Thunder Bug Testimonials
Kenneth Adamik – Greenwood Lake, New York
Lure: Thunder Bug
Fish Caught: Bass, Largemouth - Bluegill (Bream, Brim) - Crappie (Black) - Crappie (White) - Musky - Perch, White - Perch, Yellow - Pickerel - Catfish, Bullhead (brown, yellow & black)
Best spinner I've ever used. I fish this thing all the time and can count on it to nail bass and pickerel all day long. Still get perch and crappie on em too.
John McConnell – West Virginia
Lure: Thunder Bug
Fish Caught: Trout, Rainbow
I have been slaying trout on the Greenbriar River in West Virginia for the last 3 years with your White Thunder Bug! Caught a 22" rainbow weighing 5.32lbs! Wish I could send a picture.
Wayne Clark – New Hampshire
Lure: Thunder Bug
Fish Caught: Trout, Brook - Trout, Brown - Trout, Rainbow
Must of caught 30 trout that day on the same lure. Had to keep straightening the center rod numerous times so the lure would swim right. That lure got beaten up bad. Still produced fish after fish. Great product.
Kevin Osina – Bethany Lakes, Allen, Texas
Lure: Thunder Bug
Fish Caught: Bass, Largemouth - Bass, White - Bluegill (Bream, Brim)
This lure works like magic. You throw it, they bite!!
Ralston Heath – East Lake Toho Florida, Florida
Lure: Thunder Bug
Fish Caught: Bass, Largemouth - Bass, Smallmouth - Bluegill (Bream, Brim) - Crappie (Black) - Crappie (White)
I originally bought one from a store because I thought it was cool looking (something different). Since then I have caught a lot of fish with it. Including the ones I checked above and add in Florida Gar. After only a year, it is seriously bent, beat, chewed, and wore out. But still catching fish. I consider it my don't get skunked lure.
Since it has seen such abuse, I ordered nine more. Best lure since the Comet Mino. PLEASE, keep making them. If not, let me know when you are going to stop making them so I can stock up.
Skipp Washington – Village Oaks Man-made Lake, Novi, Michigan
Lure: Thunder Bug
Fish Caught: Bass, Largemouth - Bluegill (Bream, Brim) - Crappie (Black) - Sunfish (shellcracker)
This is truly an extremely versatile lure. In one day and on the same lure (#2 Thunder Bug Bumble Bee), I caught 9 med. largemouth Bass, 4 Bluegill, 2 Crappie, 1 huge Pumpkinseed, 2 massive Bull Bream. I have but one suggestion, make this in a size #3 and you will have covered all the game fish in the Sunfish family, including big Largemouth and Smallmouth. Something about the sonic properties of this lure fish find irresistible! All in a days work.
Michael M – Bailey's Ford, Iowa
Lure: Thunder Bug
Fish Caught: Trout, Brook - Trout, Brown - Trout, Rainbow
My son (4) absolutely loves fishing and asked me if we could go on a special trout-fishing trip together. Having very little experience with fishing for trout, I did a bit of research ahead of time. We were going to be fishing in the Driftless Region where the streams are small enough that spin fishing is an excellent choice. The Mepps Thunder Bug let us "match the hatch" for grasshoppers and I custom-ordered a few single-hooked versions for catch and release. It was an excellent trip; with each of us reeling in a few small brookies, browns, and rainbows on our bugs.
Skipp Washington – Village Oaks Lake, Novi, Michigan
Lure: Thunder Bug
Fish Caught: Bass, Largemouth - Bluegill (Bream, Brim) - Crappie (White)
The Thunder Bug is extremely versatile and durable. I've caught Largemouth, Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed all on the same lure (Bumble Bee), all in the same lake, all on the same day! It casts a country mile, an advantage fishing from shore, and comes in great Match-the-Hatch colors. The weight allows count-down capabilities which puts you at the right depth for Strikes. Hydrodynamic and sonically sound. These lures do not spook fish. I only wish they made these in sizes 4 and 5 with fluorescent colors, perfect for big Bass, Walleye and Salmon. Hint, hint!!
Bob Hayett – Lake Lenexa, Kansas
Lure: Thunder Bug
Fish Caught: Bluegill (Bream, Brim)
The Cricket Thunderbug is one of the very best bluegill lures I've ever used. This is not surprising, since crickets are known as a great bluegill bait. I've caught maybe hundreds of bluegills on the Thunderbug in many lakes in Northeast Kansas. Lake Lenexa is a small flood control lake with very clear water for a Kansas lake. The darker color of the cricket Thunderbug is perfect for clearer water.
Campbell B Catchpole – Little Waipa Stream, Arapuni, Waikato New Zealand
Lure: Thunder Bug
Fish Caught: Trout, Brown
I have caught and landed many awesome trout using Mepps lures. A very memorable 6lb brown trout that I caught, landed & released using a white Mepps Thunder Bug. This has thankfully given me memories that will never get away. I use all of the colours of the Thunder Bug range though out the year & here in New Zealand we are lucky that most of our streams, rivers & lakes allow us to use these lures. For me being new to the sport of fishing, the Mepps Thunder Bugs allow me to match the hatch like a pro & still command the respect from even the most staunch fly fisherman because of the way my fish go back into the water after they were caught on a Mepps...... LOVE MY FISHING.....LOVE MY MEPPS.
Clint Reinhart – Little Lehigh, Pennsylvania
Lure: Thunder Bug
Fish Caught: Trout, Rainbow
Second cast at the spot along the creek. Trout went right for it. Biggest trout in the hole. This lure is one of a kind.
Dustin DesRoches – Patterson Lake, Oak Burn Manitoba Canada , Manitoba , Canada
Lure: Thunder Bug
Fish Caught: Trout, Brown - Trout, Rainbow
This lure is a trout master!! I have caught 8 monsters in the last year just with this awesome lure!
Dilly Vue – Taku Lake, Alaska
Lure: Thunder Bug
Fish Caught: Trout, Rainbow
This was my first spinner I ever got....
When cast it is very light, but, no matter
you can still get 'em from short distances.
When I use salmon eggs or any live bait
nothing seems to hit, even worms.
I caught 5 smallmouth trout and 5 bigmouth trout
Everyone in facebook thinks I'm snagging, but this Thunder Bug gets me everywhere....I use size 0. :)
James Mengel – Lakes, Rivers, Streams, Pennsylvania
Lure: Thunder Bug
Fish Caught: Bass, Largemouth - Bass, Smallmouth - Trout, Rainbow
This lure works perfectly in shallow streams and rivers where the current is fast and the water is clear. The fish can't resist going for this lure, it never fails. When the scent baits aren't working just pull out The Thunder Bug and watch the magic happen. This lure is a must for any species of trout; the #00 works the best in all silver.
Mark Jones – Helton Creek, North Carolina
Lure: Thunder Bug
Fish Caught: Trout, Brown
These lures make up 90% of my spinning collection. These are fantastic lures that consistently provide quality/quantity. Routinely produce takes of fish 17"+ which are consider trophy size trout in this part of the country. Mixing weather conditions and times of year with these lures will produce results that typically out fish everyone else on the creek. The only bug I've not produced with is the firefly. I would love to see a damsel fly version of this with blue wings white body hint hint lol. If you never purchased one of the bugs do yourself a favor and add one to your next order.
Adrian Webb – Mersey River, Kimberley. Tasmania Australia
Lure: Thunder Bug
Fish Caught: Trout, Brown - Trout, Rainbow
HOT&HUMID,PERFECT CONDITIONS,OR WERE THEY ? '' 19-2-13
At last, woke up to the sound of much needed rain and very humid conditions, some thing that I have been waiting for quite some time. After a nice bacon,eggs, mushrooms and grilled tomato breakfast that the local bakery put on for me this morning for my Birthday, then it was off to the Mersey River at Kimberley for a spin fishing session.
When I arrived it was a matter of waiting for around ten minutes while a thunder storm passed over and the rain eased off to a light drizzle. By the time I had put my waders on and set off the drizzle was gone and then the humidity really increased as the sun decided to poke it head through the clouds. This wasn't what I wanted at all, as it was supposed to stay overcast. After a 100 mtr walk to the river the clouds had covered the sun and it was back to perfect conditions for fishing once again. Started of with a Mepps # 00March Brown Bug spinner that had worked well on the Meander River last week, and I couldn't see why it would not work here either. After covering the first section of river all I could manage was a couple of follows from some small browns. This was the same over the next couple of hundred meters only difference was that I couldn't even get a follow, so it was going to be a tough day from my reckoning. Is it going to be one of those days I thought to myself, I hope not!
There was not a breathe of wind here and the long slow stretches of river were like glass with only a few rippled circles on them from small fish jumping from time to time. Seeing fish jumping is not what I wanted as when they're doing that they normally won't take a spinner. Hell it was hot on the water, and the perspiration from my forehead was causing the polaroids to mist up making it like I was fishing in thick fog. This was not how the plan was supposed to be going at all!! Decided to bypass the slower sections of river and just hit the fast water sections of the Mersey. Trouble was this area I came to didn't have that many fast water sections to it, so I only was limited to a few sections of river. Well that will just have to do as I wasn't walking back to the ''Trout Stalker 2'' and then driving some 10 kms to another area to fish as I was already hot and a little ticked off. So I'll just have to stay here and put up with it and get on with the job in hand and that's ''catch some fish.'' I'd be happy just having a hit and miss for now.
On my way to a small fast run I decided to change my spinner, and it was too be a # 00 Black Stonefly Bug this time and it worked a treat too. This small run wasn't very wide so I could work it from the river bank in which I did. Casting across the river and into a small calm piece of water on the opposite bank that had some cover from tea trees I picked up a nice fat little brown that tipped the scales at 275 gms. A quick photo and then it was released, and boy it was good to finally get a hook up when it was looking like being a day of zero's.
The next fast water was one that I have always picked up a couple of rainbows or at least a brown so I was pretty confident of adding to my tally there. After covering every part of this water all I could manage was two hit and misses, not what I was expecting at all. So it was on to the next section of fast water and this proved to be much better as I did pick up a nice plump rainbow (310 gms released) and hooked and lost three browns. So this run did prove worth while, and not before time too. The next run of fast water was around 600 � 700 mtrs further upstream and I was too hot and bothered to go all the way up there to give it a spin, so decided to make my way back to the ''Trout Stalker 2'' some 1.5 kms away. Halfway back the sun broke through and it was a wise decision in the end as well, probably the smartest one that I had made all day. The Mersey River is still very slippery and this really makes it tough going most times, and it does take it's toll on the body after a few hours in it. Or is it just me ??
River: Mersey.. Browns: 1 (275 gm released) Rainbows: 1 (310 gms released)
** Both fish caught and released were taken on a '' Mepps Thunder Bug Spinner '' **
Cheers Adrian
Adrian Webb – Meander River, Meander. Tasmania Australia
Lure: Thunder Bug
Fish Caught: Trout, Brown
'' GREAT START BUT A POOR FINISH'' 14 Feb. 2013
Could not have asked for a better start to a spin session in the Meander River this afternoon in warm and sunny conditions. Clear water and a light Nth Easterly once again didn't stop me having a great start as I hooked and landed a small brown on the first cast into a fast water section. This little fish took the gold beaded black nymph that I had as my drop fly today. There were quite a lot of dragon flies about today so I was equipped with a #00 March Brown spinner set up below the anti-kink once again, as this spinner worked reasonably well here on the last trip. Seeing it was going to remain bright and sunny for some time I decided once again to stick with the fast water stretches of the Meander. This time of year when the weather has warmed up considerably and so too has the rivers, the trout will be found in these stretches of river. It's always a little cooler plus the water has more oxygen in it, where as the long slow flowing sections are the opposite. The long slow sections are better fished at first light when the water has cooled over night, or on dusk when the sun is not on the water. I would prefer the morning out of the two.
The next area of fast water gave up two more small browns from three hook ups, so it was looking like I was in for a very good session, hoping for a catch of at least 20 plus fish by days end. Onwards I went working my way up and into the fast water not missing even the smallest bit of water that I though would and should be holding fish. Three trout taken in a row, a hat trick of trout some thing I haven't done for quite a while now, and that 20 plus was looking good. With the sun now a little lower in the sky there was more shaded areas on the river now which was great, as not only was it better for fishing it was nice to get into it and cool of a little. The shade was covering around a third of the river so I just kept working those areas of it and finished up landing another seven browns from nine hook ups.
Over the last 600 meters of the Meander that I fished all I could manage was two hit and misses and they were the only two fish that I came across. What a fizzer this last stretch of fast water it was! To make it worse was the fact that this last stretch has always been the best to fish as it has always given up a number of fish. So what was a great start to the session early certainly didn't finish that way in the end and the 20 plus went right out the door.. but hey! That's fishing isn't it.
The best fish went 290 gms the rest of them averaged 260 gms. The Meander is really holding a large amount of small fish this season, as last season fish were averaging 360 gms plus. Rainbow trout have been few and far between too as I have only caught one so far. I feel that when the Huntsman's Lake turbine broke down last season in March causing the river level to drop so low, then with the influx of many flocks of cormorants on the river and its tributaries took its toll on the whole system.
cheers Adrian
River: Meander. Browns: 13 ( all released )
Adrian Webb – Meander River, Meander. Tasmania Australia
Lure: Thunder Bug
Fish Caught: Trout, Brown
"SMALL REWARD FOR A LOT OF HARD WORK" 2/13 Adrian Webb
Another 3 hours were spent on the Meander River this afternoon fishing in sunshine and a north easterly for most of it, not my favourite type of condition to fish in. Still there were several areas that had shade on it thanks to the many Eucalypts along the river and this was where the fish were holding. The river seemed a little higher today which was a good sign, because the last trip here it was way too low. Hydro must be releasing more water for irrigation purposes and I was hoping this may give the river a much needed lift for fishing. Started off in an area much further up than my last trip here and it was a stretch of river that I hadn't fished before, so I was hoping it was going to produce a few fish. So I started off with the usual black Aglia spinner that has been so successful on most of my past trips here and began to spin my way upstream working every bit of water. After spinning my way up the river for around 25 minutes all I could manage was three follows, this was not a good sign! The trout were just sitting about 50 mms back from the spinner and I tried every trick in the book to get them to strike to no avail. Slow retrieves and letting the spinner drift with the flow, a little twitch and then let the spinner drop a little before slowly winding again. Still couldn't get them to have a whack at the lure. It was now time to try another type of spinner and this time I changed to a March Brown Thunder Bug spinner in the hope this may entice them into taking the lure..
So when I moved into the next stretch of fast water I flicked the Thunder Bug spinner across to the opposite bank and into a small side pocket of water that I thought should be holding a fish. How right I was as no sooner had the spinner hit the water and after one turn of the reel it was fish on, not a big fish but at least it was a fish. Wasn't too long before I had this little brown (260 gms ) landed and then quickly released. After several more casts through this small bit of fast water without a hit, it was then on to the next section of river.
This next stretch of water had quite a few good pockets in it that I thought would hold trout and I did manage to pick up two more small browns here ( one taken on the fly dropper ), these were only around 240 gms plus I also hooked and lost one other around the same size. I had now been in the river for nearly one and a half hours now and with only three browns landed I knew it was looking to be a small reward for a lot of hard work today. But it was still enjoyable being here in a great river with beautiful surrounds I couldn't really ask for more than this, except maybe a few more fish! At least the change of spinner worked so I was still in with a chance of picking up a few more hopefully. Kept on working my way upstream for another hour and finished up catching and releasing another four small browns with the best going 270 grams. Also hooked and lost six others in that time too, and these were not big fish either. So another few hours on the Meander River did prove to be worth while once again, but one still had to work every bit of the river for success at days end even if the fish were small..
River: Meander..Browns : 7 all released 270gms)Cheers Adrian
Ken – San Diego Resevoirs, California
Lure: Thunder Bug
Fish Caught: Trout, Rainbow
Black Stonefly with dressed treble - The stocked rainbows in every reservoir I've used seem to love these. Same as or better than any other lure or spoon. Outfishes bait most of the time.
Slow and steady next to the botton on 4lb test.
John Tedrick – Eagles Nest Wilderness Area, Never Summer WA, Colorado
Lure: Thunder Bug
Fish Caught: Trout, Brook - Trout, Cutthroat
Fished the Thunder Bug lure for the 1st time in small waters in high country wilderness areas. It was a riot to sight fish brook trout and watch them chase this lure like a pack of puppy dogs until one would bull its way through and take it. Easily caught & released a few dozen over two days. On a second trip into Never Summer WA, Cutthroats slammed this lure and while the fish caught & released weren't high in numbers, the excitement was good. I can't wait to try this lure on larger warm water species!
Michael Way – Erie Canal, Fayetteville, New York
Lure: Thunder Bug
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.
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