Where is the best place around Bismarck to get bait? I am mainly looking for jumbo leaches and some chubs (either sucker or creek). I know these can all be hard to find but thought I would check on here. Thanks in advance
I used to go to unistop by the dome all the time, they used to be good about minnows and let you scoop your own, I never CHEAT, but I get a good healthy scoop, not holding my hand over the top, but moving quickly so not many flop out, but last time I was there and got a scoop the guy looked in the bucket and said, thats at least 2 scoops, and I said, no its just one and he said hell have to re-scoop them for me then, so I said "whatever, charge me for 2" and I never went back, bastards. Last time in Landers I was able to scoop my own because they were busy at the till and they didnt have a problem with it....
thats why those fkrs counted mine one at a time literally...i though i was buying a scoop not 'x" amount
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sounds like among the reports its hit or miss at all places in bismarck with some good or bad.
That Tesoro down south off airport road and university is my favorite place to get bait. They give you way more minnows than you ever need and the chicken and prime rib sandwiches can't be beat, especially when they have the big grills going in the morning! That and the folks are always extra friendly and helpful, the place is run right!
I used to go to unistop by the dome all the time, they used to be good about minnows and let you scoop your own, I never CHEAT, but I get a good healthy scoop, not holding my hand over the top, but moving quickly so not many flop out, but last time I was there and got a scoop the guy looked in the bucket and said, thats at least 2 scoops, and I said, no its just one and he said hell have to re-scoop them for me then, so I said "whatever, charge me for 2" and I never went back, bastards. Last time in Landers I was able to scoop my own because they were busy at the till and they didnt have a problem with it....
I could be wrong, but I don't know of any bait vendors in Bismarck that capture their own minnows. Or crawlers either. They are all bought wholesale and resold. I am guessing there are not more than 3 vendors that service the whole of the Bismarck/Mandan area for both crawlers and minnows. So the luck of the draw is kind of there for all of us when it comes to bait. Landers may get a large shipment of good sized minnows that last for two weeks and will get to be known as the place to find large bait. Right up until they run out and have to restock.
Sure, there's something to be said about freshness of the bait when it comes to the satisfactory vigor we seek in our offerings that can be altered by poor temps in the cooler and water. But for the most part, it is what it is.
A couple days ago I stopped in both Sterling and Steele looking for crawlers. SOL is what happened to us, we ended up finishing off the crawlers I had from the previous trip and using Gulp killer crawler after that. BTW, I am a BIG fan of that stuff. Works just as well as live crawlers for me! Just way more expensive.
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So I always keep a couple bags of the stuff on hand for when I run out before I am done.
Better stock up they are no longer making them and when they run out they run out. Durability is extremely high compared to the real thing.Ran an outta crawlers one day over the 4th wknd and we used pork bait crawlers and shit they worked just as well as live bait.