9200 Old Cedar Ave S, Bloomington, MN 55425
4.4 (40 reviews · ratings via Google)
- Live bait
- Tackle
Bait Shops in Bloomington, MN
1 licensed bait & tackle shop (1 with live bait) — and what to buy for walleye, crappie, bluegill & sunfish this month.
📍 Twin Cities MetroHennepin County🪱 August: Waxworms · Leeches · Crappie minnows
From Bloomington you can be launching on Prior Lake, Riley or Lake Minnetonka before the coffee cools; Prior Lake is the closest at about 9.3 miles. Those waters are known mostly for walleye, crappie and sunfish, and walleye is what the regulars are chasing most weeks. Right now, in summer, leeches and nightcrawlers move fastest off the shelves, so grab them early on a Saturday. Plan the morning around Minnesota River, Cedar Public Water Access Site — it is the public access closest to the bait counters in Bloomington, around 1.1 miles out. The one Bloomington shop below (it carries live bait) covers the basics, with phone numbers and hours where Google has them. Bring cash for the smaller shops — a few still prefer it for bait.
Lakes near Bloomington and what's biting
- Prior Lake · ~9 mi from BloomingtonLake guide →
- Riley · ~11 mi from BloomingtonLake guide →
- Lake Minnetonka · ~16 mi from BloomingtonLake guide →
Main targets: Walleye, Crappie, Bluegill & Sunfish, Yellow Perch
This month at Bloomington-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. | |
| Crappie | Crappie minnows, WaxwormsSuspend a minnow over deep weed edges; waxies for finicky fish. | |
| Bluegill & Sunfish | Angleworms, Waxworms, Nightcrawler pieces, Small leechesSpawning beds in June; a half a crawler on a small hook is hard to beat. | |
| Yellow Perch | Fathead minnows, Nightcrawler piecesDrift a minnow over sand and gravel flats in 10–20 feet. |
Bait & tackle shops in Bloomington
Just need minnows, leeches or crawlers? Live bait in Bloomington →
Gear to grab before you go
Based on what's biting around Bloomington — 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 →
- Small jigs, 1/32–1/16 ozTip with a crappie minnow or waxworm — panfish all year.Shop at Amazon →
- Pencil / spring bobbersDetect light crappie bites under a minnow.Shop at Amazon →
Public landings near Bloomington
DNR public water access sites closest to the shops above.
- Minnesota River, Cedar Public Water Access SiteDirections ↗
~1.1 mi from the nearest listed shop · Trailer Launch · Concrete Slab · 50 trailer spaces
- Penn Lake Public Water Access Site — PennDirections ↗
~3 mi from the nearest listed shop · Trailer Launch · Concrete Slab · 10 trailer spaces
Bloomington bait shop FAQ
Where can I buy live bait in Bloomington?
Bloomington has one bait and tackle stop in our directory — Bait Shop. 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 Bloomington right now?
For walleye on the lakes around Bloomington, 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.
Which lakes are closest to Bloomington?
The closest lakes on our site are Prior Lake (9.3 mi), Riley (11 mi) and Lake Minnetonka (16.4 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.
Is there a public boat landing near Bloomington?
Yes — the closest DNR public water access to a listed shop is Minnesota River, Cedar Public Water Access Site, about 1.1 miles from Bait Shop. Every shop page lists its two nearest public landings with distances and directions.