When it comes to fishing a new lure is about as enticing an item to the fisherman as a chunk of bait is to the fish.
When the lure company has a Saskatchewan connection it, well it is just a little more intriguing, at least for me.
"The Slater Lure was invented and patented in 1975 by 90 time Master Angler Doug Slater. The lure's unique treble hook design gives the sport fisherman an added advantage when the fish are tentative and not biting hard. Once a fish is "on", it becomes virtually impossible to lose it!" notes the company website at www.slaterlures.com.
Slater was a Manitoban.
Today the lures are manufactured in Melfort, SK., with the company in the hands of Tim Sjovold.
"I really don't know much about Doug, but yes he was a very very avid fisherman," said Sjovold in correspondance. "If I'm not mistaken he was an engineer and loved to fish for trout, and played around with different hook configurations until he came up with this one and swore by it, hence the one through two ounce hooks for going after deep trout in midsummer."
This hook was developed in the '70's and Doug sold the company to a young guy in Flin Flon, said Sjovold.
"We were in Saskatoon looking for the hooks and heard that the company was for sale, but that was just rumour," he said. "We thought we would see if it was true and tracked down the owner, and we bought the company. That was Feb. of '09."
So what makes the Slater lure unique? It's the design, offered Sjovold, who added all of the manufacturing is now done in Melfort.
"This hook is unique in the manner of how the three hooks are configured," he said. "Once you have a fish on, it's on!"
While Sjovold noted Slater was an avid trout fisherman, the lures are far from a one species choice, said Sjovold.
"This hook is good for any game fish," he said.
"The best type of method of using this hook would be still fishing or jigging seems to work about the best, but in saying that we have trolled with it and have had great success with it as well."
And it works through the ice too.
"It seems most fisherman like to use it thru hard water -- ice. I bet you 75 per cent of them are used ice fishing," said Sjovold.
Sjovold said the Slater Lures have found a steady market among Saskatchewan fishermen.
"Our current markets are strong in the northern part of Saskatchewan, with northern Alberta starting to get stronger as well, and somewhat in north eastern Manitoba," he said.
Sjovold said at present there are "no new products", but added that could always change. "We are always playing around with stuff."
If you like fishing, well then check out the aforementioned website, and grab a few Slater Lures.
