Bass pro shop worth the ride?

[Ima Bass Ninja]

Hey guys, new to fishing and am trying to soak it all up, just wondering for some of you that have been, the closest BPS to me is about 3 hours away . Is it worth the ride to check it out or not? The closest thing we have is Dick's and Sportsman warehouse.  Thanks..

[KYntucky Warmouth]

Depends on what you're going for...combined, Dicks and SW provide a great selection of tackle and such....If there is something specific that BPS offers and the others don't then it's worth the trip.  Plus you can figure in the shipping from the site and the cost for gas and see which would be more affordable...gonna probably be the shipping

[burleytog]

Not unless you like crowds, overpriced tackle and (generally) poor customer service.

[FD.]

You just have to go.  Leave early and plan on coming home late.  My first trip lasted about 4 hrs inside plus 3 hrs round trip driving.  I don't even remember buying anything that I could not have gotten at W-Mart.

[sambrochill]

I'd say go if you're in the area. I have a bass pro about maybe 10 to 20 minutes away from me depending on traffic, and i really dont go there unless there's some sort of sale or i can't find what i need at dicks.

but you have to go at least once, cuz the store itself is awesome.

[CRFisher]

Probably not worth the 3 hours, but worth going if you're near by.  I wouldn't expect any deals, but the selection is ridiculous.   In my neck of the woods I'm lucky to get two aisles of fishing stuff in a Wal Mart (maybe 3 or 4 in Dicks Sporting Goods) so BPS's selection is worth a bit longer of a drive.

[roadwarrior]

ABSOLUTELTY!

Go During the Spring Classic and plan to stay all day.

Check the store schedule for demonstrations and seminars.

The shopping is great and can take hours if you're not in a

hurry. Since you have never been there, it's like a few hours

at Disneyland!

8-)

[sambrochill]

ABSOLUTELTY!

Go During the Spring Classic and plan to stay all day.

Check the store schedule for demonstrations and seminars.

he shopping can take hours if you're not in a hurry. Since

you have never been there, it's like a few hours at Disneyland!

8-)

actually yea i have to agree, and the spring classic is going to be happening here really soon, so plan to go

[CWB]

R.W. is right on as usual.

Don't know if I'd drive 3 hours but it would definitely be worth it the first time.

The closest to me is 45 min. and I'm there pretty often. Downside is I have to take the wife as it is surrounded by a huge mall. Usually something pretty good on sale and a jawdropping fish or two in the tank. Right now there is a 50lb.+ Blue Cat in there. Always a madhouse on weekends though. If you do go for the Spring Classic,

don't plan on getting out of there without feeding the bait monkey bigtime and spending at least a couple hours.

[tritz18]

Not unless you like crowds, overpriced tackle and (generally) poor customer service.

basically sums it up, although occasionally they do have stuff u need

[rondef]

This weekend they are having seminars at the two BPS locations near me.  They are at least a 90 minute drive and are well worth the trip.  I will spend the better part of the day Saturday so I can go to the seminars and also buy some new gear, also take advantage of the reel trade in so I can upgrade my reels.

[tyrius.]

6 hours in a car to experience BPS?

Not worth it.  The experience of BPS is cool.  The aquarium is nice and all.  Prices are higher than you can get on line so purchases will cost more, plus the cost of gas and time to get there makes it not worth it in my opinion.

I'm spoiled in that I drive by a BPS on the way home from work every day.  

[fathom]

depends.

spent two hours at bps atlanta at the freshwater aquarium.

spent one hour at the bps destin at the saltwater aquarium.

spent 30 minutes at the bps pearl, no aquarium.

walked out of each with a t-shirt for the wife and the grandgirlchild.

if you want the bps experience, you'll do well...if you're actually looking for something outside of a bps product to look at...

...you're s.o.l.

[TrippyJai]

If you've never been to BPS, go check it out. The first time is great, but after that, it's not worth a second trip.

[-nick-]

If you're just getting into fishing it's good because you can see all types of lures and stuff you don't have at dick's or walmart that you can order online after you see what they look like and stuff. I have one about an hour away and i love going there just looking around but to me it's not worth it anymore. Everything I need to buy is either at dicks, walmart, or I can get it online. Whenever I take trips down to charleston i always make a stop by since its not far out of the way.

[Bad to da Bass]

In my opinion you shouldn't waste that gas money just to go looking because Bass Pro Shops does also have a website.  Now on the other hand if you have some money and you know what you want it might be worth the trip.  Other than that I would just stay home and look at their website or go to those tackle shops you mentioned because Bass Pro Shops isn't that great in my opinion.

8-)

[Stasher1]

I live less than 15 miles form the Atlanta BPS and go there fairly often. While it is true that you can often find the same items cheaper from some online dealers, it's still nice to be able to hold an item in your hand and verify the color, size, shape, condition, etc. before you shell out the cash. For example, if you order a Bomber Fat Free Shad in Tennessee Shad and a Bomber Model A in Tennessee Shad you're going to get two completely different colors.

It's also one of the best places to compare rods and reels, side by side. You can go handle a couple dozen different rods/reels, and then go home and order the one you like from another dealer for less money. I was there earlier today fondling every baitcast reel between $100 and $275. I've got it narrowed down to two, now I just need to scour the net to see who has the best deals.

[Ima Bass Ninja]

thanks for the info guys , i think  i would like the aquariums , sounds like something  i should do at least once.  

[HomersTomaco]

It's worth it every time

[-nick-]

thanks for the info guys , i think i would like the aquariums , sounds like something i should do at least once.

For you it would definitely be worth it at least to see all the types of lures/sizes and such like that that you can't see online since your new to fishing. That way after that trip you will know what the lure looks like in person before you buy it.

[SimonSays]

stick to shopping at TW or some place...6hrs....save that time to go fish!

TW has free shipping on over $50 .... i can never leave BPS with less than $100 .... it's only down the road from me =/

[Big Tom]

You gotta go one time for sure.

After that, support Tackle Warehouse.

[SkilletSizeBass.]

I live about 15 mins. from the BPS is Clarksville,In., its huge, suppose to be one of the biggest. I go at least a couple times a week, if for nothing else to look around. Its awesome! The 09 fishing classic is Feb. 27 - March 15, and it will be packed. Get there early if you go then. As far as prices compared to on-line retailers, it depends on what your buying. Most of the time its a wash, not much differance. Most of the time I order on-line is when BPS doesn't have the item or color I'm looking for.

[eyedabassman]

ABSOLUTELTY!

Go During the Spring Classic and plan to stay all day.

Check the store schedule for demonstrations and seminars.

he shopping can take hours if you're not in a hurry. Since

you have never been there, it's like a few hours at Disneyland!

8-)

actually yea i have to agree, and the spring classic is going to be happening here really soon, so plan to go

I too agree, the seminars are great way to learn new things and the tank demo's are cool too. And your store may have some of the pro's to give seminars. At this time they have great sales, and a very good reel trade in program!

[Bass Dude]

I would definatly go.  Eventhough you can see the tackle on-line, there's nothing like seeing it in person before you buy. Then you know exactly what you're getting.  As the other posts state, the store itself is cool, I would go at least once.

Plus our Dick's and Gander Moutain around here don't have anything, so I go to our BPS all the time.