BPS... PA or MD? 2024
rtwvumtneer6 reply :
Hey all! Stuck here in the Pittsburgh area 3+ hours from the closest Bass Pro Shops. Going east for a weekend trip and want to see, for those of you who have been to both, if you prefer the Harrisburg PA location, or Hanover MD? Selection, inventory (bass fishing) size/atmoshpere, pricing, etc. Also, looking for any info on sales events. Happy fishing!!
Joshua Beaver reply :
I've been to the Harrisburg location as I have lived there at one point. They have a good selection of items and most are great quality. While it is a drive from your area, it's not as far as Hanover. I would recommend Harrisburg as I have never been to the Hanover store.
Choporoz reply :
Years ago, I drove an hour to a BPS....I still would like those two hours back.
CroakHunter reply :
On 6/22/2017 at 2:37 AM, Choporoz said:Years ago, I drove an hour to a BPS....I still would like those two hours back.
I'm with him, besides the fact that they have a fish tank, bass pro is useless to me. Too expensive and the workers there know little about anything.
Joshua Beaver reply :
On 6/22/2017 at 2:52 AM, CroakHunter said:I'm with him, besides the fact that they have a fish tank, bass pro is useless to me. Too expensive and the workers there know little about anything.
While both statements are true, they do have a good selection of lures and terminal tackle. Much better than any sporting goods store we have in my area. And I'm not one for asking questions in a sporting goods store, BPS and Cabelas included, I tend to take tips from pros and average every day anglers over store employees anyways. Unless you go fishing, you don't know fishing is my go to statement.
patred reply :
Live five minutes away from the Arundel Mills BPS and I've been to the Harrisburg BPS once. I thought the Harrisburg store had more of a selection.
Pat
rtwvumtneer6 reply :
Thanks, patred.
I'll agree they are overpriced. I get 95% of my stuff elsewhere but I do like the Johnny Morris rods and reels, and they are reasonably priced*. I'm also going with a group who have never been to a BPS and they will enjoy the taxidermy and browsing.
*Got a Carbonite 2 6.8:1 on a 7'2 MH/F Titanium 8 for $200... I fish it more than anything in my arsenal.
Cargojon reply :
Why not go to Cabela's in Wheeling? To me they blow away BPS.
Oh, just re-read, you're headed East. Maybe check out the Hamburg, PA location.
RockvilleMDAngler reply :
On 6/23/2017 at 1:02 AM, Cargojon said:Why not go to Cabela's in Wheeling? To me they blow away BPS.
Oh, just re-read, you're headed East. Maybe check out the Hamburg, PA location.
Having been to the Harrisburg and Hanover BPS stores I can say they are about equal. Overpriced but decent fun as a destination. The Hamburg, PA Cabelas is an awesome store. Huge fish tank, AMAZING taxidermy display, tons of guns, but as far as tackle goes either BPS has it beat. FWIW I buy all my tackle from tacklewarehouse.com
Steveo-1969 reply :
On 6/22/2017 at 10:06 AM, patred said:Live five minutes away from the Arundel Mills BPS and I've been to the Harrisburg BPS once. I thought the Harrisburg store had more of a selection.
Pat
Having been to both the Hanover, MD and Harrisburg, PA BPS stores I agree with Pat, I think the Harrisburg store and a little larger fishing section.
Hurricane reply :
On 6/23/2017 at 1:02 AM, Cargojon said:Why not go to Cabela's in Wheeling? To me they blow away BPS.
Oh, just re-read, you're headed East. Maybe check out the Hamburg, PA location.
Tackle Warehouse tops them both....
patred reply :
On 6/24/2017 at 12:28 AM, Steveo-1969 said:
Having been to both the Hanover, MD and Harrisburg, PA BPS stores I agree with Pat, I think the Harrisburg store and a little larger fishing section.
The only thing, and I mean THE ONLY THING the Bass Pro in Hanover has going for it over everything else -- at least for me -- is that it's 10 minutes from my house. I actually wish it wasn't so close. "Oh man I need to pick up one of these things RIGHT NOW!" Go to BPS, for just that one thing, and then the impulse buys get me every time.
Pat
Steveo-1969 reply :
On 6/24/2017 at 1:05 AM, Chris. said:Tackle Warehouse tops them both....
True, but... while I can browse on TW's website for hours just like I browse through a BPS store for hours, there is something special about being able to actually see the fishing stuff in person.
With that being said I won't drive 2 hours to a BPS to buy something. If I can't find something local I'm ordering it from the internet (usually TW).
rtwvumtneer6 reply :
On 6/24/2017 at 3:10 AM, patred said:The only thing, and I mean THE ONLY THING the Bass Pro in Hanover has going for it over everything else -- at least for me -- is that it's 10 minutes from my house. I actually wish it wasn't so close. "Oh man I need to pick up one of these things RIGHT NOW!" Go to BPS, for just that one thing, and then the impulse buys get me every time.
Pat
Haha, I'm the opposite. I go with the intentions of one big purchase. The rest of the stuff I pull off the rack, look at the price, and proceed to say, "I can get this cheaper at ______". With the exception of a $5 t-shirt or $2 random lure bin purchase that I'll most likely give as a gift because people think the BPS name makes them the next KVD.
BassWhole! reply :
For bass stuff the PA location has a better selection. The Arundel Mills one has to cater to the rockfish and tourist crowd, so they merchandise (appropriately I think) accordingly. They've got plenty of freshwater things though. #theenthusiastisnotyourcustomer
Darren. reply :
It seems like a "take your pick" decision. If you were deciding
between Richmond, VA and Hampton, VA, I'd say Richmond
because, unless it has changed, Hampton is the smallest BPS
store they have. But unlike shopping at TW, I can at least get
my hands on rods before laying down the cash, and for me,
BPS has a much better selection of rod lengths than TW...
Bluegiller reply :
I have been to both and prefer the PA store.
BlaineFred reply :
On 6/22/2017 at 2:37 AM, Choporoz said:Years ago, I drove an hour to a BPS....I still would like those two hours back.
I live in Maryland, 20 minutes from the BPS in Hanover. The store is smaller than the Harrisburg store. It also has gear for Chesapeake Bay and ocean fishing, so it has much less bass fishing gear than Harrisburg. The Hanover store appears to cater towards the casual angler, and doesn't have much of the tackle that the serious bass anglers would be interested in. I shop the Hanover store for smaller items such as tungsten weights, etc.
The Harrisburg store has much more bass gear such as the mid-level and higher end St. Croix rods.
I have over $100 in BPS credit card points that I wanted to use at Hanover but they didn't have anything that I wanted.
BlaineFred reply :
The Cabela's in Wheeling is nearer to Pittsburgh than Harrisburg.
The Cabela's has a much greater selection than the Hanover BPS. Example is the rods where the Cabela's has the St Croix rids.
fishwizzard reply :
The Hanover one is not great. However, in Cockysville MD there is a great bass-centered store called Anglers Express, its small but has a very well curated selection. It's also right down the road from a decent bank fishing reservoir. There is also Susquehanna Tackle in Columbia PA, it is larger than AE and has more jdm/high end stuff.
If it is still open, the Cabelas in Hamburg PA is decent is and is also right by a great wading spot on the Schuylkill.
Gundog reply :
On 6/30/2017 at 10:35 PM, Bunnielab said:There is also Susquehanna Tackle in Columbia PA, it is larger than AE and has more jdm/high end stuff.
If it is still open, the Cabelas in Hamburg PA is decent is and is also right by a great wading spot on the Schuylkill.
Agreed and for now the Cabela's in Hamburg is still open and running some great deals. And if you like cigars there is a Cigar International store in the same shopping area. CI is hopping on friday and saturday nights. Locals pull up in some classic cars and make it a party atmosphere.
Deeare reply :
Two words..... Tackle warehouse. BPS is terrible. They never have the size or color I want and that's IF they even stock the brand I'm looking for. All they sell is their own knock off garbage.
Munkin reply :
On 6/27/2017 at 12:52 AM, reason said:For bass stuff the PA location has a better selection. The Arundel Mills one has to cater to the rockfish and tourist crowd, so they merchandise (appropriately I think) accordingly. They've got plenty of freshwater things though. #theenthusiastisnotyourcustomer
They are about equal distance for me and could not agree more with the above advice.
Now if the family is going I have to hit the Hanover store so my daughter can climb the rock wall.
Allen
patred reply :
On 6/30/2017 at 10:35 PM, Bunnielab said:There is also Susquehanna Tackle in Columbia PA, it is larger than AE and has more jdm/high end stuff.
That's a good idea since it's somewhat close to the PA BPS (at least a lot closer than the Maryland BPS). I've never been there but have heard good things, and I've bought some stuff online from them. I'm headed up to the Susqehanna on Friday and may have to check it out.
Pat
fishwizzard reply :
The trick to escaping SVT with any money left is to only buy what you can carry in your hands. Once you grab a basket it's all over.
I once took about a three hour detour coming home from Philly to stop by there and it was absolutely worth it. Coming from somewhere with a very heavy salt water focus I had never actually seen a real bass fishing store before. I lost consciousness and woke up hours later my car, covered in rubber worms and crankbaits.
patred reply :
Went to Susquehanna Fishing Tackle in Columbia, Pa., for the first time on Saturday and they only managed to get $90 out of me. Went fishing with a guide on Friday night on the Susquehanna, and he recommended walking into the store with your head down and blinders on, and that strategy worked well.
Seriously, their selection for bass fishing, especially them ol' brown fish that I'm chasing, is great. Wasn't sure when my wife and I pulled up since it was a small building, but it was packed to the gills (haha, get it?) with stuff. Lots of cool lures and plastics I had never heard of that looked really good at catching fishermen.
Pat
Fishing Rhino reply :
For information about any particular BPS, go to the Bass Pro website, then go to their "store locator" page and click on a store in your area of interest. It will tell you of any activities, sales, etc for that store.
I'm going to put in a plug for my new favorite tackle store, Tackle Supply Depot. It is very much like Tackle Warehouse, but it is based in western Connecticut which means that in most cases if I get an order in before three p.m. it will ship that day, and I'll receive it the next because I'm in zone one for UPS. The longest it takes is two days. Shipping is free on orders over fifty dollars. Their web site has a map that shows how long it takes for a shipment to your address.
You can also show up at their door and pick up your order.
I don't know if it's standard operating procedure, but I have placed three orders with them, and tucked into each order was a coupon for ten percent off on my next order. The coupon does not apply to everything. In my case there were a couple of items that did not qualify for the discount.
When I enter the coupon code for my order, it will show which items qualify for the discount.
TOXIC reply :
I work shows in both BPS and Cabela's. I have been in all of the stores mentioned and you have to remember, what gets stocked is not up to the store most of the time. The stores have a standard floorplan and then they get to order in specific baits based on a number of different factors. Sales volume is one of them. Add to that the fact that they only have available what the corporate "Buyers" stock up on and their selection can be slim. I have had baits drop shipped directly from the manufacturer (my sponsor) to a store but it is rare and very tough to get authorized.
rtwvumtneer6 reply :
On 7/12/2017 at 11:29 PM, TOXIC said:I work shows in both BPS and Cabela's. I have been in all of the stores mentioned and you have to remember, what gets stocked is not up to the store most of the time. The stores have a standard floorplan and then they get to order in specific baits based on a number of different factors. Sales volume is one of them. Add to that the fact that they only have available what the corporate "Buyers" stock up on and their selection can be slim. I have had baits drop shipped directly from the manufacturer (my sponsor) to a store but it is rare and very tough to get authorized.
Toxic - my visit is very much geared toward taking people who have never been to a BPS to "site see" I saw by sq ft Harrisburg is a little larger than MD, but how do they compare are far as visual presentation? And no, the rock climbing wall is not an important factor lol
TOXIC reply :
Larger stores by in large have more to see. For example, the BPS in Richmond is smaller than the BPS in Hampton and the Hampton store has a bigger tank but the BPS in Richmond has a restaurant attached. But BPS has a "standard" layout so that all of the stores will offer the same destination perks. I'd go to whichever one is the most convenient.
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