1.JOES SPORT SHOP
DNR license agent835 6th St, Howard Lake, MN 55349
4.8 (73 reviews · ratings via Google)
- Live bait
- Tackle
- Fishing licenses
- Gas
Bait Shops in Howard 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 MetroWright County🪱 August: Leeches · Nightcrawlers · Sucker minnows
The water closest to Howard Lake is Lake Waconia and Lake Minnetonka — Lake Waconia is roughly 20 miles from town — and each one fishes a little differently through the season. You will hear about walleye, northern pike and largemouth bass at the counter, with walleye coming up more than anything else. Plan on leeches and nightcrawlers this time of year (summer); quantities are limited at the smaller shops, so do not wait until noon. One of the listed shop is a DNR license agent, so a same-day license is a counter purchase, not a detour. Below is one shop in and around Howard Lake (it carries live bait), with what they sell and which waters sit nearest to the door.
Lakes near Howard Lake and what's biting
- Lake Waconia · ~20 mi from Howard LakeLake guide →
- Lake Minnetonka · ~25 mi from Howard LakeLake guide →
Main targets: Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Crappie
This month at Howard 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 Howard Lake
Just need minnows, leeches or crawlers? Live bait in Howard Lake →
Gear to grab before you go
Based on what's biting around Howard 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 Howard Lake
DNR public water access sites closest to the shops above.
- Howard Lake, Memorial Park Public Water Access Site — HowardDirections ↗
~0.3 mi from the nearest listed shop · Trailer Launch · Gravel
- Howard Lake, Lions Park Public Water Access Site — HowardDirections ↗
~0.6 mi from the nearest listed shop · Trailer Launch · Concrete Slab · 1 dock
Howard Lake bait shop FAQ
Where can I buy live bait in Howard Lake?
Howard Lake has one bait and tackle stop in our directory — JOES SPORT 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 Howard Lake right now?
For walleye on the lakes around Howard 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 Howard Lake bait shops sell fishing licenses?
Yes. JOES SPORT SHOP 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 Howard Lake?
The closest lakes on our site are Lake Waconia (20 mi) and Lake Minnetonka (24.6 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.