Bass Pro has just about everything I need, save for ice-fishing items and needs I have for fishing for big blue cats in the Potomac River. I have been putting on panfishing displays and seminars at the one in Baltimore on several ocassions, and they seem to tolerate me!
I prefer Cabelas, even Gander Mountain, for ice fishing stuff. Other than that BPS is fine with me.
i have not had any problems with it because i have never bought anything from it (yet). i have seen gift cards for it in the Stop and Shop and looked it up to see what it was because of the name. i also saw sme people mensioned on this site (somewhere). i just wanted to know if it was good for buying fishing equipment. and if anyone had a bad experience with them. or something of the sort.
I hit up BassPro about once a week and more often than not find what I'm looking for and am, more importantly, pleasantly surprised by the kind people willing to help you get on your way with what you're looking for. They haven't seemed to have what I've been looking for lately, ice fishing equipment, but that is a rarity. What BassPro location are you closest to?
I don't think they sell crickets, but they got just about everything else including porcupine quills and hundred mile an hour bass boats. First one I went in I had to be rescued from, I couldn't stop gawking! It's over a hundred miles to my closest one and I'm liable to go to it on a whim. Super nice stores for people like us. Their online store is OK, but it ain't got no waterfall flowing into a giant aquarium like the newer stores do.
Got my favorite fishing t-shirt there. Right on the front in big letters it says " I Make My Own Stinkbait". All the women look at me when I'm wearing it!
The problem with Bass Pro in Gurnee is that it is too close to home! It is too easy for me to shoot over there and pick up some more things that I don't really need. I do watch for sales to get good deals.
I agree with the others that their ice fishing dept. is not what it could be. I'll leave it at that.
I live in Columbus, Ga., and am about 2 hours from the B.P.S. in Macon. My son and his family live in Macon, and he took me on my first "Kid in the Candy Store" trip to that outlet. I started salivating before we were even inside. I bought two of the B.P.S. brand of 6 foot ultralite rods and am delighted with them. Also bought two Quantum ultralite spinning reels for the two rods. Great outfits. I'm not impressed with the catalog sales and having to pay the high shipping costs. I used to and it seemed that shipping was as much as the products. Now that I can get to the store and visit with my son and family on the same trip, I'm a happy camper. Nick
I wasn't lying about women giving me the eye when I'm wearing that shirt. Better keep your sweety close. Course the look I get does seem to have a little apprehenshion in it. Maybe they're just too shy to ask where I got that shirt. BS! No wait, BPS!!!!!!