Thunder Bug Details
Description
Here is a fishing lure so revolutionary it allows spinner fishermen to "match the hatch." From its fluttering, veined, lifelike wing to its expertly finished segmented body, the Mepps Thunder Bug looks like a bug, acts like a bug, and, to panfish and trout, is every bit as tasty as a bug.
Computer age finishes to resist chipping and peeling. Your choice of dressed or plain ultra sharp, strong treble or single hook. Mepps unsurpassed quality. Mepps Thunder Bugs... bugs, so natural, we've even given them bug names.
Thunder Bugs, the lures, not the bug, are available in size #00 through #2 making them perfect for both panfish and all sizes of stream trout. The size #2 Thunder Bug is also great for smallmouth bass and walleye.
Whether you choose to use plain or dressed Thunder Bugs is strictly a personal preference. Lure size, however, is important. The rule of thumb is use smaller lures to catch smaller fish and larger lures to catch larger fish.
Testimonials
| Reviewer: | Michael Way (Erie Canal, Fayetteville, New York) |
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| Fish Caught: | Bass, Largemouth - Bluegill (Bream, Brim) - Crappie (White) - Pickerel |
| On one trip I caught 5 largemouths, the biggest was 10lb, 10 bluegills, one was 9in, an 18in pickeral and a crappie. All caught on a size 0 in the Bumblebee and White Miller blade pattern. | |
| Reviewer: | Bob Hayett (North Garnett Lake, Garnett, Kansas) |
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| Fish Caught: | Bass, Largemouth - Bluegill (Bream, Brim) - Crappie (Black) - Crappie (White) - Sunfish (shellcracker) |
| I'm a long-time Mepps fisherman. Just recently tried the Thunder Bug line. I'm catching an astonishing number of panfish on the Cricket color (dark gray), both single and treble hooks, both plain and dressed. Can't wait to try the other colors. | |
| Reviewer: | Tj Marks (Brashears Creek Spencer County , Kentucky) |
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| Fish Caught: | Bass, Largemouth - Bass, Smallmouth - Carp - Catfish, Channel - Crappie (Black) |
| These lures work! Ive never had a catfish hit harder then they do with these. Cast them toward cover and let them settle before you reel. If the fish are feeding its a guaranteed strike. | |
| Reviewer: | Bob (Garnett North Lake, Kansas) |
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| I caught numerous LARGE bluegill and green sunfish on the Cricket Thunder Bug | |
| Reviewer: | Danny (Private Pond Brenham , Texas) |
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| Fish Caught: | Bluegill (Bream, Brim) - Catfish, Channel |
| I used a Mepps Thunder Bug 00 Cricket color to catch 8 bluegill and 1 channel catfish. This was the best day I have ever had using an artificial lure. I tried several other Mepps Thunder Bugs in different colors, but came up empty. This 00 size allowed me to fish close to structure without hanging up in it. I will be buying more Thunder Bugs in the future. Awesome lure! | |
| Reviewer: | Adrian Webb (Leven River, Gunns Plains. TASMANIA., Australia) |
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| Fish Caught: | Trout, Brown |
| After a couple of good days of rain here in Northern Tasmania, I went and fished the Leven River at Gunns Plains. The river had risen considerably since I was here last time and oy was a real coffee colour that was caused by the run off from the native vegetation. I started the morning off using my favourite Gold Black Fury spinner and caught 2 nice Brown Trout; and, had a couple of hit & misses as well. After an hour the cloud broke-up and the sun beamed down, the trout became finiky so I changed to the Mepps black Thunder Bug and had instant success with this dressed treble spinner. I went on to catch another 9 well condi- tioned Browns & hooked and lost 7 others. These Thunder Bug spinners also have had the same good results for me on many of the other trout streams & rivers that I fish here in Tasmania. So, to all of you spinfishers out there, make sure you have a few Thunder Bugs with you when your out on those rivers & streams. Good luck and tight lines to you all. | |
| Reviewer: | Jimmy (Taneycomo, Roaring River SP, Missouri) |
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| Fish Caught: | Trout, Rainbow |
| The trout in the upper lake of Taneycomo are very smart as they see every lure in the book. I had to try something they had not seen before so I tossed the Grasshopper Thunder Bug and managed to catch 4 solid 'bows. The following day was overcast and tossed white miller and caught 3 'bows. The Grasshopper color was beat up badly but used it at Roaring River State Park and managed 9 trout. Solid lure only issue is the blade gets worn out quicker than other spinners. | |
| Reviewer: | Joe Knoernschild (Oconomowoc, WI & River, MO, Wisconsin) |
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| Fish Caught: | Bass, Largemouth - Bass, Rock - Bass, Smallmouth - Bluegill (Bream, Brim) - Crappie (White) - Pike, Northern - Sunfish (shellcracker) |
| This is the best lure I have ever used. I started using these on Oconomowoc River in WI. I needed something light that could work in a current with average depth of 2 feet. I fish with 00 and 0 size lures. There is nothing I have found that does a better job catching fish. Usually my first cast with one of these produces an instant fish. I have been using Thunder Bugs for over 10 years now and love them. I was visiting WI this last week and went out on the river again. I caught 3 16" northern pike off of it. The Grasshopper color has worked best and Cricket the second. I also like the Firefly and Bumblebee. There is no lure I would rather have with me plus they can take a beating. Buy these and you won't be disappointed. | |
| Reviewer: | Kyle Laldin (Ken Whillans, Missisauga, Canada) |
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| Fish Caught: | Pike, Northern |
| Hey guys I decided to buy a Thunder Bug size one in Mayfly because of all the cool features and buzz. A day later I went fishing at a pond and hooked into my first pike, I was thrilled! I was fishing for trout! I didn't think a pike would bite something so small. Thanks for the awesome product. | |
| Reviewer: | William Chalmers (Kingsbury Pond, Norfolk Massachusetts, Massachusetts) |
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| Fish Caught: | Pickerel |
| I got my order yesterday and in the order I got a Thunder Bug which was the size #2 Bumblebee color. This is a very hot lure. Today I went out to a small pond right next to my brothers house. I didn't think I would catch anything as I was just passing some time. I caught 3 fish on this lure. One Smallmouth bass, one sunfish and one pickeral which was 16 inches. This lure seems like it could catch anything. I found that reeling it in real slow was helpful. Great Lure. Mepps does it again. | |
| Reviewer: | Dan (Rose River Shenandoah National Park , Virginia) |
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| Fish Caught: | Trout, Brook |
| Today I used the ultra-light Thunderbug Grasshopper and Stonefly on native brook trout in the Shenandoah National Park. What a great pair of lures!!!! Absolutely the best summer native brook trout lure that I have found. July is a very tough time to catch native brookies in the Park, and these lures produced strike after strike. | |
| Reviewer: | Derrick Broeckel (Northern Wisconsin Lakes, Wisconsin) |
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| Fish Caught: | Bass, Rock - Bluegill (Bream, Brim) - Crappie (Black) - Crappie (White) - Perch, Yellow - Sunfish (shellcracker) |
| This is the best panfish lure Mepps makes especially the #00 size. I like to suspend it from a bobber and tip with a tiny piece of nightcrawler. When you shake the bobber the blade goes crazy and it brings the fish into your bait like a cat to catnip. The panfish you catch are usually bigger than with a plain hook as well. I like the Cricket color alot as well as the all silver bait. | |
| Reviewer: | Andrew (Lake In Crossplains, Texas, Texas) |
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| Fish Caught: | Bass, Largemouth - Bluegill (Bream, Brim) - Crappie (White) - Perch, White - Perch, Yellow - Sunfish (shellcracker) |
| The dressed Mepps Thunder Bug is an awesome lure! I was at my deer lease close to Crossplains, TX when I was catching panfish left and right! I also caught crappie and largemouth bass. When nothing is catching fish, the Mepps Thunder Bug does! If you buy this lure, it will be worth your money!!! | |
| Reviewer: | Eric Klingeman (SandyBeach Lake, Canada, Ontario, Canada) |
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| Fish Caught: | Bass, Smallmouth - Bluegill (Bream, Brim) - Perch, White - Perch, Yellow - Pike, Northern - Sunfish (shellcracker) - Trout, Brook - Trout, Brown - Trout, Rainbow - Walleye |
| This lure catches everything from small panfish all the way up to the big northern pike. Fish this lure everywhere you would a normal spinner. I fished this lure and my dad fished a regular Mepps spinner and I caught 3 times as many fish as he did. This lure is the best for hatches af any sort of fly bugs, the best is the may fly hatch in Canada. | |
| Reviewer: | Matthew G. Hauge (West Coast Of Norway, Swedish Lakes & Rivers, Sweden) |
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| Fish Caught: | Grayling - Pike, Northern - Trout, Brown - Trout, Sea/Speckled |
| I have used the Thunder Bug spinner in several colors and sizes. The Blue Tail Fly/silver color is perfect for sea trout. If the fish are there, they take it. Also, the regular brown trout are glad to see one of these spinners. Either brown or yellow in March. I have caught 15-20 brown trout within a couple of hours fishing. A little trick to stop the spinner from twisting the line is to bend the eye 30-45 degrees. Be careful not to bend the shaft below the twisting, or you will end up with a spinner that doesn't work at all. Bending the eye down a little not only stop the lure from twisting the line, but also makes it go in the water in a S formation. The fly lies straight out behind the lure, the eye follows the line, and the body lies in a 30-45 degree angle. Some times the lure will even fish much better after performing this little trick. Some Dragon Fly nymphs have this position when swimming in the open water, or when they are ready to strike a pray. The larger size of spinner triggers the Swedish pike to strike, as well as the European common Perch. | |
| Reviewer: | Peter Bergers (South Norway Rivers And Lakes, Norway) |
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| Fish Caught: | Bass, Smallmouth - Pike, Northern - Trout, Brown |
| I am not a great fan of spinners, but, for the Thunder Bug I make an exception, because, if the the Thunder Bug is not catching, the fish are not there. Had a very good experience with Brown Trout blade in streams and lakes in south Norway. 15 Brown trout on an evening was not an exception, especially if you use the smallest size. Good luck Peter | |
| Reviewer: | Alex Retzloff (Adirondacks, New York) |
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| Fish Caught: | Salmon, Kokanee - Trout, Brook - Trout, Brown - Trout, Rainbow |
| Here is another great lure from Mepps. These little guys catch tons. They can out fish live bait on any given day and pound for pound, I can catch twice as many trout as a guy with flies can in an hour. I recommend these to anybody who sees me with them and they sometimes see me again and show me how their tackle box is now filled with them. Thanks for another great lure Mepps and countless more great fish! | |
| Reviewer: | Chad Vibostak (Chest Creek, Pennsylvania) |
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| Fish Caught: | Trout, Brown |
| The Thunder Bug is the most productive spinner for trout I ever used. It out fishes any other lure in my box, it continues to catch trout at a high rate. I would recommend this lure to anybody. | |
| Reviewer: | frank (, New York) |
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| It's cool BUY IT!!!!!! | |
| Reviewer: | Kelly Humber (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) |
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| Fish Caught: | Bass, Smallmouth |
| This lure is absolutely unstopable. It regularly produces monster smallmouth in the Milwaukee River, and I wisely chose to take it on my recent Boundary Waters trip. There I was inundated with bass and northern that couldn't get enough of it's realism. I swear by the Thunder Bug. | |
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Fish Species
Sizes #00, #0 and #1
 |  |  |
| Bluegill / Sunfish / Bream | Crappie | Perch |
 |  | |
| Rock Bass / Goggle-Eye | White Bass |
Sizes #0, #1 and #2
 |  |  |
| Arctic Grayling | Brook Trout | Cutthroat Trout |
 |  | |
| Dolly Varden Trout | Whitefish |
Sizes #1 and #2
 |  |  |
| Arctic Char | Rainbow Trout / Palomino Trout | Sauger |
 | ||
| Steelhead |
Size #2
 |  |  |
| Brown Trout | Pickerel | Smallmouth Bass |
 | ||
| Walleye |
Links & More
Catalog PDF pages
Articles Brochures
Audio
The image you see behind the lure is a picture of the actual sound waves created by that particular lure.
To hear how your Mepps spinner sounds as it's being pulled through the water place your cursor over the lure photo.
Thunder Bug #2
