Bait Shops in Garrison, MN

3 licensed bait & tackle shops (3 with live bait) — and what to buy for walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass this month.

📍 Brainerd LakesCrow Wing County🪱 August: Leeches · Nightcrawlers · Sucker minnows

Mille Lacs Lake and Gull Lake are the lakes Garrison locals talk about first, and Mille Lacs Lake is close enough (about 10 miles) for a short evening trip. Those waters are known mostly for walleye, northern pike and largemouth bass, and walleye is what the regulars are chasing most weeks. Plan on leeches and nightcrawlers this time of year (summer); quantities are limited at the smaller shops, so do not wait until noon. This is Crow Wing County water, where the bait shops double as the local fishing report. We list three bait and tackle shops around Garrison (all three with live bait), each with hours, phone, and the closest ramps and lakes. Check the Brainerd Lakes region page for more towns and lakes nearby.

Lakes near Garrison and what's biting

Main targets: Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Crappie

This month at Garrison-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.
Largemouth BassNightcrawlers, Leeches, ShinersWacky-rigged crawlers and leeches under a bobber on weed edges; soft plastics do the rest.

Bait & tackle shops in Garrison

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

Gear to grab before you go

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

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Public landings near Garrison

DNR public water access sites closest to the shops above.

  • Mille Lacs Lake, Pike Point, Garrison Public Water Access Site — Mille Lacs
    Directions ↗

    ~0.8 mi from the nearest listed shop · Trailer Launch · Concrete Slab · 1 dock · 35 trailer spaces

  • Round Lake Public Water Access Site — Round
    Directions ↗

    ~2.3 mi from the nearest listed shop · Trailer Launch · Concrete Slab · 1 dock · 8 trailer spaces

Garrison bait shop FAQ

Where can I buy live bait in Garrison?

Garrison has three bait and tackle stops in our directory — Garrison Sport LLC, Garrison Sports Bait and Tackle + Fishing Launch and Tutt's Bait and tackle. 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 Garrison right now?

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

Yes. Two of the three shops listed here (Garrison Sport LLC and Tutt's Bait and tackle) 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 Garrison?

The closest lakes on our site are Mille Lacs Lake (10 mi) and Gull Lake (27.2 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 Brainerd Lakes

All Minnesota bait shops →