Bait Shops in Red Wing, MN

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

📍 Southern MinnesotaGoodhue County🪱 August: Leeches · Nightcrawlers · Sucker minnows

The water closest to Red Wing is Lake Pepin — Lake Pepin is roughly 15.3 miles from town — and each one fishes a little differently through the season. Those waters are known mostly for walleye, northern pike and largemouth bass, and walleye is what the regulars are chasing most weeks. Stock up on leeches and nightcrawlers for summer fishing, and ask what size the walleye have been hitting before you buy. One of the listed shop is a DNR license agent, so a same-day license is a counter purchase, not a detour. Start with the three shops listed below (all three with live bait) — hours, phone, and the nearest lakes and accesses are on every card. Most of these stops are family-run and happy to point you at the right lake for the week.

Lakes near Red Wing and what's biting

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

This month at Red Wing-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 Red Wing

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

Gear to grab before you go

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

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Public landings near Red Wing

DNR public water access sites closest to the shops above.

  • Mississippi River, Bay Point Municipal Park Public Water Access Site — U.S. Lock & Dam #4 Pool
    Directions ↗

    ~0.6 mi from the nearest listed shop · Trailer Launch · Concrete Slab · 1 dock · 15 trailer spaces

  • Mississippi River, Colville Municipal Park Public Water Access Site — U.S. Lock & Dam #4 Pool
    Directions ↗

    ~1.4 mi from the nearest listed shop · Trailer Launch · Concrete Slab · 1 dock · 40 trailer spaces

Red Wing bait shop FAQ

Where can I buy live bait in Red Wing?

Red Wing has three bait and tackle stops in our directory — 4 Season Sport Shop, Banks Four Season Sports and Driftless Outdoors. 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 Red Wing right now?

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

Yes. One of the three shops listed here (Banks Four Season Sports) 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 Red Wing?

The closest lakes on our site are Lake Pepin (15.3 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 Southern Minnesota

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