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Posts: 85
Location: Michigan U.P. | My wife and I are heading to the area in about ten days from the Eastern U.P. for a couple days and I wanted to make the most of my time even though I won't get a chance to fish. I plan on a stop at the Musky Shop on my way back and Thorne Brothers while there. Just wondering if there is any other local tackle shops that I should stop at. I should note that this is only my second full season, so I have limited tackle and 95% of my gear is purchased online.
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Posts: 2378
| No need to go anywhere besides Thorne Brothers. |
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Posts: 646
Location: In a shack in the woods | Thorne bros in the cities. If you're going to the musky shop stop at Kurt's island sport shop. He has a wall of custom painted baits |
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Posts: 750
Location: Minneapolis, MN | For the TC Metro area you can also check out:
Blue Ribbon Bait in Oakdale, which is on the east side of St. Paul
Joe's Sporting Goods (which endorses Keye's Outdoor) on the north side of St. Paul
And then of course Cabela's, Fleet Farm, Gander Mountain, and Dick's Sporting Goods.
I've never been to Blue Ribbon Bait and haven't spent much time at Joe's. Your chain retailers tend to be about 1-2 dollars more on most of the baits, though occasionally they will have some special deals. If you plan to go to Thorne and want something specific, I'd call ahead to make sure it is in stock so you don't drive 30 minutes north of the cities just to find out they don't have it.
Edited by dami0101 7/11/2014 10:08 AM
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Posts: 353
Location: Western U.P. | Besides the 2 you've mentioned, the following 3 are also worth stopping at if you have the time. They are within an hour or so of the Musky Shop.
Guide's Choice - Eagle River, WI
St Croix Factory/Store - Park Falls, WI
Ross's Sport Shop - Phillips, WI
There are quite a few really good smaller bait shops/Sporting Goods Stores in this part of WI. I've stopped at some gas stations and Convenience Stores with surprisingly good selections of fishing (Musky) tackle.
If you are taking Hwy 2 to Hwy 35 in Duluth, you can hit Marine General (Duluth). Not as much Musky stuff there as the others mentioned, but they do have a lot of fishing gear there.
Other than Thorne Bros or Cabela's, not sure of any other good shops in the Twin Cities and surrounding area. Maybe some of the folks there can chime in.
Safe travels. |
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Posts: 752
| Thorne Borthers is the pick of the Litter but also worth Checking out if your in the area are BLue Ribbon on the east side of town and D&H Custom Rod & Tackle on the West side of town. |
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Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | If you're taking 70 over then the St. Croix factory and retail store aren't more than a few miles out of the way. Lots of hard to find baits in there, occasionally there's 2nd quality or used muskie rods for a good price too.
Mike's bait on 8 in Forest Lake would be another choice on your way into town.
Edited by Flambeauski 7/11/2014 10:21 AM
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Posts: 85
Location: Michigan U.P. | Thanks for all the suggestions, I will be happy and broke when I leave town. |
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Posts: 558
| Thornes and blue ribbon. Once again, 2 best. Have fun and bring lots of $. |
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Posts: 113
Location: Twin Cities | We'd love to have you stop and talk Muskies at Prior Lake Bait and Tackle if you are on this side of the cities. We do stock some stuff that other retailers in the area don't have. Otherwise, Blue Ribbon would be my go to. X2 on Ross's Sport Shop as well. |
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Posts: 1916
Location: Greenfield, WI | Thorne Brothers is your first stop, if you are up for a little bit of a road trip Cabelas has a nice store in Owatonna (sp?) just a short drive south of the Twin Cities. |
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Posts: 113
Location: Twin Cities | There is actually a Cabelas in Woodbury, MN now so you wouldn't need to drive to Owatonna. I'm not sure how their Muskie selection is though, I haven't been in that one yet. |
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Posts: 1039
Location: North St. Paul, MN | Cabela's in Woodbury selection is minimal. Fun to walk around the whole thing, but you won't be "wowed" by the musky selection. Lots of hunting gear, clothing, foot wear, camping gear, and other fishing needs...but musky stuff? not so much. |
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Posts: 750
Location: Minneapolis, MN | I would say the Woodbury, Owatonna, and Rogers stores all have very similar selections of musky baits, which is to say one 20-30 ft section. You’ll find your bigger name brands that are more into mass production, Musky Mayhem, Musky Innovations, Mepps, Joe Bucher, and some others, similar selections to what you find at Fleet Farm and Gander Mountain, but typically 1-2 dollars more. So with that in mind I’d say if all you want is Musky baits and don’t care about the “Cabela’s Experience,” I would skip it and stick with Blue Ribbon and Thorne Bros. |
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Posts: 219
| Another vote for Blue Ribbon! |
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| Joe's seemed to have dialed their selection way back. They dont carry like they used to. Not that it was huge to begin with. |
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Posts: 85
Location: Michigan U.P. | Picked up 12 hrs of overtime on Saturday, more spend money for the trip.  |
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Posts: 1224
Location: Okoboji | check out DH on the west side. he has a awesome muskie selection, not just the big box brands. |
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Tackle stores, Twin Cities