Shopping Season !

[steve b]

If ya didn't get it for Christmas, nows the time to shop ! OK, so you folks down south are a heada us I know. But anyway. Where/what's your favorite place to shop for UL and Bluegill tackle ? On my way to work without too much trouble I can drop into a Dick's Sporting Goods and a Gander Mtn..Then there's a couple small bait/tackle places that cater to the steelheaders and Lake Erie boat crowd. I have to travel a couple hrs to get to a Cabelas(W.Va) or a BassPro(Mi). Whats your prefernce between Cabelas and BassPro ? Never been to BassPro. Have friend that prefers it. steve b

[steve b]

Do have a favorite little shop in Geneva Ohio called Karran's. Get my bait, some flies, some terminal tackle there. Here, the small places took a hit a few yrs ago when the licensing system went onto computers and the small places couldn't afford or didn't want to learn. I go to the big places for selection of rods/reels. Wouldn't buy those online either. Gotta hold them in my hand, to see if they "speak" to me ! LOL. steve b

[Tom Beauchamp]

I shop all over the place, lately it's been the web to find what I want, or get what I need to make it. Have a BPS 30 min away that I frequent, but still sometimes can't find what I want there even with all that inventory. Web offers specialized shops that cater more to some of my needs these days. I must admit that I really like my bionic rods for bluegill fishing, and I have micro-lite, BnM and Pinnacle IM7 vertex for crappie. All good rods. Now If I can find the best price on a Pflueger Supreme reel to add to my collection.........

[Jeremy R. Mayo]

BPS Had some Pfluegers on sale in the clearence block online the other day. I am a BnM nut. Prolly cause there pretty close to local. My girlfriend absolutely had to have a blue pole so while shopping she picked up a shakespere. I refuse to use it. Im so stuck on the BnM telescoping poles I wont touch anything else. Went to the pro in search of some 12ft crappie poles the other day and just wasnt happy with anything other than BnM. Decided just to go back to my local store and pick them up there. When it comes to the sticks....Nobody can touch BnM.

Take a kid fishing!

[Brian Snodgrass]

I have been to our Bass Pro in Cincy dozens of times and they always have what I am looking for. They have just opened one in Toledo, Ohio and they have a bigger selection. I have been to one Cabela's in Dundee, MI and it was not bad. They had SOME fishing stuff but it seemed it may have been geared more to the hunter. But, Cabela's did have a very nice and large aquarium with lots of panfish and other sportfish in it as well. Between these two stores I would give the edge to Bass pro! One other store I have been to before is Sportsman Warehouse located in Lexington, Ky. Now that was a fishing store with a huge selection for all types of fishing and all types of fish species as well. See if there is one near you!

[steve b]

The BPS in Toledo is probably closest to me, though their search function is still telling me to go to Mich. store for some reason. Am going to Pittsburgh for 50th B-day of guy that was our best man this weekend. Ran some searches and can't find a sporting goods dealer bigger than Dick's there, kinda surprised. Would like to see and hold the BPS micro lite rods. Fist I saw and had were Zebco/Quantum, first glass, then IM-6. Have a couple with Browning name on. Like to see how they rate, in the hand. steve b

[Michael J. Searl]

Good call on the Bass Pro Micro Lite rods. I was dissapointed that they discontinued my all time favorite Micro Lite when they switched from the burgandy color series to the baby poo tanish color they have now. The one they dropped was an 8 1/2' 2 pc. UL. That rod was an absolute joy to fish.
I still have a lot of Micro Lite rods and a couple are Float & Fly. I also have a couple Wally Marshals and the wife loves her 11 1/2' Outlaw for the bank. I have a couple B&Ms and they are a fine rod . I have far too many rods, but none I don't like. lol
Most all of my rods come from Bass Pro or local bait shop the carries Bass Pro.
What jigs I buy in 1/100th oz and 1/80th oz. I get on ebay and the rest I make or tie.
I like Cabelas for waders, and use the higher end ones.
We have a Gander Mountain here local, but poor selection.
We also have a Dick's but last stop if I needed supplies. ole Mike