Blindman + Len Thompson Fall 2021 Fish StockingS

​Lacombe Based Partnership Stocks Six Local Ponds

Len Thompson Lures and Blindman Brewing Conservation Initiative Donates 2,800 Rainbow Trout
 
In 2019, Blindman Brewing approached the owners of Len Thompson Lures with an idea. “We wanted to craft a delicious pilsner style beer that was refreshing, and appealing to the large community of anglers,” says Hans Doef of Blindman Brewing. “Len Thompson Lures has a very well known brand and was located just a couple minutes away from the brewery, and we thought there would be a great collaboration opportunity to make a Five of Diamonds beer.”
 
Blindman’s commitment to high quality products, wide distribution and vision for the product and packaging ultimately led to the roll out of the first batch of Five of Diamonds Pilsner in the summer of 2019. But there was a catch…
 
“Having a cold beer after a day of fishing is an essential part of a successful day of fishing for a lot of anglers,” said Brad Pallister, President of Len Thompson Lures. “However, we wanted to make this into something bigger than just a good beer. We wanted to turn it into more of a community initiative,” said Pallister. “We receive a small royalty on every can of Five of Diamonds Pilsner sold, and we are donating 100% of that royalty to conservation and outdoor related initiatives, organizations and events.”
 
This fall, Smoky Trout Farm Limited out of Red Deer County stocked six different public ponds with a total of 2,800 Rainbow Trout funded by proceeds from Five of Diamonds Pilsner sales.

When choosing where to stock, Len Thompson Lures focused on public ponds located near urban centers in Central Alberta. Additionally, the ponds chosen had to have a higher likelihood that fish would successfully survive through the winter. Six locations were chosen and approved by the Alberta Conservation Association including the Camrose County Nature Conservation Center (Camrose, Alberta), Winchell Lake (Water Valley, Alberta), Boulder Lake (Blackfalds, Alberta), Rays Pond (Red Deer County, Alberta), Mound Red Reservoir (Wetaskiwin County, Alberta), Lacombe East Stormwater Pond (Lacombe, Alberta).

​Camrose County received the largest amount of trout of these stockings. When asked about what the extra fish mean for the Centre, Camrose County Reeve Cindy Trautman laughs. “I always get quizzed as to when and whether the pond has been stocked.  It’s very popular, so the more fish we have in the pond, the better the fishing!  It’s wonderful for the facility, and we are so thankful to Len Thompson Lures and Blindman Brewing for their 1,000 additional fish contribution on top of the 1,500 trout put in by the County.”
 
Blindman Brewing and Len Thompson Lures look forward to more stockings in the future while also expanding their reach to support other programs and organizations that serve and support the angling community.