTX 180 HD Shallow

A specialist in its own right. It trolls at blistering speeds up to 18 knots while running at around 10 feet of depth. That makes it the ultimate lure for high-speed scouting between spots or targeting topwater-feeding fish without slowing down.

·        Trolling Speed: 4-18 knots

·        Depth: ~10ft

·        Application: Use when travelling between spots or when tuna are feeding high in the water column

Pro Tip: Ideal for high-speed trolling over bait schools with more time in the water meaning more chances at reaction bites during spot transitions.

Madmacs: The High-Speed Sweepers

These are the high-speed weapons every serious tuna crew should have rigged and ready. The 160mm and 200mm models are built to run at speeds from 6 to 20 knots. And the bigger 240 model 15 knots. When you need to cover water, create commotion, or trigger reaction strikes from tuna hanging deep or scattered wide, nothing beats a Madmac.

The internal rib system and streamlined body give it a tight, vibrating action that works across all trolling lanes. Run it way back on the shotgun when you’re moving between zones or trying to raise fish behind a more traditional spread. It’s not uncommon for a Madmac to get hit mid-transit while everyone’s resetting baits or grabbing a sandwich, because it’s built to fish, even when you’re not.

Pro Tip: When run long and deep, Madmacs swim with a tight, vibrating action that mimics fleeing bait. Their internal rattle and vibration attract tuna from distance, especially when fished on a staggered spread where noise and profile vary.

The Silent Killer in Your Spread: Madscad 190AT

While the DTX and Madmacs dominate for depth and high-speed spread coverage, the Madscad 190 AT brings something totally unique to the lineup, a trolling stickbait with a natural baitfish action that runs clean across a wide speed range. Thanks to Nomad’s Autotune system, the Madscad 190 AT can be trolled from 6 up to 18 knots, making it incredibly versatile. At lower speeds, it delivers a subtle, seductive side-to-side swim perfect when tuna are pressured or feeding shallow.

Push it faster, and the tight stickbait action holds together surprisingly well, letting you mix it into both travel troll setups and full-speed spreads. It's deadly when run off a long rigger or center flat, especially around bait balls, current lines, or topwater activity. Whether you're covering ground or targeting spooky surface-feeders, the Madscad 190 AT lets you stay stealthy while staying on the move. Like all Nomad lures, it’s tuned straight out of the box with factory-fitted BKK hardware, no hook swaps needed. Rig it with 150–200lb mono or fluoro, keep your connections small, and let it do the work. 

Pro Tip: When tuna are boiling on bait but ignoring deep divers and high-speed lures, drop the Madscad 190 AT back 80–100ft on the long rigger and troll at 8–10 knots. Its natural stickbait swim mimics a fleeing baitfish without spooking pressured fish perfect for turning refusals into blowups.

Rigging Science: Depth, Speed & Drag Interplay for optimal performance: There’s a science to getting the most out of these lures, and it starts with your leader setup. Use mono or fluorocarbon in the 130–200lb range depending on target species and water clarity. Fluoro is ideal for stealth in clear conditions, while mono offers more stretch and forgiveness during long runs. If wahoo or mackerel are in the mix, step up to single or multi-strand wire to prevent bite-offs.

Pro Tip: Braid mainlines create less drag than mono, allowing lures to run deeper. But braid has no stretch, so use a mono or fluoro leader as a shock absorber.

Connection Tips
•    Use small crimps or a Uni Knot to a solid ring
•    Avoid bulky snaps or clips as they disrupt swim action and reduce diving ability
•    Stick with factory hooks, Nomad lures are tank-tested to be perfectly balanced. Swapping to oversized hooks can kill the action.

Pro Tip: The DTX HD’s Autotune towpoint system adjusts under load. But oversized or off-balance connections (e.g. twisted snap swivels) can overload one side and cause the lure to roll or track off-center.

Spread Layout to Maximize Coverage & Depth

Tuna don’t eat in a straight line and neither should your spread. The goal is to cover multiple depths, show varied actions, and create just enough chaos to trigger a bite without blowing them out.

Start by running a DTX 220 HD long and deep on one corner. This lure is your depth anchor cutting through prop wash and tracking 40–50 feet down when run properly on braid. On the other side, load up a Madmac 160 or 200, your high-speed agitator. Its tight vibration and straight-line speed make it a killer closer to the boat or in the second wave of whitewash.

When fish are up high, spooky, or just not committing to traditional divers, slide the Madscad 190AT out on the long rigger or center flat. It trolls clean from 6 to 18 knots, with a natural baitfish swim that’s deadly around bait schools or current lines. Unlike most stickbaits, it holds depth and tracks straight even when you’re on the move, making it perfect for travel trolling or when tuna are tracking near the surface.

Keep the DTX 200 HD running down the middle of your spread to cover mid-depth, and don’t forget the DTX 180 HD Shallow as your flat-line troll while repositioning between zones. It gives you a shallow-running, high-speed option that can stay in play even when everything else is out of the water.

With this spread, you’re not just fishing you’re forcing fish to make a decision. Fast vs natural. Deep vs shallow. Pressure vs opportunity. And when it all comes together, you’ll know. Fast.

Watch your boat’s wake, check how the lures track in the wash, and adjust lengths based on what holds their action. If you’re marking fish deep but not getting bites, push your DTXs further back and switch to braid to gain extra depth. If you’re in shallow bait balls or topwater activity, bring your lures up in the column and increase speed slightly to trigger bites.

Reading Conditions: When to Adjust Your Spread
•    Big Swell or Cross Current? Run Madmacs closer to the boat, DTX may dig too aggressively
•    Clear Water, Boat Traffic? Scale leader down to 130–150lb fluorocarbon for stealth
•    Birds & Bait on Top? Bring your DTX shallower or run DTX 180 Shallow higher in the water
•    Fish Sounding? Deploy the 220 HD on braid to reach maximum depth. 

Fishing Smarter, Not Harder
Success comes down to precision, consistency, and understanding your gear.
The DTX HD, Madmac & Madscad range gives you the tools to fish like the pros and if you take the time to rig them right, position them properly, and troll them with intent.
No bait. No guesswork. Just results.