Going in on Brule 6/17/19.
Staying just a few miles south of Tofte on 6/16/19 for the night.
A few questions:

#1: Where is a good place to get live leaches near Tofte? Should I go into Grand Marais? Beaver House?

#2: Usually have a very light breakfast, but take in a sub sand which for a quick lunch while on the water looking for camp the first day. Any suggestion of anything near Tofte or do I need to go to Grand Marias?

#3: Where do any of you stay if you are going to Brule? Any recommendations. (I am coming from the south).

#4: Lastly. Any opinions on Vernon Lake?

We took our first Tofte trip last June. We'd left Duluth and still needed to buy bait, googled places along the route and it seemed like a lot of Holiday gas stations had them luckily. We stopped at the one on NE end of Two Harbors I believe. Had a few sizes and plenty that day but might not hurt to call ahead.

Are you wanting to buy the sandwich the night before or that morning? Really cool cafe right on the Hwy in Tofte, Coho I think. We had supper there the night before. We had plans to stay at Sawbill campground the night before but storms changed those.

The Holiday station in Tofte sells leaches by the pound. They have a separate room dedicated to bait. I’m sure you could find a sandwich there as well.

If you want a quantity of leeches I would get them in Two Harbors. There is a bait shop to the right off of 61, you take a road back through a warehouse area but it's back there. If you just want a dozen or two. Holiday is probably fine.

515 Recycle Center Dr, 55616 Two Harbors

Throw them in a cooler overnight and they will be fine

Ive bought them by the pound at the Holiday in Tofte. When I've entered at Brule I've camped the night before at Temperance River State Park. For breakfast before heading in Lockport up in Lutsen in pretty good and not very far. They also make Pasties that you could buy and take with you for lunch.

Coho Cafe in Tofte. Ignore all advice to the contrary. :-)

(Not an owner, only a very frequent customer.)