Bait Shops in Prior 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 MetroScott County🪱 September: Shiners · Redtail chubs · Large sucker minnows

Prior Lake sits within easy reach of Prior Lake, Riley and Lake Minnetonka, with Prior Lake only about 1.5 miles out, so most anglers here are on the water in well under an hour. You will hear about walleye, northern pike and largemouth bass at the counter, with walleye coming up more than anything else. Right now, in summer, leeches and nightcrawlers move fastest off the shelves, so grab them early on a Saturday. If you want the shortest run from bait to boat, Prior Lake Bait & Tackle sits roughly 1.4 miles from the Lower Prior Lake, Sand Point Public Water Access Site access on Lower Prior. 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 Prior Lake and what's biting

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

This month at Prior Lake-area lakes: bait by species

September in Minnesota. Seasons and bag limits change — the regulations page has the current rules.

SpeciesLive bait to buy in SeptemberWhere to buy it
WalleyeRedtail chubs, Shiners, Creek chubsFall is big-minnow season: jig a lively chub on points and humps.
Northern PikeLarge sucker minnowsFall trophy window — 8–12 inch suckers on quick-strike rigs.
CrappieCrappie minnows, Fathead minnowsFall crappies school deep — vertical-jig a minnow.
Largemouth BassShiners, NightcrawlersFall bass chase baitfish — a lively shiner on a jighead.

Bait & tackle shops in Prior Lake

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

Gear to grab before you go

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

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Public landings near Prior Lake

DNR public water access sites closest to the shops above.

  • Lower Prior Lake, Sand Point Public Water Access Site — Lower Prior
    Directions ↗

    ~1.4 mi from the nearest listed shop · Trailer Launch · Concrete Slab · 2 docks · 40 trailer spaces

  • Upper Prior Lake, Dewitt Public Water Access Site — Upper Prior
    Directions ↗

    ~2.2 mi from the nearest listed shop · Trailer Launch · Concrete Slab · 1 dock · 10 trailer spaces

Prior Lake bait shop FAQ

Where can I buy live bait in Prior Lake?

Prior Lake has one bait and tackle stop in our directory — Prior Lake Bait & Tackle. 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 Prior Lake right now?

For walleye on the lakes around Prior 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 Prior Lake bait shops sell fishing licenses?

Yes. Prior Lake Bait & Tackle 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 Prior Lake?

The closest lakes on our site are Prior Lake (1.5 mi), Riley (9.8 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.

More bait shops in the Twin Cities Metro

All Minnesota bait shops →