1.Pimushe Resort
DNR license agent7376 Pimushe Trail NE, Bemidji, MN 56601
5.0 (66 reviews · ratings via Google)
- Live bait
- Fishing licenses
- Boat rental / marina
Bait Shops in Bemidji, MN
4 licensed bait & tackle shops (4 with live bait) — and what to buy for walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass this month.
📍 Bemidji, Leech Lake & Park RapidsBeltrami County🪱 August: Leeches · Nightcrawlers · Sucker minnows
Bemidji sits within easy reach of Lake Bemidji, Cass Lake and Leech Lake, with Lake Bemidji only about 2.7 miles out, so most anglers here are on the water in well under an hour. Expect walleye, northern pike and largemouth bass on those lakes, with walleye the bread-and-butter target for most boats. Plan on leeches and nightcrawlers this time of year (summer); quantities are limited at the smaller shops, so do not wait until noon. The nearest DNR public landing to the shops is Pimushe Lake Public Water Access Site on Pimushe, about 0.9 miles from Pimushe Resort. Bemidji has four shops in this directory (all four with live bait); scroll down for hours, directions and nearby accesses. Bring cash for the smaller shops — a few still prefer it for bait.
Lakes near Bemidji and what's biting
- Lake Bemidji · ~3 mi from BemidjiLake guide →
- Cass Lake · ~15 mi from BemidjiLake guide →
- Leech Lake · ~29 mi from BemidjiLake guide →
- Winnibigoshish Lake · ~38 mi from BemidjiLake guide →
Main targets: Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Crappie · All lakes within an hour of Bemidji →
This month at Bemidji-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 Bemidji
2.Northwoods Bait & Tackle
DNR license agent1728 Fern St NW, Bemidji, MN 56601
4.8 (213 reviews · ratings via Google)
- Live bait
- Tackle
- Fishing licenses
6644 Turtle Mart Ln NE, Bemidji, MN 56601
4.6 (31 reviews · ratings via Google)
- Live bait
- Tackle
1001 Naylor Dr SE, Bemidji, MN 56601
4.5 (11 reviews · ratings via Google)
- Live bait
- Tackle
Just need minnows, leeches or crawlers? Live bait in Bemidji →
Gear to grab before you go
Based on what's biting around Bemidji — 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 Bemidji
DNR public water access sites closest to the shops above.
- Pimushe Lake Public Water Access Site — PimusheDirections ↗
~0.9 mi from the nearest listed shop · Trailer Launch · Concrete Slab · 1 dock · 15 trailer spaces
- Beltrami Lake Public Water Access Site — BeltramiDirections ↗
~1 mi from the nearest listed shop · Trailer Launch · Concrete Slab · 1 dock · 12 trailer spaces
- Lake Bemidji, Nymore Beach Public Water Access Site — Bemidji (main lake)Directions ↗
~1.4 mi from the nearest listed shop · Trailer Launch · Concrete Slab · 1 dock · 25 trailer spaces
- Turtle River Lake (W) Public Water Access Site — Turtle RiverDirections ↗
~1.6 mi from the nearest listed shop · Trailer Launch · Concrete Slab · 2 trailer spaces
- Irving Lake South Public Water Access Site — IrvingDirections ↗
~1.7 mi from the nearest listed shop · Carry-In · Unknown
Bemidji bait shop FAQ
Where can I buy live bait in Bemidji?
Bemidji has four bait and tackle stops in our directory — Northland Fishing Tackle, Northwoods Bait & Tackle and Pimushe Resort 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 Bemidji right now?
For walleye on the lakes around Bemidji, 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 Bemidji bait shops sell fishing licenses?
Yes. Two of the four shops listed here (Northwoods Bait & Tackle and Pimushe Resort) 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 Bemidji?
The closest lakes on our site are Lake Bemidji (2.7 mi), Cass Lake (15.3 mi) and Leech Lake (29.1 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.