Ranking of major fishing gear suppliers in Southern Ontario

[MuskieBait]

I'm not a member of LeBaron (their membership is pretty ridiculous if you are just an occasional shopper and if you do not purchase big ticket items from them). The price IS lower on a good number of items at LeB's, whether it is regular price or sale price. It is what it is.

You mentioned that you don't always find what you need from them. I do find that not all their stores will stock the same items even if it is listed on their online catalog. It's best to call the store ahead and check before visiting the store. Like I said, a lot of their on sale items can sell out quickly (because the price is very good sometimes)...so you have to act quick. Otherwise, I find that they usually have lures and terminal tackle well stocked...and the rod and reel selection is also maintained at a very good level.

I'm a member of BassPro and the prices is a bit higher there. Maybe that's why they can always maintain to keep their items well stocked (stocking fee, inventory cost...that's part of the mark up).

I only find an issue with BassPro at the end of the season when they are preparing for the next fishing season (ie, icefishing gear out of stock by March). I still have issue with their pricing since our dollar is at par with the US dollar. At one point, the briefly match the Canadian and US prices...but reverted quickly back to Canadian pricing. I have beef with that. The store in Vaughn is really just a 3 hours away from the store in Detroit...not that much difference and we should not see a 15-20% mark up on items sold in the Vaughn store. It's ridiculous. Even so, they do have more items that I need...things like 6oz bank and pyramid sinkers, 40lb Big Game mono, 65lb Sufix braid, Gamakatsu circle hooks of various sizes, their BassPro brand VMC baitholder hooks (possibly my favourite hooks to use)...it's worth paying a little more to get what I need. I'm very particular with my gear choice and there is often very little alternative or substitute I'll accept.

Just don't do online order for fishing rods from BassPro. I find their packing method for rods is asinine. I've received damaged rods twice from BassPro online order and refuse to buy rods online from them anymore. Luckily, their customer service is superb and both times I got a refund and got to keep the damaged rod without shipping it back in one case (the shipping cost would be more expensive than my refund...)

I just tell it like it is. I swear no allegiance to any store. There is no bias at all.