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Self Serve Bait in Ottertail area


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After going to another full service bait shop (reluctantly) I was wondering what self service bait shops are in the area. I often stop at the gas station in Elizabeth or at Sunmart or Lakeway market in Fergus Falls. I stay out on Ottertail a lot and somtimes use the bait shops around the lake. Today I utilized one of those for a dozen suckers and a scoop of fatheads. They were outta shiners. Well a lot of the suckers they picked for me were just short of decoy size and 2 were dead. Which brings me back to what in the area is self serve bait? I like getting it myself as to have some control on the size of my suckers or shiners and to ensure they are alive. I will not buy live bait from these bait stores again other than leeches or crawlers. So please list any self serve bait places in the OT area. 

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A lot of times when I get bait I just start doing it myself until someone asks me what I need or if they actually have a sign saying to ask. If they ask what I want right away, which a lot of them do around Ottertail Lake, and its full service I make sure to watch them and if I see the bait is to large or to small I just don't buy any. I don't want to waste money on bait especially when its shiners or suckers. You could also just go look at the size of their bait at that time before asking for help.

Typically full service bait shops around Ottertail: Ben's Bait, Corner Store, Carrs, Old Keops bait by Clitherall.

For me I have had the best luck getting bait in Elizabeth, which is usually self-serve. If I want to get shiners and don't have an aerator I will buy them from the Corner Store but have to pick through them sometimes because they can have some monsters sometimes.

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Ya thats kinda what I what I thought there was around the lake for bait shops. I agree though Elizabeth is probably my favorite place to get bait. Not that the other places are bad. Just prefer to kinda have a liitle personal quality control. 

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Frazee's Gas Station All N All has self service, just show your bucket to the cashier.  There is one south of Vergas that I've hit out by Sybill.  I know it's not by OT but there is a guy by Pelican over by cormorant.

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Interesting point-----the "All-in-All" gas station in Frazee has camera's installed in their bait room.  Oh yeah,they also charge for the plastic bags too.  It's close and convenient but come on...............

Edited by dairyman
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