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Posted

Hi, Am looking for somewhere that sells live bait either in Grand Marais or up the Gunflint Trail. Heading up there in 2 weeks. Thanks

Posted

The Holiday stations in both Tofte and Grand Marais sell bait, as does Buck's Hardware in Grand Marais.

Posted

Thanks for that. Any idea of what they stock? The usual minnows etc etc.

Posted

Suckers, shiners, crappie minnows, and rainbow chubs

Posted

Speaking of bait, does anyone along the north shore sell frozen smelt? I e-mailed buck's, but they haven't gotten back to me yet.

Posted

Speaking of bait, does anyone along the north shore sell frozen smelt? I e-mailed buck's, but they haven't gotten back to me yet.

I Was on bucks site and they make it seem like the bait shop closes for the winter ?

Posted

Speaking of bait, does anyone along the north shore sell frozen smelt? I e-mailed buck's, but they haven't gotten back to me yet.

There aren't many places that sell smelt since the VHS testing became necessary for them to be sold frozen.

Chalstrom's in Duluth had them last year, they came from Nova Scotia, were tested and okay to sell in Minnesota.

You cannot legally buy smelt from any market and use them for bait.

Posted

Buck's has always sold bait in all the winters I've been up there. Granted, I wasn't up there last winter, so maybe it changed shocked

I'll settle for frozen ciscoes if I have to, but I'm gonna be fishing west bearskin, where the forage is based on smelt

Posted

Marine General in Duluth sells DNR certified ciscoes for sure. Not sure about smelt. (frozen of course)

Posted

Every Cisco sold in Duluth, Ely, on the Iron Range, Schroeder, and Grand Marais area are all designated VHS free, so they can be frozen.

Smelt are not from VHS free waters, except for the ones that Chalstrom's had last year.

Posted

Buck's got back to me today, they only sell ciscoes. Probably won't be an issue, at least the lake I fish on the 2nd day is a cisco forage base smile

Posted

Buck's has a good selection of lures along with suckers, fatheads,rainbow chubs and frozen ciscoes throughout the winter. Holiday has a similar offering, including a decent amount of ice gear. Super America has fatheads I believe and maybe ciscoes, never have gotten bait there myself. Stone Harbor also has a nice selection of lures for ice fishing trout. I wouldn't expect to find much up the trail, so plan ahead before leaving GM.

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