1.Little Jim's Sports Inc
DNR license agent900 Elm St E, Annandale, MN 55302
4.7 (186 reviews · ratings via Google)
- Live bait
- Tackle
- Fishing licenses
Bait Shops in Annandale, MN
1 licensed bait & tackle shop (1 with live bait) — and what to buy for walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass this month.
📍 Twin Cities MetroWright County🪱 August: Leeches · Nightcrawlers · Sucker minnows
Annandale sits within easy reach of Lake Waconia, Lake Minnetonka and Riley, with Lake Waconia only about 32.7 miles out, so most anglers here are on the water in well under an hour. The DNR surveys for these lakes turn up walleye, northern pike and largemouth bass year after year, and walleye is the fish most trips are planned around. Right now, in summer, leeches and nightcrawlers move fastest off the shelves, so grab them early on a Saturday. Plan the morning around Pleasant Lake (S) Public Water Access Site (Pleasant) — it is the public access closest to the bait counters in Annandale, around 1.3 miles out. Annandale has one shop in this directory (it carries live bait); scroll down for hours, directions and nearby accesses.
Lakes near Annandale and what's biting
- Lake Waconia · ~33 mi from AnnandaleLake guide →
- Lake Minnetonka · ~35 mi from AnnandaleLake guide →
- Riley · ~42 mi from AnnandaleLake guide →
Main targets: Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Crappie
This month at Annandale-area lakes: bait by species
August in Minnesota. Seasons and bag limits change — the regulations page has the current rules.
| Species | Live bait to buy in August | Where to buy it |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye | Leeches, Nightcrawlers, Redtail chubsCrawler harnesses and leeches on deep structure; big chubs for trophy fish. | |
| Northern Pike | Sucker minnows, Large shinersSummer pike hit spoons and spinnerbaits, but a live sucker still wins on slow days. | |
| Crappie | Crappie minnows, WaxwormsSuspend a minnow over deep weed edges; waxies for finicky fish. | |
| Largemouth Bass | Nightcrawlers, Leeches, ShinersWacky-rigged crawlers and leeches under a bobber on weed edges; soft plastics do the rest. |
Bait & tackle shops in Annandale
Just need minnows, leeches or crawlers? Live bait in Annandale →
Gear to grab before you go
Based on what's biting around Annandale — grab it on the way so you're not improvising at the landing:
Heads up: the links below are affiliate links — if you buy something we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It doesn't change what we recommend. How we make money.
- Jig heads, 1/8–3/8 ozThe Minnesota walleye staple — tip with a minnow or leech.Shop at Amazon →
- Slip bobber kitLeech under a slip float on a reef — summer walleye 101.Shop at Amazon →
- Crawler harnesses / spinner rigsTroll a nightcrawler on deep structure in July and August.Shop at Amazon →
- 8 lb monofilament lineFresh line before the season — old mono loses jig-bite fish.Shop at Amazon →
- Wire or fluorocarbon leadersPike bite through mono. Every rig needs a leader.Shop at Amazon →
- Casting spoons (red/white, five of diamonds)Classic Minnesota pike hardware for weedlines.Shop at Amazon →
Public landings near Annandale
DNR public water access sites closest to the shops above.
- Pleasant Lake (S) Public Water Access Site — PleasantDirections ↗
~1.3 mi from the nearest listed shop · Trailer Launch · Concrete Slab · 8 trailer spaces
- Pleasant Lake (N) Public Water Access Site — PleasantDirections ↗
~1.9 mi from the nearest listed shop · Trailer Launch · Concrete Slab · 1 dock · 12 trailer spaces
Annandale bait shop FAQ
Where can I buy live bait in Annandale?
Annandale has one bait and tackle stop in our directory — Little Jim's Sports Inc. It carries live bait (minnows, leeches, nightcrawlers) in season. Hours shift early and late in the season, so a quick call before a dawn launch is worth it.
What bait works for walleye near Annandale right now?
For walleye on the lakes around Annandale, local shops usually recommend a jig tipped with a fathead or shiner minnow in spring, leeches and nightcrawlers on a live-bait rig through summer, and bigger redtail or sucker minnows once the water cools in fall. Ask at the counter what the fish have been taking that week — the answer changes with water temperature.
Do Annandale bait shops sell fishing licenses?
Yes. Little Jim's Sports Inc is a Minnesota DNR electronic license agent, so you can buy a fishing license at the counter. You can also buy online from the DNR before you leave home.
Which lakes are closest to Annandale?
The closest lakes on our site are Lake Waconia (32.7 mi), Lake Minnetonka (34.9 mi) and Riley (41.6 mi). Each has its own page with depth, species surveys and public access details, and every shop below lists the two nearest DNR public accesses.