Where to buy tackle? Online, BPS, Cabela's, Walmart, Craigslist?

[bass4you]

Where are your favorite spots for picking up all of your tackle needs?  Soft plastics, lures, line, hooks.  I've went looking around at BPS to price out the stuff I need.  Buying online give you a better deal?  I have *** bookmarked, any others I might be missing out on?

Thanks,

bass4you

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Bass Tackle Depot is another good one and they are a sponsor here.

BTD and TW, when they have their holiday sales, both compete for my money. I have had great experiences with both.

I work at Gander Mountain, so I can pick up some pretty good deals there from time to time too.

[D4u2s0t]

I love ***.  I also use tackle warehouse, and many times I shop on Ebay for the best deals.  I buy bulk hooks on ebay, so much cheaper.  I got 50 3/0 keel weighted hooks last year for like 25 dollars, can't beat it.  I find ebay to be great for bulk purchases, but I normally look at tackle warehouse first.

[KYntucky Warmouth]

I buy from tackle warehouse, EBay, local tackle shops, sportsmans warehouse, BPS, and walmart.....pretty much in that order

[roadwarrior]

First visit our sponsors' websites. They pay the freight

around here!

http://www.bassresource.com/fish/advertisers.html

8-)

[bass4you]

Thanks for all the recommendations!

[firefightn15]

First visit our sponsors' websites. They pay the freight

around here!

http://www.bassresource.com/fish/advertisers.html

8-)

X2, right in our own back yard.   

[Alex 703]

just stumbled across Bass Tackle depot today and I'm impressed

[BASSclary]

For when I need a pack of Gammies in a hurry: Wal*mart

For when I need a bi-monthly stock up: Tackle Warehouse or BTD

For right around Febuary, March when I spend $500+ on fishing tackle, I take the hour drive to BPS. 8-)

[KYntucky Warmouth]

Hookerz tackle has some good hooks, I made an order from there a few months ago and so far they are very impressive for the price

[Primus]

I start with my local tackle shops because I believe it's important to support local/ small business plus if I need a bag of Senko's for the next day they'll have them. I've also picked up nice tackle from Tackle Whse & Bass Tackle Depot. I use Bass Pro Shops mainly for the exclusive items like their RC cranks. I also place about 1 order a year with Ichiban tackle for certain hard to get japanese plugs.

[Blue Streak]

I can shop a nearby Cabela's or Gander Mountain and a couple of local tackle shops. What I can't get there I use Tackle Warehouse.

[BlaineFred]

I buy most of my gear at Tackle Warehouse...free shipping over $50.

Here's another way you can get a super discount from TW...around holiday time, especially Thanksgiving to Christmas, there's a huge discount of 15 or 20 % off everything....even the price controlled Shimano and Daiwa brands.

AND ...gift cards are also discounted but at 10 % ...

You can see where this is headed...example: buy a $500 gift card for $450...then hold it long enough for a 20 % sale...you can then buy around $560 worth of gear for the original $450...actually comes out to $448...(20 % off of $560 is $112 for a net price of $448)

I have bought gear off Craig's List, but it helps to live near major cities where there's a lot of bass fishing. Needs to be checked every day, and then to act quickly when a good deal pops up. Best deals are buying a package of gear when a bass angler gives up the hobby and sells it all. You also wind up with a lot of gear that way, more than you need. But hey, it's a lot of fun.

Cabela's is okay...best to belong to the Cabela's Club where super discounts are sometimes available on the web. Recent example is the Quantum Superlite rods, normally at $229, going for $49; or the Quantum Tour Edition normally $149 going for $39.

Then they often have a $20 discount certificate for purchases over $150. Sometimes they reduce shipping charges.

I have bought gear from for-sale postings here and on Tackle Tour. Bought rods and reels...all sold and delivered as promised.

When looking for good deals in reels...I found that about every four years or so, the major manufacturers will replace the current model with a so-clled new improved model. Then the existing models frequenctly co on super clearance sales. I bought a Quantum Tour Edition PT, with an original price of $259 for $85...a great deal. The Revos, especially the 2009 Premier, are being discounted like that now, going for $125.

Good luck on your buys...

[BlaineFred]

adding to my previous post...

you didn't ask about fishing flea markets, but I have found some excellent deals there.

They are usually held in the fishing "off-season" such as January and February, and usually held by local bass clubs.  The big professional types of fishing Expos don't have many great deals, but the big dealers usually have a few "show specials."

It's hard to describe what you can expect, because you can expect anything and everything.  Best to take some cash, say at least $100, and maybe your checkbook just in case. 

Some vendors are former tackle shops who now work out of their house, selling off inventory at greatly reduced prices.

Typical prices are $1 for a new bag of plastics like Zoom finesse worms.  Rapala jerk baits, crankbaits, and various other crankbaits $1-3 new in the package.  All sorts of spinner baits new in pack at $1.  New and used rods and reels of all kinds.  Line...I found 50-lb Power Pro green braid at $3.  I have also bought maps, videos, and books.  Excellent quality new jigs at $5 for about 15, including a Plano box.  I once bought a Falcon FTO box, the terminal tackle type, full of hooks, weights, and other stuff, all for $9.  You can't buy the empty FTO box for that. 

I could go on and on, but you're getting the picture.

   

[bass or bass ?]

As a small business owner myself, I try to support local small business. A mile from my house is Fishermen's Choice Pro Shop. If I can get what I want there, I do. When I can't find what I want there I online catalog shop BPS first, then Cabela's.