Bait shortages what next?

[Lee Borgersen]

          Anglers could see bait shortages


Bait dealers say some minnows may be hard to come by on the opener. Bait dealers in western Minnesota supply much of the bait for Northeastern Minnesota, said wholesaler Craig Keuten of Duluth. Those dealers typically trap and strip eggs from suckers to raise sucker minnows. That process is far behind the normal schedule this year, Keuten said.
“It’s really going to throw things off,” Keuten said.

  .........
Leeches, although not as popular as minnows for the opener, probably will run much smaller this year, Keuten said.

“When I talk to my main bait guy out west about the rainbow chubs and the good shiners, this increase in snow in the late season is a real killer. There’s no light going through the snow,” said Scott VanValkenburg of Fisherman’s Corner in Pike Lake. “He tells me it’s going to be tough on bait all the way around, minnows and leeches both.”

Leeches won’t have enough growing time in warmer water, he said, and probably will be smaller. On the positive side, they may be available to anglers longer into the summer, VanValkenburg said.

Farm-raised bait might be available, but it will go for a higher price, he said.

While sucker minnows might be scarce for the opener, chubs are likely to be in good supply, said John Chalstrom of Chalstrom’s Bait and Tackle in Duluth.

[beeker]

great.. so I can't find 22 ammo because of the hoarders next people will be hoarding minnows..

[Lee Borgersen]

great.. so I can't find 22 ammo because of the hoarders next people will be hoarding minnows..

You forgot to mention the automatic price increases caused by shortages

[beeker]

just remember who the price gougers are.. and when it's all said and done.. don't go back

[Bobby Bass]

Simple suppy and demand, except there is not going to be any supply! Betthe Gulp will be hard to keep on the shelves and the over priced jar that they sell for 20 bucks...

[Bobby Bass]

Before you know it Lee will get searched at the border for smuggling crawlers into MN   

[corny13]

Gee.. I might have to sink to becoming a "Wormer"

[Lee Borgersen]

Before you know it Lee will get searched at the border for smuggling crawlers into MN  

No! Please anything but that. I'll already can get stopped for having the drain plug in the boat. Weeds on the axle. Invasive species sticker missing (coming soon) Fish over the limit even though I haven't even fished yet. On top of that now your talk-in smuggling crawlers? Now let's also not forget up to date trailer lic tag and state boat decal. Shall I go on?

Actually I do bring up 20 doz crawlers on steroids.

[Bobby Bass]

  Lee this is Minnesota we will find away to get you to open your wallet! Remember you can't bring more them two bottles of sprits and no more then two cases of beer into Minnesota from Wisconsin!!!     (I do believe that law is still on the books) 

[thunderpout]

Lee, do state fishing records hold up when they are caught on steroid and HGH raised worms and crawlers?  Is there a stiffer penalty when smuggling them across state borders?   I know they are harder to get on the hook!

[Cody Gruchow]

at this rate by opener im still gonna be sitting in my ice house...so im not to worried about the already over priced minnows...

[beeker]

all those summers I spent on my uncles bait farm... in hind site... nope.. in hind site i'm still glad I didn't buy in...  man i hated sorting minnows and those stupid mud puppies that stink like bigfoots b-hole...

[The General]

 That's why raps were made

[thunderpout]

And sell so well..... if only bait came in a thousand different colors instead of the old, boring, minnow /worm colors!

[Bobby Bass]

Leeches are in short supply as ponds are still froze over