The HISTORY of Len Thompson
Len Thompson, a returned First World War soldier and farmer, developed his first fishing spoon in Abernethy, Saskatchewan, in 1929. After many years of trying all kinds of manufactured lures, he was convinced he could make a better spoon.
He believed that the slow wobbling action which antagonized game fish into striking could be created with a more intricate combination of shape and weight. Always looking for better results, he carried a file and ball peen hammer in his tackle box to perfect his already very successful prototypes.
Len Thompson Bullet and Bait operated as a part time, winter business out of his farm until 1945 when Thompson decided to make a career change. He traveled to Toronto where he secured suppliers of brass, components, paint, packaging, and production equipment as well as hired his first professional tool and die maker. Within a few short months, he had a factory built and fully equipped. Len Thompson Bait Company entered into full time production in the village of Abernethy, Saskatchewan. |
Len Thompson (1968)
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Cecil Pallister presided over the business through the 70's and early 80's
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After a decade of impressive growth, Len & Myra Thompson and Myrtle & Cecil Pallister formed Thompson-Pallister Bait Co. Ltd and chose to relocate to Lacombe, Alberta in 1958. Lacombe was closer to suppliers and customers as well as offered many fishing and hunting opportunities. Len Thompson continued to experiment and promote while his son-in-law Cecil Pallister refined the manufacturing processes. Len passed away in 1979, but his name is carried to anglers on approximately 500,000 fishing spoons each year. Cecil presided over the business through the 1970’s and early 1980’s when he and Myrtle turned over ownership to their sons: Richard, Syd and Greg.
In 1989 Syd, with Thompson-Pallister financial backing, purchased Gibbs/Nortac Industries of Burnaby, BC, Canada’s oldest and largest fishing lure manufacturer. He later sold the company and officially retired in 2017. In 1994, Thompson-Pallister purchased True North Electric Food Smokers and Accessories of Edmonton and moved to a brand new 14,000 square foot manufacturing plant in Lacombe, AB. Smoker manufacturing has since discontinued, however, True North continues to sell wood chip and seasonings. |
Richard acquired sole ownership of Thompson-Pallister Bait Co. Ltd. in 2012 and was later joined by his son Brad his daughter Jessica who are the fourth generation family members to participate in the family business.
Most recently, the Thompson-Pallister Bait Co. Ltd. acquired Northern King Lures in 2016, a well known trolling spoon brand originally from Rochester, New York. Len Thompson’s versatile spoons continue to dominate the marketplace across the Canadian Prairies and Arctic. Perhaps best known as a Northern Pike lure, they have held world records in Lake Trout and Arctic Grayling as well as numerous provincial records in Walleye, Trout and other game fish. Approximately 55 million lures have been produced since 1929 and between Len Thompson and Northern King, more than half a million spoons are manufactured each year. Proudly made in Lacombe, Alberta, Canada. |
Richard Pallister (2010)
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