About bait and fishing at lake michigan?

i wanna know if any1 knows if i can buy minnows as a bait at lake michigan.... Idk if i spelled it right or not but its those tiny little fishes that you put as a bait so u can catch fishes.... its like $3.50 for a dozen of them so if you know about it please help me and by the way does any1 know whats good for catching cat fish? does fake bait work better or minnows is the best way to go?