June 2024 - Thompson-Pallister Bait Co. Ltd. is very pleased to announce the acquisition of Hot Spot® and Apex® Lures.

Hot Spot® was founded by Jack Gaunt. An avid fisherman, he started experimenting with designing flashers in 1965 on his 47’ troller ported in Ucluelet, BC.  Jack used his on-board, coal-oil stove to heat and shape his plastic blanks. By 1969, he was selling his creations. He set up shop in the family home’s basement in Victoria, BC.

In 1973, Jack hired Harinder Bassi. Harinder was very saavy and mechanically inclined. He became Jack’s right hand man and eventually a partner in the business. Jack remained committed to his work until he passed away in 2010.

Now, nearing retirement, Harinder was looking for a succession plan. “This country is my home and has given me and my family so much,” Harinder says. “Keeping the Hot Spot® legacy as a premium quality and Canadian Made product was very important to me.  But staying competitive while operating in Victoria, BC with the high cost of doing business was a challenge”.

​Enter Thompson-Pallister Bait Company; A fourth-generation family business owned and operated by siblings Brad Pallister and Jessica Pallister-Dew.  Thompson-Pallister are the original creators of Len Thompson® Lures made in Lacombe, Alberta, Canada. In 2016, Thompson-Pallister also acquired Northern King® Lures, a premium quality, silver-plated trolling spoon line.

“We are one of the few Canadian manufacturers in the tackle space left. Hot Spot® and Apex® Lures allows us a stronger presence in the West Coast market with product lines that have a very strong history.  Ultimately, it is important to us to be able to provide consumers with a wider array of premium quality, Made in Canada products,” says Brad Pallister.
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​Over the next few months, the factory will move to Lacombe, Alberta Canada. Thompson-Pallister is committed to continue manufacturing Hot Spot® and Apex® products exclusively in Canada with premium quality materials and components.  Harinder will be overseeing the training during the transition.

​“As a 95-year-old family business, history is very important to us. We are honoured to carry on these great brands that Jack and Harinder worked their whole lives to build," says Brad Pallister. “While our team is working hard at as seamless of a transition as possible, we greatly appreciate our customer’s patience. Thank you for your support!”

Join Brad Pallister, Jess Pallister-Dew and Nav Bassi on the Canadian Fishing Podcast to learn more about Hot Spot. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or using the embedded player below.

Each year we like to reflect on our best moments and biggest wins. Here's a "Best of 2023" list in no particular order. 

WE WENT OUTSIDE

We spent time outdoors with family and friends! Fishing, hiking, biking, camping, kayaking, hunting, exploring... These are our absolute favourite memories each year.

WE HELPED CREATE ACCESSIBLE FISHING OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY

We invested $15,000 of our Blindman Brewing Five of Diamond Pilsner royalties towards the new wheelchair-accessible dock at the Len Thompson Fishing Pond in Lacombe. This amazing project was spearheaded by the Lacombe Fish & Game Association.

OUR TEAM MADE SOME COOL NEW STUFF

Our quality team made HUGE improvements to our glow formula and we launched the Ultra Glow series which hit store shelves across Canada in the Spring. So far our retailers AND anglers are loving the new product!

JESS LAUNCHED A NEW CHILDREN'S BOOK 

In The Outside Book, readers will meet a character named The Outside who is here to show you how being outdoors is good for your body, mind and heart.

The best part? The Outside has something for everyone. Learn more.

WE ROCKED OUT TO NEW MUSIC

We discovered this track by The Runs. We had nothing to do with its creation but definitely had it on repeat for a few weeks! 

WE CELEBRATED!

Our parents celebrated two big birthdays... Dad turned 70 and Mom turned 65! 

WE WRAPPED UP FISHING FOR FOOD BANKS

We made the final donation of the Fishing for Food Banks campaign. Over three years, we launched 18 limited edition patterns and raised a total of $54,094. Learn more.

WE GREW THE PODCAST

We grew AND re-branded our Podcast! The "Canadian Fishing Podcast" is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and on our website. The Podcast is where we release the most content so please do us a favour and check it out? FYI - Episode 23 - Fishing Therapy with Christine Lapeer was one of our favs. Learn more...

On behalf of our family and our team (pictured below - August 2023), THANK YOU for supporting our Canadian family business. Happy New Year and here's to 2024! 

My name is Green Eggs and Ham. I’m a goat.

When ice fishing, first ice and last ice are typically what every angler looks forward to. This is where fish are plentiful and seemingly eat whatever presentation is offered to them.  When mid winter ice fishing rolls around, things slow down, fish don't seem to bite anything placed in front of them, and your catch rates go down.
 
What if a few subtle changes to your tactics could make you more successful, all winter long?!  A lot of factors need to be taken into account when heading out for a successful mid winter ice fishing trip.
 
SEARCH FOR STRUCTURE
 
First and last ice offers a short window with wonderful weather, where sitting out on the ice all day can be rather pleasant.  With freezing temps, swirling wind, and blowing snow, most anglers set up shop during the mid season.  Whether it be in a shanty, a portable shelter, or you are fishing outside in the elements, you usually don't feel like moving around too much.  Most of the time, neither do the fish.  They will be held up to structure off the main lake basin such as drop offs, steep points, reefs, and humps.  As winter drags on and the ice gets thicker and snow piles up on the surface, there is less and less light penetration, and shallow weed beds die off, forcing pan fish (such as Yellow Perch) from the safety of their cover to structure where they can elude predators.  These predators (such as Northern Pike and Walleye), can be found cruising along the edge of these drop offs looking for an easy meal.  If you are willing to take a little extra time before setting up to put yourself on top of some mid lake structure (such as a reef) and fish from shallow to deep, you will more than likely be rewarded.  Another option is to head out to the lake in the summer and map or mark out these locations ahead of time to save the hassle in the winter.​

TWILIGHT, DAWN, AND DUSK
 
It is also very relevant to consider the total hours of daylight during the shortest days of winter, and maybe even to consider how much darkness there is.  A lot of species will continue to feed right through the dead of night, and the short span of time known as twilight at both dawn and dusk can be extremely productive for all species.  Understanding the three recognized types of Twilight (Astronomical, Nautical, and Civil), at both morning (dawn) and night (dusk), as well as how their respective angles are affected directly by the time of year and latitude of the lake you will be fishing can be a huge benefit to your success.  It may seem like a lot to understand, but with a little bit of research, it is a game changer.
 
As a lot of species use low light conditions to ambush their prey, and this can be a very advantageous time to ice fish.  Walleye for example are considered "phototactic negative", which means that they prefer low light conditions, compared to most fish which would be "positively phototactic".  They are awarded this incredible sense due to the "tapetum lucidum" which is what gives their eyes the distinctive glow they are known for, which most people can compare to the eye of a feline.  With this incredible advantage, Walleye are able to seek out prey best during low light conditions.  This means that if you are willing and able to fish during the peak twilight hours, or even throughout the night, you will most likely be rewarded with some great fishing.  Changing up your tactics to include glow or rattle baits, as well as scent, such as bait or attractant will improve your low light hours on the ice, and put more fish in your future!
 
BIGGER ISN'T ALWAYS BETTER
 
Quite often anglers believe that big lures catch big fish.  This may be true for a small portion of the year, but typically not during the months where the lakes are frozen.  With colder water temperatures, less light, and less cover, fish will be much more opportunistic about their meals and pick up small snacks more readily than chasing down a big meal. Collecting energy vs expending it is a huge winter consideration for all species under the ice.  If your usual presentations are not garnering any interest, or fish are coming to take a look and then turning away, downsize your lure and bait of choice.  This may mean that the herring on a quickstrike rig under a tip up may need to be swapped out for a minnow and small single treble, or the 3 inch jigging spoon you are reefing through the water column needs to be given up for a 1 inch flutter spoon and a little more finesse.  More often than not, when I have downsized my presentation to picky fish, my success rates increase, and the overall size of fish increases as well.  It's like offering a child a piece of candy or dessert versus another cheeseburger after they just finished their Happy Meal.  Fish are going to grab that little candy, every single time.

COAT OF MANY COLOURS
 
Take a look through most anglers (including my own) tackle boxes, or gaze at the shelves of any tackle shop and all of the colour options available to us, and it can be overwhelming.  But what do all of these colours really mean to fish? Can they see them? What about UV colours? How does colour choice affect your success?
 
First and foremost, yes, it is believed that fish can see colour including ultraviolet (UV). Humans can not see the UV spectrum, but we can see that UV colours pop a little more than your standard paint job.  Each species sees different colours through different ranges, and without going into too much detail, it can make a difference.

Personally, what colours a fish can see is less important to me in the dead of winter than how a fish can see them.  As discussed earlier, there is far less light penetration and overall daylight when the ice is thick and covered with snow.  Taking that into account, as well as the wavelengths of the five primary colours from shortest to longest (red, orange, yellow, green, blue), it can be assumed that many colours disappear quickly beneath the ice.  Blue stretches into the depths the farthest (or when light is low, such as under the ice) and should be a common theme among the tackle that you choose. Chrome, gold, bronze, and silver lures that are able to reflect light and flash or attract fish from a distance may be more important than colour itself.  As brought up when fishing under low light conditions, glow is also a huge advantage when it comes to colour choice. By bringing light to the fish, they are able to see your offering more readily, and are more likely to take a swing at your presentation.  If you are fishing shallower water, red, orange, and yellow may be visible during the peak hours of the day, but consider swapping to greens and blues or glow patterns as light fades to increase interest of fish in the area.
 
WILLING TO CHANGE
 
If you are willing to adapt your current practices and adopt some of the techniques or knowledge outlined above, I believe that you will have a more successful mid winter ice fishing season.  Until that dreamy time known as "last ice" when the days are longer, sun is warmer, and the promise of open water is around the corner, I wish you good luck, and happy fishing!

Len Thompson, a returned WWI veteran, believed in the benefits of being outside. In fact, his doctor prescribed it. In papers dated 1956, Len wrote; "It is fortunate for me that I lived within a few miles of Katepwa Lake, where fishing was always good. In my Boyhood days we fished as often as we could get to the lake with horses, but didn’t take it seriously until after the First World War. During that scrap I collected a variety of wounds, gas, and malaria that left me in poor shape.  Doctors’ orders were to keep in the open as much as possible so I wasn’t loath to spend a lot of time travelling the shores of the lakes in the famed Qu’Appelle chain, just fishing and forgetting." ​

​These days, significant research has gone into the topic of mental health.

According to an article researched by the Canadian Mental Health Association, "It has been proven that being in green spaces (like forests, gardens and parks) can significantly reduce cortisol (stress hormone), and raise endorphin levels and dopamine production (both of which may promote “happiness”)... In other words, getting outside and being in nature are a winning combination for your psychological and physical well-being." (Source: CMHA.ca)

In 2022, Angling Direct (UK) partnered  with Anglia Ruskin University and the charity, Tackling Minds, to conduct an online study on fishing and mental health  "The survey found that those who go fishing are less likely to self-harm, attempt suicide or report anxiety." (Source: Angling International).

There's no arguing that being outside is good for you. Time to go fishing...

I truly believe that fishing, hunting and the outdoors was part of the solution. My love for fishing was second to none. When I did not want to do that, there was a problem. In the beginning, my friends dragged me out fishing and my family pushed me out the door. I began to realize getting back to my roots was the key but I had to return slowly. It was like starting a workout regime. One day out and I was exhausted. Slowly but surely I was able to regain that strength to the point I am now competing in fishing tournaments again, fishing multiple days and loving life. I’m still not fishing as much as I would like but it is a progression and  I'm hoping this year will be another step forward.

The complications of PTSD rear their ugly head now and again but I use the tools I have learned to combat the issues when they arise… one of those tools includes a Len Thompson 5 of diamonds and a day on the lake.
 
Mental health issues can happen to anyone at any time so please take it seriously, respect others having issues and to take care of your own mental health.
 
Hope to see you on the water.

The Government of Canada
A list of Canadian mental health resources including support targeted towards Youth as well as First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples. Learn more: canada.ca

The Canadian Mental Health Association
With 330 community locations, CMHA is a nationwide organization that promotes mental health and supports people recovering from mental illness. Learn more: https://cmha.ca/

Wounded Warriors 
Provides a range of clinically facilitated programs specifically developed to support the unique needs of Veterans, First Responders and their families. Learn more: https://woundedwarriors.ca/

Buddy Up
In Canada, men have a suicide rate three times higher than women. This i=men’s suicide prevention campaign is a call to action for men, by men, to drive authentic conversation. Learn more: www.buddyup.ca/learn/