Bass pro shop worth the ride? 2025
Ima Bass Ninja reply :
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 reply :
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 reply :
Not unless you like crowds, overpriced tackle and (generally) poor customer service.
FishinDaddy reply :
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 reply :
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 reply :
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 reply :
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 reply :
QuoteABSOLUTELTY!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 reply :
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 reply :
QuoteNot unless you like crowds, overpriced tackle and (generally) poor customer service.
basically sums it up, although occasionally they do have stuff u need
rondef reply :
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. reply :
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 reply :
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 reply :
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- reply :
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 reply :
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 reply :
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 reply :
thanks for the info guys , i think i would like the aquariums , sounds like something i should do at least once.
HomersTomaco reply :
It's worth it every time
-nick- reply :
Quotethanks 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 reply :
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 reply :
You gotta go one time for sure.
After that, support Tackle Warehouse.
SkilletSizeBass. reply :
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 reply :
QuoteQuoteABSOLUTELTY!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 reply :
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.
fishizzle reply :
Definately--Its a shopping experience and Museum
nice day trip
Btech reply :
BPS has become my weekend getaway - I can take my wife and lil 2 yr old girl and it becomes a fun filled day of fishing on land 
Wife looks at home decore while my lil girl and i watch fish and pack as much into the cart as we can just so we can spend more time .... putting it back ... yeah thats what we do 
*pssst pay the lady with my card while i distract mom!
Yes its worth the drive!
djmax22 reply :
QuoteNot unless you like crowds, overpriced tackle and (generally) poor customer service.
X2. I am done with BPS. Just about everything they sell is at least $1 more than *** plus you have to pay tax. Customer service is terrible.
Raul reply :
You tell me if it 's worth the ride, the nearest BPS is 3 hours drive from you, the nearest BPS is a 2 hour FLIGHT from me ( Houston or Dallas ), or when I drive to McAllen ( 10 hours drive ) I drive the 3 hours to go BPSing in San Antonio.
R@ngerman195vs reply :
You have to go at least once just to see the place if for no other reason. I'm lucky cause ours is only about 45 minutes away. And i cannot complain about my BPS customer service. They've always treated us well. You get a few rookie sales folks every now and then, but overall they've been pretty darned good. And if you can go when they have their Spring sale with seminars - so much the better. Go and have fun!
bass wrangler569 reply :
Like others said you need to go just for the experience. The first time I was in a BPS I felt like I had died and gone to heaven. I have been to some other BPSs that haven't been too great but the Harrisburg one is awesome IMHO. The guys in the fishing department actually know what they're talking about and are very familiar with the local fishing scene. I do most of my shopping on *** now but I still venture into BPS occasionally.
shimanogloomis man reply :
Id say save your money on gas and buy from www.***.com and spend 50.00 or more and get free shipping how could u go wrong
jax reply :
I have a BPS about 10 minutes from me. There is a Dicksportinggoods right next door to it.
What I have found is if you catch stuff on sale it is cheaper the buying it off the internet. The big thing I like about it is no shipping charges. I don't have to spend $50. That are quite a bit cheaper than Dicks and have a much larger selection. My little girl loves going there and looking at the fish. Their selection is overwhelming. It is great! The one by me has some of the best customer service I have ever seen. Most of the guys that work there fish a lot of the tourney's in our area
and are pretty knowledgeable.
For me I don't find it very advantageous to shop on the net all of the time. I don't have to buy in bulk to get around shipping charges. I can go. Find something new and try it out with out having to buy a BUNCH of something and trying to decide which to use first.
But like I said. I'm 10 minutes away. I'm not sure it is worth a three hour drive though. It would be worth it once but that is alot of gas to eat up just to save a buck.
Is it worth it? Yes. If you are looking for garage sale prices on brand new items then you will be disappointed. If you are looking for competitive prices and one of the largest selections you will find then you may be in heaven!
Bassaholic84 reply :
Yea ***.com is the way to go. Like others mentioned BPS is a great store and for any outdoors man you will love just walking around the store and looking at everything
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