This past weekend finding sucker minnows (4-6″) was tough in Mille Lacs and St Cloud areas – they were available, but supply is drying up fast. Late spring and crazy summer weather are the blame from the bait shops. Anybody else seeing this in their areas? Does Wisconsin have similar laws as MN on importing bait from other states? I didn’t ask if this would continue into the winter months …. ????
Starting from opener on they were hard to find from Alexandria to Milly.
DT
I haven’t had to buy minnows yet this year but am down to my last 20 or so creek chubs. if that’s the case I may have to break the Seine out again and go minnow hunting
The other week at the cabin I caught my wife feeding the baby loons all my suckers. $.75 a piece. 
Oh well she was happy, and so were the Loons. 
The other week at the cabin I caught my wife feeding the baby loons all my suckers. $.75 a piece.
Oh well she was happy, and so were the Loons.
Baby loons make great northern bait also.
Our sucker supply went dry around July 4th in Central Sconnie.
If I recall the ice guys were beg borrow and stealing big minnows end of last season.
I think I’d take a drive some Saturday, maybe to Wisconsin, with a couple large coolers full of well water and ice bags. Buy the suckers you want when you find them, then drive back home and not say squat about where they came from to anyone. If I really wanted sucker minnows. Then I’s find a way to keep them cool and well aerated.
Does Wisconsin have similar laws as MN on importing bait from other states?
Similar laws.
Bait for flatheads went from $2.50 each last year to $3.99 this year IF they could be found which beats the ell out of the Red Wing bait shop that sold them for $6.00 each a few years back. No one around here carries bullhead anymore.
It’s not bad for the guy that goes out once every few weeks but I feel sorry for the guy that goes out 3-4 times a week and doesn’t have the time to find and trap/seine their own bait.
I’m very happy the cast net law was reinstated permanently this year. At least we can get shad for sturgeon bait fairly easily.
Bait for flatheads went from $2.50 each last year to $3.99 this year IF they could be found which beats the ell out of the Red Wing bait shop that sold them for $6.00 each a few years back. No one around here carries bullhead anymore.
The biggest reason I fish them during the day with cut bait Brian. Too much money and hastle to aquire live bait.
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