I called the bait shop in Monticello last Friday to see if they had panfish leeches and they said they were closing effective Saturday. I was stunned, I grew up in Monticello and have used that bait shop since I was a kid. This is a huge loss for the sportsmen in the area if they stay closed. IMO.

Was in there 2 weeks ago. The kid working working told me the owner was moving the business to his residence near the north access of Sugar Lake on Co. Rd. 7. Hardware Hank in Big Lake has bait.

Was this Schumans?

Rivers edge outfitters, yes used to be schumans but not sure if they still own/ran it. Hardware Hank in Big Lake does have bait but that is/was such an institution in Monticello, sad to see.

Well that's the end of an era folks, I first walked in that shop in the spring of 1969, I was 10 and Lee Hatfield owned it at the time. Then old Ernie ran it for many years and after Ernie it went sharpely down hill from there.

How sad is it that a town of this size can't keep a bait shop alive. This is more proof that bait and a small amount of tackle is not enough to survive on. This day and age you need gun sales, service, and bow hunting and much more to make a go of it.

You should have seen the look on old Lee Hatfields face when I made him throw a 22 lb carp up on the scale just to see how much it really weighed. I was 12.

Maple lake will be my closest shop now.

You could still try Buffalo, the Old conoco station has bait.

I noticed it cleared out yesterday afternoon on my way home....

left me more than a bit bummed.

the Hank in BL has bait(usually a decent amount) , Also Ebners in Elk River (make sure you've got cash or check, no plastic), and I think Action's is still open in Anoka.

I guess for me it is the sadness of not having a bait shop there anymore. I know it is tough today to keep them open with the Walmarts and Cabelas around but they do serve a purpose. I will miss going in there to get my bait/etc and the talking about fishing from the behind the counter that could/would turn into a debate on tactics or politics or whatever... sad day indeed.

Ya I was bummed when DJ's in Big Lake closed a few years ago too.

DJ's was a great place. Forced her out for that stupid frontage road to no where. She was very nice and gave me new items to "try out" and see how i liked them. Sad a bait store cant make it in Monti but a mexican grocery store can.

Ya go figger. I wonder what kinda deal the Chinese place got to move to a new bldg? Don't think they were offering much to Darlene other than da boot. Sorry off the topic...can anyone confirm Rivers Edge move out by Sugar? I was just going by the kid's info when I stopped by that night.
BTW I at least have one last good memory of the place...Got me a huge scoop of their river-mix chubs that night...proceeded out to Clearwater the next morning for my best day of walleye fishing all year...completely ran out of minnows. Bittersweet.

You guys have no idea how close 'Shackbash Tackle and Sports' was to becoming a reality. After they closed D.J.’s, I was going to take some savings I had built up and open a bait store in the now tattoo shop behind the women’s hair place. Great hwy signage and view from 10 and what better than pulling into find out your old bait shop closed up and a new one opened right across the street . I even had the land lord ready to gut the offices and do a short term lease (half of what he wanted).

But, after a bleak financial prospectus, my mother, my wife, talking with other bait store owners, the end of free time, the dream faded very quick. I always thought “sure I would be in the hole”, but at least I would have tried. I just started to get to know FM and I am sure I would have sponsored this forum.

Someday!

I would have been at your store at least once a week. And not to mention the laundrymat we lost. I feel bad for those who need. At least we have a long john silvers now. We need a bait store ..bad!

Yep. I'm gonna run up to H Hank tonight to check out their minnow situation. If they don't have what I'm looking for I'll have to detour thru ER tomorrow to Ebners on my way home. I'm on the water before sunrise so got to get minnows the night before. Already a pain. Never been to Ebners...any references on their bait?

There seriously isn't another bait shop in the Monticello/Big Lake area? That's a pretty wide area.