Super User Mobasser Posted July 16, 2019 Super User Posted July 16, 2019 We had an Academy Sports go in not far from us about 1yr ago. It's become my go to tackle shop. Good selection of Zoom plastics, hard baits, line and tackle. The H20 line of rods and reels looks well made and hard to beat for the money. My grandsons H20 Mettle reel he got for Christmas is working out well for him. Also, some good sales at certain times of the year. Internet shopping is ok, but I still like going in and getting my hands on something before I buy. The staff is helpful too, and gives good service. Anyone else an Academy tackle shopper? My new favorite tackle store. 6 Quote
greentrout Posted July 16, 2019 Posted July 16, 2019 really like my academy ... over the yrs. have bought a lot of stuff from them ... not all fishing ... the fishing offers are excellent ... they have a very liberal return policy ... with well trained employees ... good fishing ... 1 Quote
Super User Jrob78 Posted July 16, 2019 Super User Posted July 16, 2019 Academy is always the first store I go to when I need anything sporting good related. We've had them for 15 years or so here in TX. They don't have the fishing selection of BPS or Cabelas but they're way better than Dicks or Gander Mountain and have the best prices around. 1 Quote
TheRodFather Posted July 16, 2019 Posted July 16, 2019 There is one 2 miles from me, I had never been to one until we moved to NC. I would say it is better than Dicks, but not as good as Gander MTN, bass pro, cabelas. I agree the h20 rods are great. For some reason the Academy near me doesn't carry a single reel in left hand. Combo or reel, same with Dicks. Luckily there is a bass pro and a cabelas within 20 min of me. Though their selection of lefty reels isn't great, they at least have some. I go to Academy for necessities, terminal tackle, weights, some plastics, but if I'm looking for a certain color in a 10xd, 6xd, and squarebill for my "set", they probably wont have all that. In the same way you can get lots of things you need at a convenience store, but if you need groceries, that's not the place to go. 2 Quote
Super User Log Catcher Posted July 16, 2019 Super User Posted July 16, 2019 I drove about 70 miles yesterday to go to an Academy store to pick up a few small items that nobody else carried. I have Dicks, Cabelas, and Sportsmans Warehouse within 15 minutes from my house. I don't go in any of them unless I have to. There selections are not very good and the prices on most things are way too high. 1 Quote
Global Moderator 12poundbass Posted July 17, 2019 Global Moderator Posted July 17, 2019 I always hear about awesome sales at Academy. Unfortunately there isn’t one in Michigan. Dick’s is a 55 minute drive but there’s no fishing stuff. There’s a Cabelas outpost store 75 minutes away. I have local mom and pop stores that has some things but geared more towards hunting than anything. 1 Quote
MBB Nate Posted July 17, 2019 Posted July 17, 2019 Loooove academy! They don't carry many high end reels, but they have good bait and rod selections. I find their prices are also the best for a retail shop. I absolutely love the h20 hard baits and terminal tackle. 2 Quote
GReb Posted July 17, 2019 Posted July 17, 2019 I drive past Bass Pro and Dicks to go to Academy. That’s where 80% of my fishing purchases come from 3 Quote
Todd2 Posted July 17, 2019 Posted July 17, 2019 Yup...love me some Academy, I've bought shoes, bicycle tires....and have been known to wear a path down the fishing aisles. 1 Quote
Harold Scoggins Posted July 17, 2019 Posted July 17, 2019 Couple miles down the road. Great place, I buy most of my outdoor wear there. 1 Quote
HoosierFisher Posted July 17, 2019 Posted July 17, 2019 We got an Academy Sports in town a couple of years ago. Best big box store by far to get tackle around here. Gander Mountain closed and Dick's selection is pretty pathetic. I also like their Magellan line of gear. 1 Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted July 17, 2019 Global Moderator Posted July 17, 2019 If I'm going to a physical store for fishing gear, it's my first choice with BPS being a distant second despite their much larger selection. 5 Quote
Super User jbsoonerfan Posted July 17, 2019 Super User Posted July 17, 2019 I prefer to buy my fishing gear and guns from Academy over BPS. I can walk into Academy and handle any gun I want at any time. Purchase one and be out the door in 30 min. I have waited up to 20 min just to see a gun at BPS. 1 Quote
hoosierbass07 Posted July 17, 2019 Posted July 17, 2019 An Academy moved in here and a few months later the Gander Mountain closed down. Academy has a good selection of lures but overall I consider Academy to be an over sized Walmart fishing and outdoor section. Interestingly, the Academy near me sits a little higher up than their parking lot and it sort of looks like you are walking up/into a temple, subconsciously in your mind. I always wonder if the designers had that in mind when they designed it. 1 Quote
Happybeerbuzz Posted July 17, 2019 Posted July 17, 2019 I use to love Academy, and I will again if they start shipping to California again. Quote
fin Posted July 17, 2019 Posted July 17, 2019 Yep. Academy gets more of my money than anyone else, by far. They’re also closest to me, but even if they weren’t, they’d still be my first choice. A few weeks ago I was going to be close to a BPS, but after reading other members’ experiences with BPS in this forum, I decided to not waste my time there. Academy isn’t perfect. Their employees aren’t as knowledgeable as you’d find at a good mom & pop bait store, and the selection isn’t as complete. They might not know much, but everyone I ever dealt with seemed to really try, and I’ve never encountered anyone with a really bad attitude like you can find easily at Walmart. I’ve had trouble with Academy’s inventory system on their website, but even then, when dealing with the website people on the phone, they were helpful and not some robots or person in a foreign call center. They always make me feel appreciated, unlike a lot of businesses these days. I noticed last time I was there that it seemed like they were starting to stock more expensive baits and less of the budget stuff. I can see why they would do that, and if that’s what it takes to help them survive, so be it. 1 Quote
flatcreek Posted July 17, 2019 Posted July 17, 2019 Academy is my go to store since my favorite mom & pop tackle store closed this year.the only time I hit bps anymore would be an emergency must have tackle situation.not a bps fan. 1 Quote
thinkingredneck Posted July 17, 2019 Posted July 17, 2019 We have Academy, Dick's and BPS. I drive by Academy and Dick's every day. BPS is on the other side of town, but I enjoy going there, too. I buy my basics at Walmart. I guess Academy or Dick's are the first place I stop, as they are more convenient. I generally don't have a lot of questions, but I have found people at all three stores to be helpful. 1 Quote
bagofdonuts Posted July 17, 2019 Posted July 17, 2019 Love it. The fish in my avatar pic has an H2O square bill stuck in its face. Be sure to give their crankbaits a try. You may have to replace the hooks pretty quickly, but that's true of the $6 strike king as well. 2 Quote
Super User NYWayfarer Posted July 17, 2019 Super User Posted July 17, 2019 Wish we had one near here. Those of you that have several of the big names (BPS, Academy, DSG, F&S, Cabelas) consider yourselves lucky. I have DSG and that's about it besides Walmart. a F&S (Basically a larger Dick's) is an hour away and BPS 5 hours away from me. Quote
Super User MN Fisher Posted July 17, 2019 Super User Posted July 17, 2019 14 minutes ago, NYWayfarer said: Wish we had one near here. Those of you that have several of the big names (BPS, Academy, DSG, F&S, Cabelas) consider yourselves lucky. I have DSG and that's about it besides Walmart. a F&S (Basically a larger Dick's) is an hour away and BPS 5 hours away from me. Ya...I got a.....DSG about 20 minutes away and it's fishing section is so-so. Cabelas is 45 minutes away in good traffic. BPS is 4 hours away. I don't do 'Wally-World...ever. Fleet-Farm has a decent selection and it's only 25 minutes away. That's it. Which is why I mainly do TW, FishUSA and TD via online-order. Quote
GReb Posted July 17, 2019 Posted July 17, 2019 Academy’s house brands are really nice for the $$$. H2O and Magellan are always bargains. 1 Quote
greentrout Posted July 17, 2019 Posted July 17, 2019 my academy following rods in the store: falcon, duckett, shimano, loomis, 13 fishing, all star, lews, h20, ugly stick and dobyns ... and others ... reels ... got some 300 dollars and up ... shimano and daiwa ... and others .... never had a problem finding something to fish with ... good fishing ... 1 Quote
Hook2Jaw Posted July 17, 2019 Posted July 17, 2019 H2O CRS Squarebills account for a lot of my fish these days, and their jerkbaits are phenomenal as well. I love Academy. 1 Quote
Super User Mobasser Posted July 17, 2019 Author Super User Posted July 17, 2019 3 minutes ago, greentrout said: my academy following rods in the store: falcon, duckett, shimano, loomis, 13 fishing, all star, lews, h20, ugly stick and dobyns ... and others ... reels ... got some 300 dollars and up ... shimano and daiwa ... and others .... never had a problem finding something to fish with ... good fishing ... I agree. I received a Magellen fishing shirt for Christmas and it's worked out great. It would be hard to not find an outfit and baits/line to fish with. Our Academy has a great selection. Quote
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