Went to Bass Pro for the second time yesterday, had been once before right after it opened and their saltwater fishing section was terrible, but it was at the end of the season and I figured they'd step it up a bit come spring. Evidently not, they didn't have any of their house brand rods I'd wanted to check out, the selection of saltwater-appropriate reels was sparse, the terminal tackle section was a joke, and the range of lures they had wasn't even comparable to what you would find at #^&#^&#^&#^&s or even Walmart (they didn't even have Bombers!). The freshwater section is great (about 6 aisles of soft plastics), and I did pick up a few spinnerbaits, but I won't even bother to go there for any saltwater gear in the future. It's too bad, they carry so much great stuff online, but none of it at the store. Maybe they don't realize the size of the saltwater fishing market around here.:confused:

I agree with you on their saltwater section. I expected a little bit more than what I saw there considering it was Bass Pro.

ya the people in the reel section know nothing.

the surf rod section used to have offshore "something" (bass pro brand), st. criox, g-loomis, lamiglas, dawia now all they have are a few ron arras, surf n jettys, and have alot of there brand of rods and alot of surfkings.

decent sluggo collection, have the ones i use so i'm fine.

they now have a shelf full of gibbs with is a little bit of a plus

not to many heavy jigs. the heaviest i could find are 3oz the others were for deep water 9-12oz

they do sell accurartes, and vann staals tho.

the freshwater sections is great for softplastics!

so basically if you're looking for saltwater stuff, it's about a 5/10...

freshwater is about an 8/10


edit: my friend who's into flyfishing said it was decent. its mostly freshwater flyfishing tho

All the more reason to support your local B&T.

I got a gift certificate for that store. I don't know what I'll buy. Maybe boots.

how were the crowds?

yeah support your local B&T guys for sure!

I got a gift certificate for that store. I don't know what I'll buy. Maybe boots.

how were the crowds?
I was there Sunday afternoon and the crowds weren't bad..No wait to pay...

I haven't been to the new one in this area but about 3 weeks ago I was in the bass pro out in Chicago and surprisingly they had a nice salt water section about 6 aisles worth of fun stuff..... maybe BP needs a better market research person

I got a gift certificate for that store. I don't know what I'll buy. Maybe boots.

how were the crowds?


Great shoe section.

Good for clothing and looking at the fish tanks.:yawn:

I went once and enjoyed petting the stuffed skunks the most. The decorations were the coolest part of the place. I saw nothing I wanted that I couldn't get at a mom and pop for a better price. There is a large men's clothing section, though, which may be interesting to some. Oh! And the cool lighting at the bathroom so it looks like you're underwater! Yeah, the place is all sparkle and no substance. But I like sparkly things. Caw!

There is nothing like going to the same local bait shops. After a few years it becomes like the barber shops of old. Support the local B & T's. the prices may be a little higher, but the quality of the product is worth it.

This is a good thread. These super tackle stores are something else. Had a similar experience in Cabela's in Hartford. Went with a friend, we were looking for info on trolling motors. Not one person knew anything. He's since gone back multiple times and still not any real service.
They got tons of stuff, unfortunately its marketed better in their catelogs.

It took #^&#^&#^&#^&'s a few years before they started stocking good salt water (especially New England oriented) gear. I agree, it's pretty shy of good saltwater items and I'm with everyone about supporting your local B&T.

What's even worse is trying to buy a shotgun (or any firearm) there. The guns are not arrainged in any order and it takes the guy behind the counter a long time to find something you may be interested in. You can't hold 2 guns and compare (Mass. law). So I gave up and finally went to Maine to buy my most recent shotgun (Kittery Trading Post).

Bass Pro is great for freshwater and okay for camping gear, but I wish the Cabelas had come in instead.

yea this mass. bass pro is one of the only northern locations most are down south (and much bigger if you can beleive it) and are geared toward fresh water tournament action

I got a couple gift certificates from family to buy "fishing stuff". I bought boots. There really wasn't anything I was interested in as far as tackle. Really good selection of camping gear.

In the past , I have bought more stuff from Cabelas.

Bass pro has this catalog rationing for the better stuff. I think it was over a year from when I started buying from them that i finally got their catalog showing good saltwater gear (I got a whole bunch of other catalogs right away but the good fishing catalog took some repeated buying before i got it.) . they do have a lot in their special catalog.

One thing I like is shopping online then picking stuff up at the store. I do this with best buy and circuit city. It would be nice if the catalog stores like LL Bean and Bass Pro would do the same thing. Maybe they already do?

i am on the wagon when it comes to more freshwater fishin gear

i would go there to purchase some boots some day

for anything else i know of a good spot to go....in Wareham :point: CCT

but might buy some BP camping stuff too ....maybe..:rotf3:

if you look around, there are some good deals at BP

Oh! And the cool lighting at the bathroom so it looks like you're underwater! Yeah, the place is all sparkle and no substance. But I like sparkly things. Caw!

It's worth the trip just for that..http://img99.exs.cx/img99/8577/yupi3ti.gif:biglaugh::biglaugh:

if you look around, there are some good deals at BP


i agree. If you look around they have good deals on fishing gloves, waders, tops, undergear ect. As far as reel and rods i mean your not going to get a lami cheaper there than anywhere else ya know.

If you search around for the odds and ends you can find good deal. Aso for plugs, ect....... support you local B&T.

I'm with you guys on the saltwater stuff.....pretty weak selection. Freshwater is pretty good though. I bought one of thier strore brand lightweight combos with an abu reel and it broke on my second trip. They said theyd replace it for free, but that will probably be the first and last Bass Pro model rod I buy.

i agree. If you look around they have good deals on fishing gloves, waders, tops, undergear ect.

yup, i got a pair of their Neoprene type gloves. very nice for 10 bucks, thats less than half the price of the Aquaskinz.....

I love Bass Pro, especially the location.

I love Bass Pro for my archery and hunting stuff, good selection in one spot. As far as the fishing stuff rather support the local men and women who own and work in the shops.

Somehwere in the store I saw a sign, or ad stating that they do not carry everything thats in the catalog in the store. Maybe if you guys made some suggestions to them about what you would like to see in the store they would carry it.

As far as the people that work there, most probably do it for the discount, and only work pt. There probably is not alot of money to be made putting line on reels.

I have been there about 10 times since they opened, bought alot of hunting stuff. Some freshwater stuff, and some clothing. I like the store, have always ordered from the catalog, and always still spent plenty of money at Sportsman's den, M& D's, and every other tackle shop I drive by on the way to go fishing. I have also spent money at Walmart, #^&#^&#^&#^&s, Kmart, Sport Authority, and Bldng. 19 on occasion.

With the high cost of fuel, food, and everything else, I know that I will now shop for the best price if I can. You need to save somewhere.

I had a 50 dollar gift card and bought 2 crippled herring, a shirt and about 15 bucks worth of candy. Pretty sad when i couldnt blow 50 bucks at a fishing shop. I was going to get some wading boots but they had a very poor selection. Much better selection thru the catalog. Im sure i will go again, probably take dad there on a trip to the cape just so he can see it. Then will hit MD's like every trip to the cape.

Just FYI, Bass Pro is offering free shipping on internet orders till May 6, I just ordered a few odds and ends that I've been unable to find elsewhere. Their store may stink, but online they've got lots!

Thanks for the tip. I was planning a trip...but now I will shop online and use the gift certificate that I got.

To be honest, I shop at and seek out New England Bait and Tackle Shops. They have the best selection, they know what they are talking about, and I have found the pricing is very competitive. (Granted, x-mart will have a special on some plastics or something...but, given the cost of gas...not worth the trip.)

Again, thanks for the tip.

Aside:
Are they here yet?

I had gone to the grand opening with my 3 y.o. son and we just looked at all the taxidermy and the fish in the big tank. I thought it seemed like a good place to kill some time with the kid and pick up some terminal tackle. Well, I got a gift certificate for Christmas and finally went back last night. Everyone on this site that said the place is no good for saltwater is dead on. I couldn't even find repacement trebles or decent jigheads in the size I wanted. I ended up picking up some Ande line and a pair of shoes for my wife (trying to build up some goodwill with the season upon us). They do have some good clothes and shoes, but don't go expecting to find a lot of saltwater gear. Even the prices on the few good reels they carried were no better than you'd find a the local shop. I even asked for a manager and expressed my dissapointment about the piss poor selecton. He told me he's been hearing a lot of the same sentiment and by NEXT YEAR they should have a better selection.

For my saltwater needs I hit the Locals, but unfortunately they Don't have anything close to the selection Basspro offers for the Freshwater stuff. #^&#^&#^&#^&'s carries a great selection for Freshwater too.

I buy a lot of stuff there then re-sell it on my website for sky-high prices.

normaly i have all my gear ready by april but due to remodling the kitchen i am way behind , i went to bass pro to pick up about a dozen items that none of the local b/t shops had in stock , that is and was the last time i ever go there what a zoo none of the help knew anything , needed some segar floro leader material and they kept brining me back to the string isle i tried to explane the differance and what i wanted :wall: clueless , i finally found it on my own , only got 1/2 of what i wanted . i went to the check out and the cashier says do you want a bass pro card its good for discounts , i said i will never be back agian , i wont make the mistake of waiting till the season is almost on us before getting ready next year

The one time I was there, I didn't even have time to glance at the saltwater stuff - I needed a new freshwater rig to catch trout. (Still haven't caught one, but did land a two foot pickerel.:musc:)

The Bass-Pro brand rods are really, really sketchy. I mean, a brass reel-seat machined by trained monkeys on a friday, matched with plain steel guides mounted with bailing wire that almost line up... on a $30 rod? Honestly. Go to WallyWorld, spend half the cash and get twice the rod.

Their Browning house-brand rods are another story, easily as nice as stuff costing twice as much from St. Croix and such. Got a 7' Citori ultra-light, and already landed a monster fish with it (well, monster for a freshwater pond in April.) The Browning reels seemed a little suspect, so I went with the Pflueger Presidential (why is it so hard to find a decent ultralight reel?). Interesting to note - the one you get at Bass Pro Shop does not come with the spare spool!

I just got my tax check, so I was headed up there tomorrow or Friday to get my n00b striper rig... tho now I'm not so sure. Might just save the trip, and harass the guys over at Quaker Ln instead.

Just FYI, Bass Pro is offering free shipping on internet orders till May 6, I just ordered a few odds and ends that I've been unable to find elsewhere. Their store may stink, but online they've got lots!

I was on the site two nights ago and did not see that offer :wall:, I needs to check again :uhuh:. I was going to use a couple gift cards for a fish finder and battery till I saw the shipping charge.

Like #^&#^&#^&#^&'s, Bass Pro has a great fresh water selection and has really geared themselves for that.

No question about it, the local B & T' shops have the best selection of saltwater gear.

However, Cabela's is coming to New England.

They have set the opening target date of the newest store which will be in Scarborborough, Maine for May 15, 2008.

Check out the announcement at the Cabela's web site

I was on the site two nights ago and did not see that offer :wall:, I needs to check again :uhuh:. I was going to use a couple gift cards for a fish finder and battery till I saw the shipping charge.

I double checked the offer and it's just on orders of at least $100, it should remove the shipping automatically when you checkout.

However, Cabela's is coming to New England.

They have set the opening target date of the newest store which will be in Scarborborough, Maine for May 15, 2008.

No way! Now that's news. This is most likely going to negatively impact all the small B+T shops in Wells, etc.