1.Mike's Bait On 8
DNR license agent6595 Lake Blvd, Forest Lake, MN 55025
4.6 (319 reviews · ratings via Google)
- Live bait
- Tackle
- Fishing licenses
Bait Shops in Forest Lake, MN
1 licensed bait & tackle shop (1 with live bait) — and what to buy for walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass this month.
📍 Twin Cities MetroChisago County🪱 August: Leeches · Nightcrawlers · Sucker minnows
From Forest Lake you can be launching on Forest Lake or White Bear Lake before the coffee cools; Forest Lake is the closest at about 1.9 miles. 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. Stock up on leeches and nightcrawlers for summer fishing, and ask what size the walleye have been hitting before you buy. Forest Lake is in Chisago County, in what we group as the Twin Cities Metro region of the directory. Use the listing below to pick a stop on the way to the lake (it carries live bait), and check the nearby-water notes on each one.
Lakes near Forest Lake and what's biting
- Forest Lake · ~2 mi from Forest LakeLake guide →
- White Bear Lake · ~14 mi from Forest LakeLake guide →
Main targets: Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Crappie
This month at Forest Lake-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 Forest Lake
Just need minnows, leeches or crawlers? Live bait in Forest Lake →
Gear to grab before you go
Based on what's biting around Forest Lake — 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 Forest Lake
DNR public water access sites closest to the shops above.
- Forest Lake, #1 Lakeside Park Public Water Access Site — ForestDirections ↗
~1.4 mi from the nearest listed shop · Trailer Launch · Concrete Slab · 2 docks · 15 trailer spaces
- Comfort Lake Public Water Access Site — ComfortDirections ↗
~2.2 mi from the nearest listed shop · Trailer Launch · Concrete Slab · 1 dock · 9 trailer spaces
Forest Lake bait shop FAQ
Where can I buy live bait in Forest Lake?
Forest Lake has one bait and tackle stop in our directory — Mike's Bait On 8. 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 Forest Lake right now?
For walleye on the lakes around Forest Lake, 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 Forest Lake bait shops sell fishing licenses?
Yes. Mike's Bait On 8 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 Forest Lake?
The closest lakes on our site are Forest Lake (1.9 mi) and White Bear Lake (14 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.