Flats of crawlers - who has 'em?

[Long Gray Line]

I live in the NW metro and need to get a flat of crawlers to take to Canada. I understood Gander sold them but after checking, they don't. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[fish-n-geek]

Check with Fleet Farm. Some of their stores have them.

-rus-

[Bubbadust]

The Gander Mountain in Lakeville sells flats.

In case you don't know, you have to pack the nightcrawlers in newspaper to bring them into Canada. They will not allow them in dirt/soil.

[ozzie]

We are heading up to Canada and my friend contacted a bait shop I believe in Mora.. They are prepping all of our bait and I think like 250 crawlers prepacked for border crossing ran like $45 They also set up salted minnows for cheap but I am not sure of the name of the bait shop. Call the area I am sure there aren't that many bait shops in Mora. Hope this helps.. If I get the name of theshop I will let you know.

[Gus]

I read all the time about guys salting minnows, and preping bait to take to canada etc etc. my question: Why not just buy the bait in Canada? I've only been to canada twice, but have never had a hard time finding bait. Maybe it's the places I stayed at? I'm just curious about this so please don't flame me.

thanks,

Gus

[KatKrazy]

I would give Vados Bait off Hwy 65 a call. Good Luck.

[Sand Burr]

65 BAIT IN MORA

Actually inbetween mora and braham off of 65

[Northland Sportsman]

I would guess the bait shop in Mora you are talking about is Jerry's Bait. It is on the north side of town on Hwy 65. They are a great little shop that has been around for years.

[Long Gray Line]

Tks for the replies gang. Found 'em at the Bass Pro Shop Trails End in Fridley on Hwy 65. They were about $35-40 for a flat of 500. They said they could get flats of 1k too.

[ozzie]

Gus- Have you ever seen the prices for bait in Canada!! My old man (father) just got back and they paid $28 a pound for leeches.. I also heard that minnows are like $12 a dozen. I think salted minnows are like a dollar a dozen pre-packaged.. So to answer your question Gus if you bring your own bait you can save alot of $$$$$$$.

[SCCO9803]

Definitely a huge advantage to bring your own bait with you. Two main reasons that I found where these: Depending on where you go in Canada you may be hard pressed to find the bait you want. The reason being that there isn't much up that way unless you are staying at a lodge or camp. Even then, we ran into a situation where the camp didn't have minnows one day beacuase they had sold out and the same thing with crawlers the next day. It's not like you can just drive to the next local bait store up there. Second reason is the cost, based on the previous point. Supply and demand drastically scew the price of bait way up. If you can do it definitely bring your own bait. As was stated crawlers must be in paper.

[18 inch Crappie]

Vados in Blaine, 1/2 flat 31.99 full flat 45.99

1 doz 2.50, 16 doz were $14 Just there heading to Canada tonight.

[Bubbadust]

The resort we were at last month charged $4 (U.S.)/dozen for minnows. We got a 1/2 flat of nightcrawlers packed to cross the border and like 40 dozen minnows frozen and packed in salt for $45 from a bait store in Rochester.

[msm1018]

If you need leeches, try to find a store that carries them and make sure they have enough, can't bring leeches across, but I heard somewhere that they get leeches from Minnesota.

[matthothand]

Fish Lake Bait in Harris located off of 35 on exit number 152 is the best deal I know of in Minnesota. Full Flats of the best darn crawlers in the state that are packed in artificial bedding (the kind you need for Canada) go for $40. The owner is also a wholesaler to pretty much every bait shop within 50 miles in any direction so he always has the best bait in his store that money can buy. It's a freshly remodeled shop located in a good spot for a resst on a drive up from the cities and I recommend you check em out. No, I don't work there, but I will say that they have the best bait that I have found in the whole state. There number is 651.674.4734 if you are interested. Good luck on your trip!

[Tim L]

Quote:

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Vados in Blaine, 1/2 flat 31.99 full flat 45.99

1 doz 2.50, 16 doz were $14 Just there heading to Canada tonight.

---

It's 6 Doz for $14

[The Yeti]

Not only is the bait up in Canada expensive, but what you get is nothing like here in Mn... When we went up a few years back, the little punk at the bait shop actually counted out 12 minnows!!! I almost fell over.

[ozzie]

I just returned from Canada.. We purchased our bait from 65 bait on hwy 65. Great deals and he really out did himself. We purchased 100 dozen salted minnows and we had way more than that! Then we also purchased a flat of crawlers. I will definatly go back to 65 bait!!

Yeti- We saw the same thing at the resort we stayed at counted to 12 and here ya go eh!!

[Ole1855]

A friend of mine bought a flat of crawlers in northen MN, I won't say where, when he got home, he and his son counted them and there were only 34 doz., it was suppose to 100 doz.. So don't assume you're getting what's advertised, I'm sure most bait places aren't this bad though.

Ole

[Big Paulie]

Ok, here's a newbie question. Salted Minnows? What are they good for? Year Round bait or just for border crossing?

[FishingwithJake]

Boarder crossing. It saves you a ton of money from having to buy bait in Canada.

If anyone needs flats of crawlers, Joe's Sporting Goods in Little Canada has them. They order them and will have them ready for pickup or they often will have a few in stock if you didn't allow enough time to order.

[ozzie]

Salted minnows worked almost as good as live minnows the only thing is the mess they make if you aren't careful!!