Where to Buy Bait in the MN West Metro?

Arco (the old food and fuel) on hwy 7 at Christmas lake rd has minnows

Dogfish wrote:

I see lots of Canadians using frozen/salted minnows (probably due to regulation and convenience as opposed to effectiveness?), has anyone given that a shot around town and if so have a recommendation for places to get them?

I know someone who knew the guys at JR tackle in BP and he had them freeze the dead minnows from there tanks and would take them up to Canada. Not sure if any shops would do that for you and also not sure if they salted them or just tossed them in a bag a froze them.

John Rasmussen wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Dogfish wrote:</div>
I see lots of Canadians using frozen/salted minnows (probably due to regulation and convenience as opposed to effectiveness?), has anyone given that a shot around town and if so have a recommendation for places to get them?

I know someone who knew the guys at JR tackle in BP and he had them freeze the dead minnows from there tanks and would take them up to Canada. Not sure if any shops would do that for you and also not sure if they salted them or just tossed them in a bag a froze them.

IGH sells frozen dead minnows, they say cat fisherman use them

I know someone who knew the guys at JR tackle in BP and he had them freeze the dead minnows from there tanks and would take them up to Canada. Not sure if any shops would do that for you and also not sure if they salted them or just tossed them in a bag a froze them.
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I don’t think you can take any bait to Canada–dead or alive. I might be wrong about that but thought all bait had to be bought in Canada.

Ace Hardware in Champlin has fatheads, crappie minnows, suckers, and shiners as well as waxies. I’ve also heard JR’s tackle fishing outlet near the fleet farm in Brooklyn Park has bait but haven’t gone there personally. I have a 5 gallon tank in my garage with just a filter constantly running, and I’ve had bait in there for weeks with very few minnows dying off. Just have to maintain it and change water out when it gets murky. (Suckers will dirty up the water quick). Definitely helps stay stocked with bait considering I live down the street from where Big Bs used to be.

After some personal experience this year, I want to circle back on the topic of keeping minnows alive. If you are going to replace the water in your container, it HAS to be lake water, OR you HAVE to treat it with tap water conditioner that they use for fish tanks. (at least for Minneapolis metro tap water) I’ve tried twice now to put water in a bucket and let it sit for a week to have the chlorine evaporate out, and both times the minnows have all died instantly after I put them in. Just a friendly heads up for anyone else about to do the same thing! (Also, salted minnows have been just ok, not as good as fresh in my opinion)

Ive kept shiners and fatheads alive for at least the last month using hose water when its warm enough outside and kitchen tap water when its not. Obviously with an aerator.

Was your hose water from a well? Mine used to be and I can agree that can be an alternative option since it doesn’t have any treatments.

JEREMY wrote:

Ive kept shiners and fatheads alive for at least the last month using hose water when its warm enough outside and kitchen tap water when its not. Obviously with an aerator.

I do this year round with north branch city water. I might kill a few minnows in the process but I keep the mass majority.

City water Belle Plaine

Had a few fatheads die off but guessing cause they havent eaten in weeks

I’m on Minnetonka city water. It kills my minnows in the winter. Have never tried refreshing during open water.

FinickyFish wrote:

I’m on Minnetonka city water. It kills my minnows in the winter. Have never tried refreshing during open water.

fill container with water and let it rest for 24 hours.. it can help

Mike Schulz wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>FinickyFish wrote:</div>
I’m on Minnetonka city water. It kills my minnows in the winter. Have never tried refreshing during open water.

fill container with water and let it rest for 24 hours.. it can help

I’ll give it a shot.

Does that gas station in Spring Park by Black lake have live bait?

Eelpoutguy wrote:

Does that gas station in Spring Park by Black lake have live bait?

Is it a BP? I think it does. Not really very convenient if you’re coming from the east though.

I stopped by the Long Lake Gopher Ace Hardware yesterday to buy a hose for my Buddy heater. I saw a guy heading in with an Engel minnow cooler. Maybe they sell live bait. Give ’em a call.

I’ve also heard that letting the water sit for a day helps, but twice this year, I tried letting the water sit for 48 hours(two days) and 96 hours(4 days). Both times, the minnows died within a minute of being in the new water. Not saying you’re wrong or your lying, but wanted to post this to hopefully help someone save money and time in the future. Also, the BP by Black lake definitely used to sell live bait. I think they still do?

Loaded up this weekend at Cabin Fever in Victoria, they had a good selection of healthy minnows.

Werm why didnt you go to Carver Bait. Must be closer. Oh wait they have never been open.

Dogfish wrote:

I’ve also heard that letting the water sit for a day helps, but twice this year, I tried letting the water sit for 48 hours(two days) and 96 hours(4 days). Both times, the minnows died within a minute of being in the new water.

Is the temp a large difference from one to the other. A large temp swing will kill them for sure.

That’s a great callout, but in this case they were both the same temp.

I’ve used Plymouth tap water with an aerator for years. I’ve kept fatheads alive for upwards of 2-3 weeks.

If you ask a bait shop to save you dead minnows I recommend you have a good relationship with them. Like they have a charge account for you. Bring them them the salt and bags if they are down. We would only save the dead for one person at a time. In the winter we saved for someone to bring to Canada, and in the summer we saved for someone that fed them to their chickens. I saved large suckers for myself to use for catfishing and they worked great for that.

JEREMY wrote:

Werm why didnt you go to Carver Bait. Must be closer. Oh wait they have never been open.

Yeah I think they are by appointment only or something. Would like to become a regular there, but other than Steamboat Days they are never open.

You think its a tax write off or something? Looks like alot of stuff in there when I park there to walk over to Lisas.

As far as keeping minnows alive during a city water change- add a splash of prime. Used in aquariums to condition water – works the same for bait bucket water. Small splash in 5 gal pail of water in garage to acclimate to temp overnight, switch water – no problems…

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