Bass Pro Shop Experience

[Traumabrew]

This might be hard to believe but I went to BPS for the first time to buy tackle. I've been in them for hunting and shooting supplies but not fishing. 

 

I decided to stop in as I was traveling and it made a good rest stop. So I went to the fishing area to look for some tackle and was lost. It seems they try to separate the different types of fishing but it is so confusing. Also, it was too busy so I couldn't find an employee to help. I was also dismayed that there was mostly BPS branded gear and the lure sizes were limited. Also, not a good selection of higher end rods and reels. It is sad that a store named "Bass Pro Shops" is difficult to shop for bass fishing in.

 

I'm going to stick with online tackle stores. Better selection, easier to search and I can get my stuff in a day or 2.

[Ariffy]

Idk, I like BPS but it is a big store so I see how it could be confusing. BPS has alot online reviews on its website so it's a solid way of finding out what is high quality and what isn't 

[tracker01]

BPS likes to sell BPS stuff. I like to buy higher end stuff. As a rule I like to check it out in hand, and if it’s for me I will buy it. The person behind the counter tells me, we can order it for you! Gee, why didn’t I think of that before I left home? “Dah”. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy going to BPS, but when I go on line I can usually find it cheaper than BPS.

[Drew03cmc]

You know, mine has a good assortment of Lucky Craft, Megabass, etc lures...rods are another story. 

[padon]

I hate bps they rarley have what I want.they want you to buy their knock off version of a lot of things.I want kietechs theywanna sell me bps brand.I want hard swimbaits they wanna sell me bps brand.it goes on and on. I wanted invizx they had three rolls but they had plenty of their line.no thanks. I usually just buy from a local tackle shop or online,don't even bother with them anymore

[jeffo21]

I used to like going there as well but as most have said they push their BPS brand and always so busy and crowded. I have started going to a tackle shop close to home called Brannans bass. they are local and friendly and always helpful. Their prices are also competitive with anyone's prices.

[Steve1357]

3 minutes ago, jeffo21 said:

I used to like going there as well but as most have said they push their BPS brand and always so busy and crowded. I have started going to a tackle shop close to home called Brannans bass. they are local and friendly and always helpful. Their prices are also competitive with anyone's prices.

BPS in Little Rock is the last place I go only because they have something I can't find anywhere else. The "atmosphere" has to be funded.....like casinos.

 

Catch their sales and always check the midway, usually something affordable you can get...

 

Unfortunately Academy here has been eliminating things I always buy and raising prices on what they have left, trying to compete with BPS I guess.....

jmho

[Tennessee Boy]

I agree. 20 years ago I bought 80% of my fishing stuff from BPS. Now they are my last resort. Expensive and poor selection.  I hate to say it but increasingly I'm finding Amazon.com to be where I buy my fishing stuff.  I was going to order a rod from Cabelas a few months ago,  at checkout they said to expect deliver in 10 days.  I cancelled the order ,went to amazon and got the same rod cheaper and in two days with free shipping. 

[Drew03cmc]

Bass Pro is higher priced than anyplace else as well. 

[Squarebill79]

I have a BPS about 10 minutes from my house so I go there frequently. Im a big fan of their reels, I think I own 5 different models. Im on a budget so I feel like I get the best bang for my buck and they have many rods and reels right around the $100 mark.

 

Im not a very big fan of their own line of lures though, alot of them Ive tried are junk so I just go with the brand names. I will say, Ive caught hundreds of bass on their $2.99 bargain bin poppers. 

[Happybeerbuzz]

If you don't know exactly what you are looking for and you don't want to trust the Internet, BPS is a viable option for some things.  If you need to touch something before you buy it, BPS is an option.  However, BPS is primarily a brick and mortar operation, and it is unreasonable to expect it be more than that.  If price, selection, and convenience of ordering from your phone is what your looking for, BPS is not your best option as long as you don't need it right that minute.

 

It would be more useful to compare basspro.com versus say, tacklewarehouse.com, where the hand's down winner is pretty obvious unless there happens to be a "no minimum" promo going on which the online outlets never seem to have.  While at the same time it would be more fair to compare your local BPS location with say, your local Walmart.

[kenmitch]

Once in a while when needed I'll make the run to my local BPS. I really like the atmosphere that they have going on. The selection is decent as long as your not going during black friday or around xmas. Not really a fan of the way they organize the fishing department as it's pretty confusing. Maybe it's so a person will look around  and possibly find things that they're not looking for....Impulse buying?

 

BPS pricing is really hit and miss. A person needs to really wait it out for sales. Good deals can be had sometimes. Free shipping deals and the online only 6 pay option to split up bigger purchases is a plus.

 

Picked up the CarbonLite 2.0 baitcaster combo when it was on sale for $120. Too good of a price to pass up.

 

Got my Abu Garcia Revo MGX SHS for $175 on a 1 day special back around black friday of 2016. Pretty much close to 50% off at the time....Of course it went on clearance for $199 a month or so later as the new line came out.

 

Decent deals can be had if one has the patience to wait it out. I always compare prices before buying anywhere anyways. 

 

 

[Gundog]

Thankfully I have some pretty good bait & tackle shops in my area so I don't have to go to BPS or Cabela's. I do go there but mostly just to look or spend a gift card a family member got me.

[BankBasser]

The last time I shopped there, every new isle I walked down I was approached by someone trying to sell me a vacation. Haven't been back since.

[Log Catcher]

The last time I went BPS was back when their big spring sale was going on. The only reason I went was to use up the points I had before I lost them. I had around $12 in points and spent about $16. I only bought what I knew I would use. BPS only allows you to keep points for 1 year and then you lose them. They have gotten so expensive I don't go there much anymore. The only way to get a good deal is if they have something on sale you really want. The points aren't worth much if your paying too much to begin with.

[Somd Fx4]

My local Bps isn't all that local like an hour and half away. We went there yesterday and the fishing section is very confusing. Trying to find what you looking for and being bugged about vacation at the same time is ridiculous. I don't see me going back anytime soon. I prefer online shopping.

[greentrout]

I always lay low and wait for sales and end of the year clearance...very good deals can be had...never had any problems with them...good fishing...

[Yakalong]

Order most of my stuff from them online, during sales and free shipping. I do occasionally go to the store just to look around but I find it easier to shop online.

[DINK WHISPERER]

I like going to BPS for many reasons...... tackle shopping isn't one of them. 

[Riazuli]

I wait until they have sales or I have a coupon for them that makes it worth my while, compared to other places online.  I'll either order from bps online or go to the store if I need to.  During their spring sale, I must have saved at least a couple hundred bucks on rods and reels with trade-ins.  No other places could beat it.  Whenever I want something, I'll compare between the likes of bps, cabelas (the two run sales separately of each other probably to maximize sales between the two), academy, tackle warehouse, eBay, and anywhere else that beats the others.  As far as lure selection, I've rarely had issues with finding what I want and in the color and size I want it in.  As far as finding lures, nothing a little walking and looking around can't handle.

[Traumabrew]

I'll give an example. I was looking for some 1/2 oz football and shakey head jigs and I could not find them. Not even the guy who works in the department could find them. 

 

I had to travel for a funeral in South Florida, so I threw my rods in the car so I could fish some lakes down there afterwards. I needed some jig heads.

[eyedabassman]

18 hours ago, Traumabrew said:

This might be hard to believe but I went to BPS for the first time to buy tackle. I've been in them for hunting and shooting supplies but not fishing. 

 

I decided to stop in as I was traveling and it made a good rest stop. So I went to the fishing area to look for some tackle and was lost. It seems they try to separate the different types of fishing but it is so confusing. Also, it was too busy so I couldn't find an employee to help. I was also dismayed that there was mostly BPS branded gear and the lure sizes were limited. Also, not a good selection of higher end rods and reels. It is sad that a store named "Bass Pro Shops" is difficult to shop for bass fishing in.

 

I'm going to stick with online tackle stores. Better selection, easier to search and I can get my stuff in a day or 2.

If I can I would rather give my money to the local tackle store! Bass Pro has got very greedy and there  copycat lures are cheap at beast! But I like  some of there rods and soft plastic baits, but that is where I draw the line! We have two great local Tackle shops in Kimberling City and one big one in Springfield that I give my money to! 

[d-camarena]

My local cabelas is way better than the local bps. Sadly that is about to change

[LonnieP]

Bps rod selection is a joke. They do have nice clothes though. 

[Scott F]

Bass Pro Shops is there to turn a profit. By all indications, they are doing a very good job of it. Carrying high end rods that don’t sell quickly or selling products at a discount is not as profitable as selling clothing or BPS branded tackle. If you go there expecting to see a lot of gear for the enthusiast at cheap prices, you are going to be disappointed. I’m sure this is not news to most, but to a lot of us who are regulars here at BR, we are not BPSs target customers. If they depended on us to stay in business, they’d already be just like all the mom and pop tackle stores that are now gone.