1272 MN-23, Florence, MN 56170
5.0 (7 reviews · ratings via Google)
- Live bait
- Tackle
Bait Shops in Florence, MN
1 licensed bait & tackle shop (1 with live bait) — and what to buy for walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass this month.
📍 Southwest Prairie LakesLyon County🪱 August: Leeches · Nightcrawlers · Sucker minnows
The water around Florence is reached through DNR public accesses rather than one headline lake; East Twin Lake Public Water Access Site is the nearest at about 1.6 miles. Walleye leads the list here, but northern pike and largemouth bass keep rods bent on the same trips. Plan on leeches and nightcrawlers this time of year (summer); quantities are limited at the smaller shops, so do not wait until noon. None of the listed shops is a DNR license agent, so buy your license online before you leave home. The one Florence shop below (it carries live bait) covers the basics, with phone numbers and hours where Google has them. Check the Southwest Prairie region page for more towns and lakes nearby.
Lakes near Florence and what's biting
The nearest waters to Florence are covered through DNR public landings — see each shop's page for the closest launches.
Main targets: Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill & Sunfish
This month at Florence-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. | |
| Bluegill & Sunfish | Angleworms, Waxworms, Nightcrawler pieces, Small leechesSpawning beds in June; a half a crawler on a small hook is hard to beat. | |
| Largemouth Bass | Nightcrawlers, Leeches, ShinersWacky-rigged crawlers and leeches under a bobber on weed edges; soft plastics do the rest. |
Bait & tackle shops in Florence
Just need minnows, leeches or crawlers? Live bait in Florence →
Gear to grab before you go
Based on what's biting around Florence — 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 Florence
DNR public water access sites closest to the shops above.
- East Twin Lake Public Water Access Site — West TwinDirections ↗
~1.6 mi from the nearest listed shop · Trailer Launch · Concrete Slab · 1 dock · 15 trailer spaces
- West Twin Lake Public Water Access Site — West TwinDirections ↗
~2 mi from the nearest listed shop · Trailer Launch · Concrete Slab · 2 trailer spaces
Florence bait shop FAQ
Where can I buy live bait in Florence?
Florence has one bait and tackle stop in our directory — Highway 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 Florence right now?
For walleye on the lakes around Florence, 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.
What live bait should I buy near Florence this time of year?
In summer, Florence-area shops move leeches and nightcrawlers first. The monthly table on this page breaks it down by species, and the shop cards show which listed stores keep live bait in the tanks — call before a long drive, because the good sizes sell out on busy weekends.
Is there a public boat landing near Florence?
Yes — the closest DNR public water access to a listed shop is East Twin Lake Public Water Access Site on West Twin, about 1.6 miles from Highway Bait Shop. Every shop page lists its two nearest public landings with distances and directions.