Tunder and Lightning Fly

About the Tunder and Lightning Salmon Atlantic Fly

The Thunder and Lightning Longtail is a true classic Atlantic salmon fly pattern, here tied on a gold treble hook in sizes 10 and 12. With its instantly recognisable mix of black, orange and blue, it’s a high contrast, high confidence salmon fly that remains popular because it simply shows up and fishes well in real river conditions; especially when there’s a touch of colour in the water.

Fishing Tips:

How it works

li>Contrast that salmon can track: The “thunder” dark tones and “lightning” bright/orange accents create a clear target in broken light and slightly coloured water; one reason this pattern is often recommended when visibility isn’t perfect.
• Longtail movement: The extended, mobile dressing breathes and pulses in the current, giving a lively profile without needing aggressive manipulation; ideal for a traditional longtail treble swing fly.
• Treble hooking confidence: On a treble, short takes and nudges are more likely to convert, which can be useful when salmon are just “plucking” at the fly rather than fully committing.

How to fish it

• Fish it as a classic down-and-across presentation on the swing, adjusting speed with mends until it “swims” under steady tension.
• In colder water, slow the fly down (more mend, slightly deeper line choice) and let it hang in the take zone a fraction longer.
• In milder water, allow a slightly faster swing to encourage a reaction take.
• Don’t rush the end of the swing: a brief hang-down pause often produces confident grabs on patterns like this.

Creator of this salmon atlantic fly: James Wright

This salmon atlantic fly is designed to be fished on Rivers & Streams