West End Bait

[Xplorer]

Starting out my and my 8 year old's 4 day cast and blast MEA weekend on the west end of Vermilion thursday AM for a half day of walleye fishing. Sounds like big minnows are the ticket right now, so I was wondering if anyone could recommend which shop in Cook would have the best available? Looking for rainbows, suckers or shiners. I usually dont pick up bait until I get to Cold Springs when I hit Namakan or Rainy, so havn't shopped the Cook baitshops before.

Thanks for any help! We're also hitting rainy river, and either rainy lake or LOTW also, as well as doing an afternoon pheasant hunt after hitting Vermilion, and walking the woods for grouse up near Manitou. Doesn't get much better than getting to spend 4 days like that with my "little man"

[delcecchi]

Since all three bait shops in cook are within about a hundred yards of each other you can look until you find what you want. I usually buy from Joe at Northwoods bait. But the bait across the street looks good also when I have gone in there. Don't know about the lucky 7 or country store so much.

[MarkB]

Northwoods has the only Rainbows in the area, that I'm aware of. He will give you a good count also. Next to the Yellow bldg on the right coming through town.

Good Fishing,

MarkB

[Steve Foss]

I've had excellent luck and very friendly service at Lake Vermilion Trading Co. across the street.

[Xplorer]

Thanks guys, I'll check them out quickly when I get there since they're across the street from each other.

FYI, I did actually call the Country store and they said that they did have rainbows in the tanks too. Hope to put a couple-three keeper eye's in the boat for a fishfry on Friday night for us.

[chucker1101]

I've been getting good-size rainbows at the Lucky Seven in Virginia, just North of the 169 Hibbing exit on the East side of the road, for the last six weeks, on my way to the lake. About six dollars for a scoop, you get at least 40 in a scoop there. They've also had light northern and pike suckers, and chubs. They've got plenty of bird hunting supplies as well.

Now if they'd just get a lefty 870 shotgun...

[Tominator692]

I've been getting good-size rainbows at the Lucky Seven in Virginia, just North of the 169 Hibbing exit on the East side of the road, for the last six weeks, on my way to the lake. About six dollars for a scoop, you get at least 40 in a scoop there. They've also had light northern and pike suckers, and chubs. They've got plenty of bird hunting supplies as well.

I agree, great looking rainbows, great price and alot of Rainbows in a scoop. Worth the stop in my opinion.

[Xplorer]

Thanks guys, that sounds like the ticket!

[shamrock7]

We have a few minnows left but will be shutting that down after this weekend. I'm sure that Dave has a good supply also. If you want the current fishing report, you may want to patronize that local merchants. A couple extra minnows don't do much good if you are trying in the wrong spots.

[SkunkedAgain]

As a side note, we made our typical late night drive up to Vermilion over the weekend. The Lucky 7 in Virginia and the Country Store in Cook were both open but their bait shops we closed. Northwoods and Vermilion Trading were closed as expected. We did find some crappie minnows and chubs at the Lucky 7 in Cook.

So if you are a late-night arriver like we typically are, the Cook Lucky 7 might be your only option on the west end.