Toronto/Oro Station, Ontario

Reference material provided by Frank Baron, who wrote the book "Commercial Fish Decoys, Identification and Value Guide"

     The Dominion Fishing Tackle Company began business around 1925 in a very small way and was ocated at 2107 Danforth Avenue in Toronto's East End. The proprietor of the original storefront fishing tackle business was Owen A. Jones. He is reported in original company literature as a well-known Toronto fisherman.

     Until 1937, Dominion Fishing Tackle Company literature was limited to the simple economic lithograph or Gestetner machine "flyer type" advertising. The first trade catalog was printed in 1937 with a multicolored front page. Inside, 31 pages of extremely ornate hand-drawn artwork beautifully illustrated and described each bait. The cover boasts of the company being known "From Coast to Coast" and displayed their registered trademark, a curved "Leaping Large-mouth Bass" and "Dominion Brand Metal Baits of Quality For Every Fishing Purpose."

     The catalogue, with several mail order forms enclosed, lists over 50 different metal spoon design baits. Each was available in several sizes and several different finishes, for example polished nickel, polished brass, polished copper or painted. As well, they invited customer enquiries to supply tubular fishing rods, fly or level wind reels, fly or bait casting lines, plugs, landing nets, gaff hooks, tackle boxes, sinkers and all kinds of hooks. Obviously, this was a very complete supply house for the angling enthusiast.

     In 1955, however, the Dominion Tackle Company with all of its machinery and business was purchased by Lester (Les) Bedford (1902-1989) of Toronto. The entire operation was moved to Oro Station, Ontario, on the west side of Lake Simcoe, north of Barrie. Les Bedford enlisted the services of his son Douglas, at that time employed in the mining industry, to help him get the tackle-making equipment business up and running again.

    The company ran strong for 33 years, from 1955-1988, and was sold to a new owner who moved the entire operation to Thessalon, Ontario. Despite ambitious plans to expand the operation, the owner met an unforseen financial downturn, and all of their assets were seized by the bank. When another suitable purchaser could not be found, the trustees sold the machinery and tooling to a former competitior, the Lucky Strike Bait Company of Peterborough, Ontario. With this purchase, the Lucky Strike Bait Company effectively removed any future competition from their long-standing 70-year rival, the Dominion Fishing Tackle Company.

A Dominion Fishing Tackle ice fishing decoy

Old Dominion Fishing Tackle Stamp

DFT is stamped in the inside of an oval marking this dominion fishing decoy. Other decoys are stamped with the full name of Dominion.

Owen's Fishing Tackle Spoon on its Card

Shown here is a relatively recent Dominion spoon. I have MANY Dominion spoons all stamped with the Dominion name, but I thought I would show you a transition piece for the company which is when it was taken over by Owen's. At the bottom of the card it states "Dominion Fishing Tackle Manufacturers/Division of Owen's Enterprises/Oro Station - Ontario."