The Nomad STYX Minnow 95 immediately caught my attention as a lure that could be deadly on flathead. I have not fished it yet, so this is a first-impressions look rather than a full review, but its baitfish profile, slow-floating action and shallow running depth give it several features I look for in a twitch bait.
I originally bought the lure after hearing good reports from anglers using it from rock walls. They have been catching tailor on it, while anglers farther south have also been using it successfully for Australian salmon. Those reports were interesting, but the first thing I thought when I saw the lure was flathead fishing over shallow banks and flats.
The colour looks a lot like a small whiting, which is exactly the sort of baitfish profile I want when big flathead are sitting along the edges of a bank. Add the flash through the sides, a small diving bib and the slow-float marking on the box, and the Nomad STYX Minnow 95 looks like a very useful all-round lure.
Why the Nomad STYX Minnow 95 Caught My Attention
I am not usually someone who buys a lure simply because of the brand name. A lure has to offer something that suits the way I fish. With the Nomad STYX Minnow 95, three things stood out straight away: its colour, its shallow diving depth and its slow-floating action.
The lure is 95 mm long, weighs 9 grams and is designed to dive to about one metre. Nomad also lists it as a slow-floating lure made for casting and a twitch-and-pause retrieve. You can see the complete specifications on the official Nomad Design STYX Minnow 95 page.
The one-metre running depth of the Nomad STYX Minnow 95 should put it in a very useful zone for working over shallow flats, beside drop-offs and around structure. The body has enough shine to throw light as it moves, while the natural baitfish shape should suit clear water where predators are feeding on whiting, herring and other small baitfish.
Why a Slow-Floating Twitch Bait Can Be So Effective
The slow-floating action is probably the feature I like most about the Nomad STYX Minnow 95. When I twitch a hard-bodied lure, I want it to dive, dart and then remain in the strike zone when I pause it.
Some floating lures rise back to the surface too quickly. That can spoil the presentation because a fish may follow the lure while it is moving and then attack when it stops. If the lure shoots upward immediately, the fish may lose interest or miss its opportunity.
A suspending lure is often ideal because it sits almost motionless during the pause. A slow-floating lure is the next best thing for this style of fishing. It remains down longer and then rises gradually, giving a following fish more time to commit.
If you want a broader explanation of lure actions and retrieves, read my guide to jerk bait fishing and the twitch-and-pause retrieve. It explains the difference between floating, slow-floating, suspending and sinking jerk baits.
Those action choices are exactly why the Nomad STYX Minnow 95 interests me as a lure for several different situations.
Visit Fishing Lures That Do the Job for the hard-bodied, soft plastic, surface and squid-style lures I recommend for particular situations.
Most Strikes Come During the Pause
In my experience, most of the fish I target on twitch baits strike during the pause. The movement attracts their attention, but the pause gives them the chance to eat it.
That is why the Nomad STYX Minnow 95 interests me. I should be able to twitch it down close to its running depth, stop it beside a drain, weed edge or drop-off, and let it rise slowly like a vulnerable baitfish. That pause could be the moment when a flathead, mangrove jack, tailor or trevally hits it.
A Whiting-Style Profile for Flathead Fishing
The colour I picked has a reflective baitfish appearance that reminds me of a small whiting. That should be a strong match for fishing shallow flats because larger flathead regularly sit along banks and wait for whiting and other baitfish to move past.
I can picture the Nomad STYX Minnow 95 being twitched across the top of a flat, along a bank or down the edge where shallow water falls into a channel. The small bib should help it reach the required depth without digging too deeply into the bottom.
It could also be useful when the water cools and flathead become a more consistent target. I will begin with a twitch-twitch-pause retrieve, but I will adjust the speed and length of the pause until the fish show me what they want.
Casting Distance and Hardware
The Nomad STYX Minnow 95 contains an internal moving-weight system. When you cast, the weight shifts toward the tail to help the lure travel farther. Once the retrieve begins, the weight moves forward again so the lure sits correctly and remains balanced.
That casting system helps explain why rock-wall anglers like this style of lure. Extra distance lets you reach fish feeding beyond the wash or cover more water along a seaway. It should also be useful on large flats, where a longer cast allows you to keep the lure in the productive zone for more of the retrieve.
The hooks fitted to the Nomad STYX Minnow 95 look sharp and solid enough for the fishing I have planned. I would not change them before testing the lure. I prefer to fish the original setup first and only alter the hooks if there is a genuine reason to do so.
Fish You Could Target With the Nomad STYX Minnow 95
Although flathead are my first target, the Nomad STYX Minnow 95 could suit many Australian inshore species.
- Flathead: Twitch it over shallow banks, sand flats, drains and channel edges.
- Tailor and Australian salmon: Cast it from rock walls, beaches or seaways when fish are chasing bait.
- Trevally: Work it around rock walls, bridge pylons, pontoons and current lines.
- Mangrove jack: Twitch it close to pontoons, snags, rock bars and shaded structure during the warmer months.
- Barramundi: Try it around drains, creek mouths, weed edges and timber where a shallow lure is suitable.
- Mackerel and tuna: Cast it around small bait schools when predators are feeding close to the surface.
The Nomad STYX Minnow 95 is not a lure that needs to be restricted to one species or one location. Its size and action give it the potential to work in estuaries, rivers, impoundments and selected offshore situations.
How I Plan to Retrieve It
My starting retrieve will be simple:
- Cast past the likely holding area.
- Wind the lure down to its working depth.
- Give it one to three sharp twitches.
- Pause and allow it to rise slowly.
- Repeat the retrieve while varying the pause length.
I will pay close attention to what happens during the pause. If fish are following without striking, I may lengthen the pause or soften the twitches. If the water is warm and the fish are aggressive, a faster and more erratic retrieve may produce a reaction bite.
The retrieve for the Nomad STYX Minnow 95 should always suit the location. Over a very shallow flat, I may hold the rod tip higher and use gentler twitches. Beside a drop-off or rock wall, I can work it harder and let it reach its full running depth.
Rod, Reel and Line Choices
For general flathead fishing, I would use the Nomad STYX Minnow 95 on my heavier flathead rod with roughly 10 lb braid. That should provide enough casting performance and lure control while still keeping the fishing sporting.
If I were specifically targeting mangrove jack or barramundi around harder structure, I would step up to a 4000-size reel with about 20 lb braid. The stronger outfit gives you a better chance of turning a fish before it reaches pylons, rocks or timber.
There is no need to use extremely heavy tackle for small fish in open water. Match the outfit to the target species, likely fish size and amount of structure around you.
My First-Impressions Verdict
The Nomad STYX Minnow 95 looks like a very good all-round twitch bait. Its natural baitfish profile, flash, one-metre running depth, casting system and slow-floating action all suit the way I like to fish hard-bodied lures.
Flathead will be the first test, particularly over flats where they are feeding on small whiting. I also want to try it around rock walls for tailor and trevally, and around pontoons or other structure for mangrove jack. Farther north, it should also have potential for barramundi.
I will give the lure a proper on-water test and report back once it has caught a few fish. Until then, this is one that looks promising enough to earn a place in the tackle box.
Have you used the Nomad STYX Minnow 95, and what species have you caught on it? Leave a comment and let me know how you retrieve it.
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