Favorite Bait Shops?

Saw another post for recommendations near Lake Vermillion (which I have none), but thought it’d be a good discussion topic. What are your favorite bait shops, and why?

Personally some of my favorite’s are:
Steve’s Lucky Bait in Baudette, they have very good bait, a crazy selection of jigs and Steve (and Chucky when he’s there) are some interesting and informative characters.

Timberline Sport aka the Shell Store in Blackduck. This is really a bait, tackle and gear store that also has a c-store w/ gas.

4Seasons in Red Wing has more rows of tackle and equipment, than I have ever looked at while there, and Chris and his team are very tuned in to the bite on the river. (Evert’s gets bonus points for having the most tackle, in the smallest square footage ).

Oddly enough I fish the most in the Park Rapids/Walker area, and don’t have any bait shop that is worth the drive, so I end up using the gas station in Nevis which is not that impressive imo.

What about Delaney’s in Park Rapids and Reeds in Walker?

bradl110 wrote:

What about Delaney’s in Park Rapids and Reeds in Walker?

Reed’s is awesome for equipment, and they also have bait. I prefer the Mom and Pop Bait shops in general though. Have not been to Delaney’s I will check them out! Thanks!

BigWerm wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>bradl110 wrote:</div>
What about Delaney’s in Park Rapids and Reeds in Walker?

Reed’s is awesome for equipment, and they also have bait. I prefer the Mom and Pop Bait shops in general though. Have not been to Delaney’s I will check them out! Thanks!

Delaney’s is a good joint. Quite a bit of tackle and good bait. Haven’t been there for a few years but it was where we always stopped when in the area.

And while I’m at it, I love 4 seasons also. Prince bait in Milaca is damn good too.

stop light bait in st cloud. Very friendly and giant scoops!
Spent a fair amount of time in Timberline Sport in blackduck too.
Trappers Bait shop in Bemidji
Also have to give a shout out to the kid running the bait shop in tiny shooks MN next to the motel. Went in there a few weeks ago and just one young kid running the whole operation. When I was checking out he asked me if I wanted paper or plastic for my minnows. I was tired and just looked at him confused and he snickered and replied “that’s the joke of the day”. Pretty sure he tells that joke all day every day. Sign on the wall said “Biggest, Bestest, Scoops”. Think the kid lives in the back of the shop. Love small town MN!!!

I can’t tell you the name (it’s classified) not because the bait is special but because the homemade warm apple turnovers are the best.

Fish Lake in Harris
Shriver’s in Walker
Timberline in Blackduck
Gene’s in Perham
Stop Light in St. Cloud
Buck’s in GM (Beaver House too, just not for bait)
Ben’s in Battle Lake
Prince in Milaca
4 Seasons in RW

Is Fred’s in Deer River still open? Liked that shop too. Been a while since I’ve been up toward Winnie/Cass/Bemidji/LOW.

Pig-hunter wrote:

Prince bait in Milaca is damn good too.

That was always my go-to stop on my way to Mille Lacs, but they’ve been closed the last few times…not sure if they changed hours or I caught them in between busy seasons. Good to hear they are still open though, I’m over due for stop there!

crappie55369 wrote:

Also have to give a shout out to the kid running the bait shop in tiny shooks MN next to the motel.

I’ve always wondered about that place, it kind of reminds me of the Bates motel so I haven’t stopped… I’ll give it a try tho, and ask for a paper bag.

Dutchboy wrote:

I can’t tell you the name (it’s classified) not because the bait is special but because the homemade warm apple turnovers are the best.

Well, challenge accepted Dutchboy! That sounds like my kind of place.

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>crappie55369 wrote:</div>
Also have to give a shout out to the kid running the bait shop in tiny shooks MN next to the motel.

I’ve always wondered about that place, it kind of reminds me of the Bates motel so I haven’t stopped… I’ll give it a try tho, and ask for a paper bag.

you know what, I thought of that from the moment I walked out of the car and the kid even looks like the kid in that show and kinda talks like him too.

BigWerm wrote:

Reed’s is awesome for equipment, and they also have bait. I prefer the Mom and Pop Bait shops in general though. Have not been to Delaney’s I will check them out! Thanks!

I too have always had a special fondness for the old “ma and pa” bait shops. I think it just reminds me of my early fishing days as a kid in the early 70’s when that’s all there were.
Some favorites;
Marv Koeps- Nisswa (gone now)
S&W- Brainerd
Lundeen’s Tackle Castle- Onamia
Honorable mention to Johnsons Portside for the cool giant fish!

Photos for fun…

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crappie55369 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>crappie55369 wrote:</div>
Also have to give a shout out to the kid running the bait shop in tiny shooks MN next to the motel.

I’ve always wondered about that place, it kind of reminds me of the Bates motel so I haven’t stopped… I’ll give it a try tho, and ask for a paper bag.

you know what, I thought of that from the moment I walked out of the car and the kid even looks like the kid in that show and kinda talks like him too.

You should be safe as long as you don’t shower there.

In order for me…..

Steve’s– Baudette (kids favorite too because they always give them free jigs)

Timberline– Black Duck

Lundeens– Onamia

Prince’s— Princeton

Little Jims– Annandale

H&H– Maple Lake

Used to like Bobs bait and Houstons in Buffalo, but they are no longer around….

Walt’s Hook Line and Sinker outside St. Peter has saved a few catfish trips with bullies, big suckers, frozen cutbait, etc. Kind of in a weird spot, but a cool little shop down that way.

Fred’s Bait in Deer River. Tutt’s Bait in Garrison. And, of course, the others mentioned already. I didn’t think I had been to that many bait shops until I saw all the names.

In the cities joes sporting goods, duluth chalstroms, and crabby Phil’s gateway General in kabetogama.

Don’t know the name but the baitshop right off the landing in Longville. Nothing fancy, wouldn’t even say a great selection but can’t beat motoring up to it on vacation and docking right there.

Out of my own yard and no need to buy the bait. I will buy if I need to though.

My own minnows and such will be found also soon enough. Picked 70 crawlers tonight with my son.

Saves $ and provides honest conversation .

Christophersons in Alexandria has a great selection of everything been going there for years…

Jerry’s bait in Mora MN. I grew up close to there and the place has not changed in my 30 years. It is old school, and is also attached to a diner. I have great memories of grabbing some pancakes then heading next door and getting jumbo leeches and heading up to Mille Lacs to slay some walleyes and jumbo perch.

S&W Bait is awesome!
65 Bait
Fish Lake Bait.
Swanson Bait in Hackensack awesome little place sells a lot of big name rods and tackle.
Reeds only in Walker, the garrison spot is a joke.

Tutts in garrison. Large selection of tackle and bait.

Happy Hooker bait and Tackle in Oak Harbor (Port Clinton) Ohio.
Craziest amount of crank baits and spinner blades I’ve ever seen.
Also thier Moto is
Happy Hooker Bait “We make fish come”
One of my favorite sweatshirts (2nd to my IDO of course )

I loved going to Marv Koeps when I was a kid.
Why do candy bars taste better when you get em at a Bait Shop?

Usually when I’m in a bait shop it’s generally for live bait. Terminal tackle is purchased in advance of my trips, typically.

TC Area = Vados Bait in Spring Lake Park. Never have been disappointed by the quality of bait from Vados.

On way to Mille Lacs from west side = Prince’s Bait in Milaca

On way to URL and Winnie = Fred’s Bait in Deer River

Baudette Area = Lucky’s Bait and I also like Border Bait near Wheelers Point

Fred’s in Deer River, Ben’s in Grand Rapids, Prince in Milaca, Reed’s in Onamia (if I forgot to stop at Prince) and 4-Seasons.

I used to be a fan of Border bait in Baudette until I met a very unfriendly worker there 2 years ago. So rude that I chose to go elsewhere and have yet to find a “favorite” bait shop for LOTW.

I saw a mention about the baitshop next to the Royal Shooks. I got bait there once and he gave very small scoops, but was a nice kid. I’ve stayed at the Royal Shooks many times. It’s the going joke with my group of fishing friends that the place is the home of the “Good Ole’ Fashioned Stabbin”. It’s decent for the price and I just keep going back for some reason…

BigWerm next time your around the Park Rapids area check out Northern Bait Company in Park Rapids. Northern Bait, Prince bait, Swanson’s, Tabers, S & W, Christopherson’s, Timberline, H&H Sports, Little Jims to name a few of my favorites.

I’m glad others mentioned Trapper’s bait in Shooks, it’s a must stop for me just to see if the young man is wearing shoes. I’ve seen him barefoot more than once in subzero temps. Me and my buddies were just reminiscing about his awkward awesomeness the other day.

1. Lehman’s-anoka
2. Mikes bait on 8
3. Vados

My favorite bait shop is the body of water I’m fishing, otherwise it is shops who have bait over 10″ long…. Which isn’t often and is far and few in-between.

Cathy Winkler’s in kato
Beanies under I-94

The best LBS near my house are Big Marine Lake Store and Blue Ribbon Bait. Blue Ribbon probably gives the biggest scoops I’ve seen. The Lake Store up at Big Marine has good bait and also a really good selection of tackle. It also has hot deli food, snacks, non-oxy AND an attached liquor store.