I was getting rainbows from a bait shop around mille lacs this weekend, and I wanted them around 3.5 inches for that seems to be working for me right now, so @ $5 dozen I politely ask if he could hand pick the dozen for me, I got a look as if I was asking for the moon, he says “ya get what ya get”, o.k. fine I’ll never step foot in here again, have a good day sir! Now, can someone tell me if that is asking to much?
I don’t think so…They are getting paid to fetch the minnows for you…So they should at least do a good job and satisfy their customer! Next time ask if you can do it yourself if he’s too lazy! 
Stop at Vados next time. They hand grade them.
Nope!
Not too much to ask!
I’ll also throw Gander in Forest Lake a “KUDOS”.
I stopped in there Sunday morning on my way to pike fish a smaller lake. I asked them to hand pick out the size I needed and they did. They also threw in 6 extra free suckers, on top of the 24 we purchased!
If I was told: “ya git what ya git”…..I would “git out” and shop elsewhere……..but that is me!
I can understand the baitshop’s point of view, from working in a couple over the years. They don’t get to hand pick their minnow inventory.
If a baitshop buys 4 gallons of minnows like chubs, they aren’t all one size. If everyone wants the larger sized chubs, and the baitshop allows hand picking, they are stuck with what everyone considers leftovers and won’t buy them. On top of that, people will start telling all their friends not to buy their bait because it runs small.
This does happen, because I’ve seen it. I don’t blame the batishop owner one bit for not allowing hand picking. If you can find a place like Vados who hand grades minnows, that’s great. My experience with places who hand grade bait, is they are typically more expensive. I can’t say Vados is more expensive, because I don’t know that. Hand grading minnows is one more step that lends to the cost of minnows.
It may seem unfair that the guys was rude to you, but there’s always a flip side to every situation. 
I always shoped at Vados bait when I lived on the north side of town, but now live in Lakeville. I was always happy with their service, granted that was 10-15 years ago, but I’m sure they still offer good service if they been in business that long. I always got the albino minnows for crappies! Always produced for me.
No.. I dont think its too much to ask with realistic expectations.
The comment on the baitshop *fetching* the minnows for you … well, that isnt how it works. The bait shops buy from the bait distributers, and they sell you what the distributer brings them.
Shiners, suckers, and rainbows can vary greatly from week to week. One week your rainbows might be 90% 2″ minnows, and the next week 5″ minnows(I used to trap them). If you have a tank full of 2″ minnows with only a small percentage of bigger minnows, its difficult, time consuming, and a hassle to try to *hand pick* the minnows when other customers are waiting too. Not to mention, nobody wants to buy 1.5″ rainbow fatheads(small rainbows) for $5/dozen. Suckers in the summer, and shiners in the winter go through the same size variations.. one week they are too big, next too small.. trying to pick out them few *just right* is almost impossible, and it can be really hard on the bait handling them to much.
I wont say names of bait distributers, but there is a common problem these days with the sucker shortage where they bring in 15% mediums, and fill the rest of the gallon(s) with small. The true mediums sell quickly, and the smalls turn upside-down over time because they wont sell. The pike fishermen will look at the mediums as *too small* on average with a few nice minnows, but the large are musky size baits… this isnt the choice of the bait shop, its what the distributers bring in and thats what they have to work with to try to please everyone looking for a 3.5″ minnow. A line has to be drawn somewhere or 3 customers are going to get their bait and be happy, and the other 23 are going to walk away unsatistfied.
Sometimes we are forced to take what is available(fishermen).. but I do agree there has to be some sorting at the customers request within reason, but the expectation for each minnow to fit the same mold isnt going to happen.
I sure don’t mean to beat up on the “mom-pop” bait shop, because this isn’t what it is about……but I’m going to buy my bait at the place that gives me what I want. That baitshop can be a “mom-pop” or a major retailer…..doesn’t matter, as long as they have what I want.
I would rather pay a little more money for what I need than a “good deal” at what doesn’t fit my presentation.
My opinion on different sized suckers or rainbows…..get more tanks and spread them out…….or don’t buy the “bad ones”.
If one baitshop in the “neighborhood” can get “good bait” and the other gets the “leftovers”, then the “other baitshop” either needs to suffer with lack of business or get the “good bait”.
My opinion: Baitshops need to be like Burger King……..”I want it my way”.
When I said “Fetching” I ment when they go to get them out of the tank and put them into your bucket..i didn’t mean acutally going out and catching them 
Sorry for being un-clear on that one…
A parallel I can offer is with willowcats down near the river. Some shops will allow you to hand pick your own bait. But expect to pay about 30% extra. To me that extra money is money well spent to ensure that every bait is what I’m looking for.
Gary.. your theory is good, but *not buying* bait owning a bait shop just doesnt work. If the bait quality is limited, its still better than showing up at the bait shop and there are NO minnows.. then customers dont come back.. gander will live, but mom and pop wont… Persnaally, I am not going to drive to lakeville to fish at lake calhoun in minneapolis(1 mile from home).
The junk the bait dealers give some times you would need 30 tanks, and minnows wouldnt sell out of 20 of them.. so either your going to pay $21/doz for your 3.5″ minnows, or your going to get a couple minnows that dont fit the mold. Bait shops lose money on poorly sorted bait.. I know this 1st hand.
James had a VERY GOOD point on paying a couple extra dollars to get exactly what you want out of a vast mix. If you offer a bait shop owner a couple extra $$ for your bait of choice in a limited situation, most the time you are going to succeed and get what you really need in a situation difficult(but not impossible) to produce it. Compensation for a hassle is much easier to swallow than expectations of a hassle when the bait is sketchy.
Bait gets sketchy in a hurry when its a popular season bait(rainbows and shiners), and the price difference to the bait shop on some minnows is phenominal. Medium suckers are dirt cheap, but large cost them about $1 each.. many of them *large* are what I consider medium suckers, but the bait shop cant charge $18/doz for mediums.. so where does the bait shop have to draw the line? They have to carry bait, or customers wont be back.
What is a rainbow?
It’s not too much to ask, for a little service. These guys have over a 300 percent mark up on bait. If you want to hand pick you minnows in a reasonable amount of time you should be able to do so. However having worked at a local bait shop in the northern burbs. You should look at a bait shop as a marriage. It’s about give an take. May be the guy couldn’t invest the time, cause he had to get back to his till,or had to take a duke. Next time you come in maybe he will work with you and give you a couple more.
I do have a big prob with bait shops that hand count the bait. I was at a Big box store in Rogers getting a doz of Crappie minnows. The guy started counting one, two, three, ( I ask him if he had pet names for them), four five, When he got eleven I was so ticked I dumped the bucket back in the tank and said have a niceday.
So now I got that off my chest.
When I buy bait,it’s for walleyes.I want that 3″ shiner. Not 4 or 5 incher.
I know that if the owner/worker took the time to accomodate me I’d be back for more.He would have earned my business.
I work darn hard for my money & to give my business to someone it should be for a reason. Not just because they sell bait ,but for service.
If I buy an auger from him ,does he do any service? Can I afford to be shut down?
Sure ,the tackle /bait shop buys the bait as is & therefor he may want to sell it as it lands in the scoop.
It would be my choice if I then care to go back .
You really can not demand to hand pick them ,but like what was mentioned in a prior post.Offer to pay a tad more if you can. If it is that important to you then maybe offer.
If you spend time & build a rapore with the owner you may just get what you want without any extra costs .You may also get other deals on gear & the bait owners wins because you give him most of your business & your freinds business that are with you when you go to the bait shop.
well said.
I think it depends on the guy fetchin ya minnows 
I know guys the work in the big stores that make sure you get what you want a leave happy, because fishing is thier passion too. Micheal at Gander in Lakeville takes awesome care of the bait and will always do his best to get you what you ask for. Yeah it’s a big name store, but they really do have good bait, because of the attention they pay to the bait.
Personally I’d probably tip the guy or something if I had the “fish” ( 
) through for me, like James I think it would be worth it, not to mention everyone would be a little happier after it’s all said and done.
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