Our Story
HOW IT ALL BEGAN
crafted by experience. driven by passion.
nomad sportfishing to Nomad Design
In the late 1990s, Captain Damon Olsen set out to make a dream a reality, to build a world-class bluewater sportfishing charter that pushed beyond the edge of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef into the untouched Coral Sea. What started as a young fisherman’s vision for adventure soon became one of the most ambitious and groundbreaking charter operations ever attempted.
The plan was bold: construct an 80-foot mothership, supported by a fleet of smaller sportfishing center consoles, accessible only by float plane flights deep into the ocean. By 2005, that dream came to life as Nomad Sportfishing Adventures, a pioneering operation that drew anglers from around the world to experience some of the most remote and exhilarating fishing on the planet.
From the Coral Sea to Creating Better Tackle
Years spent guiding and fishing in the world’s harshest marine environments taught Damon a critical lesson, most tackle just couldn’t handle the ferocity of the Coral Sea’s predators. As a qualified engineer and lifelong angler, Damon decided to create his own solutions. Combining technical design expertise with decades of real-world experience, he began crafting lures built to perform, endure, and catch more fish.
That passion led to the launch of Nomad Design Tackle in 2015. What started in Australia quickly evolved into a global fishing brand known for innovation, quality, and performance.
A Global Legacy of Innovation
By 2018, Nomad Design had expanded into the U.S. market, where anglers embraced groundbreaking products like the DTX Minnow, Madmacs, Squidtrex, and Vertrex. Each design reflected the company’s core philosophy, created by anglers, for anglers, and proven through relentless on-the-water testing in the toughest conditions.
Today, Nomad Design continues to lead the way in tackle innovation with new technologies like the patent-pending tungsten weight system, developed to enhance lure performance across both freshwater and saltwater environments. This breakthrough marks another step in the brand’s mission to redefine what fishing tackle can do.
Crafted by Experience
Every product that bears the Nomad Design name is Crafted by Experience born from countless days at sea, refined by engineering precision, and tested to perfection. Our philosophy is simple:
We make tackle that works better, is more enjoyable to use, and helps anglers catch more fish. Driven by innovation and a lifelong passion for fishing, Nomad Design remains committed to crafting gear that stands up to the elements and delivers results where it matters most - on the water.
Captain Damon Olsen
Founder & Head Lure Designer, Nomad Design
Nomad Design Tackle Begins
A Visionary in Storytelling and Marketing
As early as 2001, long before YouTube and social media, Captain Damon Olsen recognized the power of sharing fishing adventures through video. To bring the thrill of Nomad Sportfishing to anglers around the world, he began filming epic Coral Sea expeditions and uploading them to the Nomad website.
These pioneering efforts in digital storytelling were well ahead of their time. Monthly videos and newsletters gave anglers a front-row seat to the extreme bluewater action, helping fuel global demand for Nomad Sportfishing charters. Damon’s innovative marketing approach not only filled boats but also laid the foundation for Nomad Design’s future success, connecting a worldwide community of anglers to the adventure, passion, and innovation that define the brand today.
HISTORY
OUR JOURNEY
Necessity is the Mother of Invention
Our lures are the result of a lifelong passion for fishing and an uncompromising desire to create lures for every species of fish, anywhere in the world.
Experience. Innovation. Design.
