When it comes to finding the fishing tackle you need, online fishing stores are a great resource. Online fishing shops can have lures that you might not be able to find at your local tackle shop. Online shops are also competitive on price and usually have various sales throughout the year.
You can also usually find deals with free or expedited shipping.
This guide will rank the top online tackle shops to help you find what you need online.
Bass Pro Shops
Bass Pro Shops has been around for ages. They started off as a physical tackle shop. They’re known for having huge stores with large aquariums that have bass and other species of fish.
They have also developed a significant online presence.
Their selection of bass fishing lures and tackle is enormous. They also carry a myriad of other outdoor products. You can find boats, kayaks, clothing. It’s really an outdoors store.
Bass Pro Shops also features many house brand products, too. You can often find good prices on lures and tackle under their store brands.
Their website is fairly easy to navigate and has a great color selection view for lures.
As for the shopping experience, you can return most online orders up to 60 days from purchase. You can also return products to their physical stores. This can be really convenient if you have one close by.
If you need to return something after 60 days, it will be on an inspection basis only.
Bass Pro Shops also has frequent sales and shipping deals. For example, you can often get free 2-day shipping on orders over $50. That’s a pretty good deal.
Cabela’s
Cabela’s has been an outdoor outfitter for decades. But in 2017 it was acquired by Bass Pro Shops. Luckily, if you’re a fan of Cabela’s, the store really hasn’t changed.
It seems like BPS is going to allow Cabela’s to continue to operate as it has in the past.
Cabela’s does have both physical and online stores. Their website offers products that are not just for fishing. They sell hunting gear too. You can find anything from tackle to outdoor apparel.
Interestingly, they often offer many of the same deals that Bass Pro Shops does. For example, you can often get the free 2-day shipping on orders over $50.
As for the return policy, they allow you to return items within 90 days of purchase. There are conditions and exceptions and I recommend that you keep your receipt.
As for selection, Cabela’s has a pretty decent selection of fishing tackle. It is mostly geared toward freshwater fishing.
The website is not bad and easy enough to use. It could use a bit of a modernization and I’d give it a B minus.
Fish USA
Fish USA is an online tackle shop that can meet the needs of the complete angler. FishUSA carries fishing gear for all types of anglers, not just bass anglers. You can find gear specific to all sorts of freshwater fishing.
Whether you’re into walleye or panfish, you should be able to find your gear on fishUSA.com.
Fly anglers can also find a great selection of gear on FishUSA.com. They have boating and kayaking gear, too.
You can even find a good selection of saltwater tackle to choose from.
As for customer service, I haven’t had any problems with them. I once got a lure that was not as described and I contacted them about it. They sent me a different lure and let me keep the one I initially received. So, the customer service is top-notch.
FishUSA features “REEL Fast Shipping” on orders over $60.
This is usually US postal service shipping and depending on where you are, it can take as little as 2 days. This applies to the lower 48 states.
As for returns, they have a 60-day satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not satisfied with your order, you can return it within 60 days and get your money back. This is a pretty generous amount of time.
The FishUSA.com website is also fairly easy to use. It’s not as sleek as the TackleWarehouse website, but it’s still easy to get your orders in. The one thing they could benefit from adding is a wish list feature.
Overall, FishUSA.com is worth a look.
Tackle Warehouse
If you’re a bass angler, TackleWarehouse is where it’s at. What makes TackleWarehouse stand out is the selection. If you’re looking for a hard to find lure, this is a great place to look. They also carry top of the line rods, reels, and line.
Here are some features you get when shopping at TackleWarehouse:
- Free shipping with orders over $50.
- Low Price Guarantee.
- Frequent sales like Memorial Day, and other holiday sales.
The site is responsive and easy to navigate. One feature I really like is the wishlist feature. I can save all the tackle I would like to buy in the future and get it later. They also offer gift cards. So your loved ones can give you what you want without you having to teach them about all the different lure colors you need.
Overall, TackleWarehouse is one of the best online stores for bass fishing you can find.
What To Look For In An Online Tackle Shop
Reputability
When looking for online fishing shops you’ll want to make sure that the site you’re ordering from is reputable. There are sites out there that are shady to say the least. Once place you can search is the Better Business Bureau.
If the site isn’t listed there, one suggestion I have is to look for a social media presence like a facebook page. Of course even a facebook page could possibly be faked. I would also ask around with your fishing buddies.
I have heard horror stories of fly by night websites that take your order and you never see your products. So, be careful out there.
If you don’t have anyone you can ask, try fishing forums. Fishing forums can help you find out if an online fishing retailer is legit.
Forums can also be a good source of sale alerts and general fishing advice.
Price
When you’re shopping for fishing tackle you may be surprised at how expensive some items have become. You can easily find bass lures that cost $25.
Rods and reels are even more surprising with examples that can run well over $500.
Luckily, if you plan your purchases, you can catch some good yearly sales. Memorial Day usually has some good ones. You may be able to get up to 25% of your favorite tackle.
Christmas time is also another opportunity to stock up with holiday sales.
Many sites also have mailing lists. While no one likes spam, we can definitely benefit from a flash sale.
FishUSA is one example of a site that has frequent flash sales that are actually great values.
I caught some that feature buy one get one free on lures. They also have occasional 15% off sales on reels and other tackle.
Shipping
If you need it in a rush, you may find yourself paying high shipping fees. There are, however, some retailers that offer good deals on 2-day shipping. TackleWarehouse and Fish USA will charge a small fee or sometimes give you free 2-day shipping if your order is over a certain amount(usually $50).
Also, if you’re already a member of Amazon prime, then you might be able to get 2-day shipping on tackle you can find there.
At the very least, a web shop should have a shipping calculator that will let you get an estimate. These are simple controls in the shopping cart section of the site. You enter your zip code and it will quote you a shipping rate.
Return Policy
It’s not fun to have to return products. But when you do, it’s nice to know that it will be easy. Most online retailers will allow for returns for at least 30 days. Many listed here will allow for double that. If you have a problem with your products, I recommend that you contact the retailer by phone or email. They’ll be able to tell you what the right course of action is. Sometimes, they will send you a replacement without you needing to return anything.
If you do have to return your products, most online retailers include a return shipping sticker.
Conclusion
I’m sure I probably missed some excellent online fishing stores. The ones I’ve listed here are just some of the most popular ones.
This is where you come in. Leave a comment and tell us what your favorite online fishing shop is.
Thanks!
Thanks for the good info!
That was quite a read, making lunch more enjoyable.
Being a little stubborn and bias to the smaller businesses I try to search out buying opportunities at shops with a storefront. Some manufacturers won’t sell to places without so their price protection policy stays intact.
The mentioned shops are absolutely great buying centers but don’t be too quick to surf the Web without searching the smaller markets. You might be pleasantly surprised. Even working directly with the manufacturer often yields fantastic results.
Just a thought.
Even at higher prices the local shop can deliver much more than a new bait or spool of line. And just how important is the 30 or 60 cents saved when you can speak directly to the person you are helping to feed.
I would rate Fish USA above Bass Pro/Cabelas by a mile. Bps/Cabelas has gotten too big and lost the customer service. If you place an order with them, a couple items comes from this location and a couple come from that location and other items come from another location. And then some doesn’t come at all because they are all the sudden out of stock. Johnny Morris is more concerned about building golf courses and digging holes to nowhere, two things that have nothing to do with the fishing industry. Be smart and don’t be “lured” in by the name. Go to Fish USA, I have had absolutely excellent service there or try another store.
Fishing Online in New Brighton PA. is hands down, by far the best place to buy gear to fit-out your fishing kayak! https://www.fishingonline.com