376 E Broadway St, Winona, MN 55987
- Live bait
- Tackle
Bait Shops in Winona, MN
1 licensed bait & tackle shop (1 with live bait) — and what to buy for walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass this month.
📍 Southern MinnesotaWinona County🪱 August: Leeches · Nightcrawlers · Sucker minnows
Lake Pepin are the lakes Winona locals talk about first, and Lake Pepin is close enough (about 41.4 miles) for a short evening trip. Walleye leads the list here, but northern pike and largemouth bass keep rods bent on the same trips. In summer the shops stock leeches and nightcrawlers first, and it pays to call ahead because the good sizes sell out on busy weekends. This is Winona County water, where the bait shops double as the local fishing report. Below is one shop in and around Winona (it carries live bait), with what they sell and which waters sit nearest to the door. Check the Southern Minnesota region page for more towns and lakes nearby. Shops in lake country open early in summer and run shorter days in the off-season — confirm before you drive.
Lakes near Winona and what's biting
- Lake Pepin · ~41 mi from WinonaLake guide →
Main targets: Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Crappie
This month at Winona-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 Winona
Just need minnows, leeches or crawlers? Live bait in Winona →
Gear to grab before you go
Based on what's biting around Winona — 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 Winona
DNR public water access sites closest to the shops above.
- Mississippi River, St. Charles Street Public Water Access Site — U.S. Lock & Dam #6 PoolDirections ↗
~0.6 mi from the nearest listed shop · Trailer Launch · Concrete Slab · 2 docks · 20 trailer spaces
- Lake Winona Public Water Access Site — WinonaDirections ↗
~0.6 mi from the nearest listed shop · Trailer Launch · Concrete Slab · 1 dock · 12 trailer spaces
Winona bait shop FAQ
Where can I buy live bait in Winona?
Winona has one bait and tackle stop in our directory — Backwater Custom 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 Winona right now?
For walleye on the lakes around Winona, 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.
Which lakes are closest to Winona?
The closest lakes on our site are Lake Pepin (41.4 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.
Is there a public boat landing near Winona?
Yes — the closest DNR public water access to a listed shop is Mississippi River, St. Charles Street Public Water Access Site on U.S. Lock & Dam #6 Pool, about 0.6 miles from Backwater Custom Tackle. Every shop page lists its two nearest public landings with distances and directions.