-
Re: Bass Pro. I am only a 10 minute drive from their Springfield, MO store and use BPS quite often. I also use one other fly shop in Branson. Personally, I have always been well pleased with BPS on a general basis as they do carry their own line of affordable equt as well as higher end items and I've never had a gripe about price or service. The few times I had to return an item, it was hassle free and "no questions asked." Can't get much better than that. Their fly shop, although small is staffed with real, live fly fishermen who really seem to know their stuff and these guys fish local waters and are always ready to share tips and info.
Although I don't shop there exclusively, I still rate this particular BPS/fly shop as excellent.
Crackleback
-
This is an interesting thread.
In the south especially, BassPro typically serves a populace with virtually no other resource for fly fishing gear. If there is a local fly shop, unless it's an Orvis store in a metro area, it tends to be quite small and understocked. Fly fishing just isn't the draw there as in the north and west.
Would I like the White River portion of the store to be twice as big, and carry EVERYTHING I could possibly want? You bet! And I can say the same for every fly shop I've ever been in.
Jim
-
Where I live, BPS carries some brands that aren't in the other shops. Now, one shop discontinued St Croix and another got bought out by Dicks, so they are the only dealer. I've gotten good deals on tying materials on sale, not a bad shop. It's the only fishing store I can talk my kids into going to, they like the displays.
-
At the OKC Bass Pro the guys I have spoken with in the fly shop have been generally friendly. Not the most knowledgable, but with an I-know-it-all attitude. I have gotten to the point that I try to get in and out without conversation.
-
I bought some saddle hackles, chenile, and marabou from BPS a few years ago. I was really disappointed with the quality of the materials, especially the hackles. But, as others have said, local shops are great except they never seem to have what I need. I always end up compromising for something "that'll probly work" instead of what I went for. I really like some of the mail order outfits best.
-
I'm not sure how true it is, but I've heard they are related to the "Sportsman's Warehouse." And, I'm really glad to have them in my neighborhood. When I had a problem with a black powder pistol from BPS, they sent another pistol to replace it right away, and asked that after my trip, would I return the defective part. Not only did they replace the part when needed, they replace the entire gun. So, for a while I had two of their guns for the price of one. They trusted me that much. In my opinion, their customer service should be used as a model for all other businesses. I would not hesitate for one minute to buy from them again.
------------------
He Knocks. You Only Have To Ask.
-
The local Bass Pro is the monster sized one in Dallas. It has a nice fly shop. It seems to have more square footage than the Ft Worth Cabela's does, but both of them have a well stocked selection. Which one is better, seems to be a personal preference issue. Bass Pro seems supportive of FF'ing and even hosts a group of local tiers every Sat. morning.
I have a couple of house brand reels, a Hobbs Creek and a White River version, and I have been very happy with both of them.
Rex
-
I avoid Bass Pro as much as possible. They had a "controlled" alligator hunt on OLN awhile back that was nothing short of a slaughter. They had an announcement saying they were proud to sponsor this "hunt." I'm proud to spend my money somewhere else.
Mike
------------------
There is no greater fan of flyfishing than the worm.
Patrick McManus
-
I have about 4 shops at my disposal within a 30 min radius,Gander mtn, which just had it's grand opening last fall did little to impress me..as their selection has yet to expand (As one store employee said it was going to)....they don't even carry a very good selection in the hook dept...I mean come on.....
A full service pro shop a mile away..good selection..that's to high in it's prices....
A sweet little family owned and opperated Bait shop , with an awe inspireing fly tying selection...which is my main shop for my shopping...."Mickey's"
And the bass pro shop....well I really can't say, As I've never been to it..or any others...I doubt I will either..Not with Mickey's in North Syracuse...and they carry pretty much what I need...I do order a few things now and then..Cabela's,Hook & Hackle,Fly tyers Dungeon,E.Hille Anglers supply house,Jfisher,Janns netcraft,and shop when I am in Central PA..
------------------
"I've often wondered why it is that so many anglers spend so much money on,and pay so much attention to.the details on the wrong end of the fly line.If they took as much care in selecting or tying their flies as they did in the selection of the reel and rod,They might be able to gain the real extra edge that makes it possible to fool a fish that has,in fact,seen it all before" A.K.Best
"Wish ya great fishing"
Bill
[This message has been edited by billknepp (edited 22 September 2005).]
-
Maddog48, I didn't see the alligator hunt on OLN and most big game hunting on TV doesn't do much for me. My sister lives on the Mississippi Gulf coast. The gator problem down there is real. In a lot of cases, hunting gators has nothing to do with sport and everything to do with pest control. I like to hunt squirrels, but when they are in my peach trees, I am just killing hairy-tailed, arboreal rats. I don't know the background of the segment on TV but it might have just been removing nuisance gators. If the local game and fish folks can sell licenses and put a little money into conservation coffers as a result, then that might not be such a bad thing.
BlugillBudd, it sounds as if you like Don at the Nashville BPS as much as I do. He is a great guy. The Nashville's BPS also hired the president of the Middle Tennessee Fly Fishers.
Our BassPro shop doesn't stock everything by a long shot. As with ALL biological materials, I examine everyting that they have on display before I buy something. There is real variability in quality of capes, partridge skins, hare's masks, etc... but I think that just goes with the territory. "My" BPS isn't perfect, but then I've never found a perfect fly shop that had everything that I wanted. It is good enough, especially when suplemented with mail ordering.