Bait Shops in Baudette, MN

6 licensed bait & tackle shops (6 with live bait) — and what to buy for walleye, northern pike, crappie this month.

📍 Lake of the Woods & Rainy RiverLake of the Woods County🪱 August: Waxworms · Leeches · Sucker minnows

Anglers based in Baudette split their time between Lake of the Woods, Upper Red Lake and Rainy Lake, and Lake of the Woods at 33.2 miles is the quick after-work option. Walleye, northern pike and crappie all show up in the local survey data, and walleye gets the most attention from Baudette anglers. The summer staples here are leeches and nightcrawlers, and most counters will tell you what the lake has been wanting that week. If you want the shortest run from bait to boat, Border Bait sits roughly 0.2 miles from the Rainy River, Wheeler's Point Public Water Access Site. The six Baudette shops below (all six with live bait) cover everything from minnows to licenses, with phone numbers and hours where Google has them.

Lakes near Baudette and what's biting

Main targets: Walleye, Northern Pike, Crappie, Bluegill & Sunfish

This month at Baudette-area lakes: bait by species

August in Minnesota. Seasons and bag limits change — the regulations page has the current rules.

SpeciesLive bait to buy in AugustWhere to buy it
WalleyeLeeches, Nightcrawlers, Redtail chubsCrawler harnesses and leeches on deep structure; big chubs for trophy fish.
Northern PikeSucker minnows, Large shinersSummer pike hit spoons and spinnerbaits, but a live sucker still wins on slow days.
CrappieCrappie minnows, WaxwormsSuspend a minnow over deep weed edges; waxies for finicky fish.
Bluegill & SunfishAngleworms, Waxworms, Nightcrawler pieces, Small leechesSpawning beds in June; a half a crawler on a small hook is hard to beat.

Bait & tackle shops in Baudette

Just need minnows, leeches or crawlers? Live bait in Baudette →

Gear to grab before you go

Based on what's biting around Baudette — grab it on the way so you're not improvising at the landing:

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Public landings near Baudette

DNR public water access sites closest to the shops above.

  • Rainy River, Wheeler's Point Public Water Access Site
    Directions ↗

    ~0.2 mi from the nearest listed shop · Trailer Launch · Concrete Slab · 2 docks · 50 trailer spaces

  • Rainy River, Baudette Bay Public Water Access Site
    Directions ↗

    ~0.2 mi from the nearest listed shop · Trailer Launch · Concrete Slab · 1 dock · 12 trailer spaces

  • Rainy River, Timber Mill City Park Public Water Access Site
    Directions ↗

    ~0.6 mi from the nearest listed shop · Trailer Launch · Concrete Slab · 1 dock · 30 trailer spaces

  • Rainy River, Ship's Wheel Public Water Access Site
    Directions ↗

    ~2.7 mi from the nearest listed shop · Trailer Launch · Concrete Slab · 1 dock · 3 trailer spaces

Baudette bait shop FAQ

Where can I buy live bait in Baudette?

Baudette has six bait and tackle stops in our directory — Ballard’s Resort, Border Bait and LOG CABIN BAIT and more. All of them carry 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 Baudette right now?

For walleye on the lakes around Baudette, 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 Baudette bait shops sell fishing licenses?

Yes. Three of the six shops listed here (Ballard’s Resort, LOG CABIN BAIT and Outdoors Again Low Inc) are Minnesota DNR electronic license agents, 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 Baudette?

The closest lakes on our site are Lake of the Woods (33.2 mi), Upper Red Lake (40.8 mi) and Rainy Lake (54.4 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.

More bait shops in the Lake of the Woods & Rainy River

All Minnesota bait shops →