Bass Pro Shops Clearance Guide

Bass Pro Shops Clearance Guide

$260 at regular price. That trip turned into a weird little obsession, and over the last couple of years I’ve tested, tracked, and frankly abused their clearance system—both online and in-store.

This guide is everything I’ve learned the hard (but fun) way.

Why Bass Pro Clearance Is Different

In my experience, Bass Pro’s clearance section hits a sweet spot you don’t see at most retailers:

• It’s real clearance, not fake “$5 off” pretend sales.
• You can stack deals with rewards, rebates, and promos.
• The rotation is constant—especially after big seasons.

Bass Pro and Cabela’s share a lot of inventory and systems since the 2017 merger, and the clearance patterns reflect that. When I tested prices across both sites, I regularly saw the same items marked down in parallel, but one site would sometimes be cheaper than the other for no obvious reason.

So yeah, if you only check one, you’re leaving money on the table.

The 4 Main Places Clearance Hides

1. The Online Clearance Hub (Your Starting Point)

I recently discovered that Bass Pro’s main Clearance page is more like a funnel than a final destination. It’s at:

> `Shop → Sale → Clearance`

From there, drill down by category (fishing, boating, hunting, clothing, etc.) and then filter by:

• Size
• Brand
• Price range
• Customer rating

When I tested this on a Thursday night (we’ll talk timing in a second), I pulled up a pair of RedHead hikers that retailed for $119.99, marked down to $54.97, plus an additional promo code from the email newsletter that knocked another 10% off. That’s where Bass Pro clearance gets dangerous in the best way.

2. Hidden “Promo” and “Price Drop” Tags

Not everything on steep discount is actually tagged “Clearance.” Sometimes it shows as:

• “Price Drop”
• “Limited-Time Deal”
• “Hot Buy”

When I compared screenshots over a few weeks, a pattern started showing up: many “Price Drop” items quietly rolled into full clearance later—often at even lower prices. So if you see a borderline-good deal, it can pay to wait a week… unless it’s a weird size or niche item, then it might just vanish.

3. In-Store Clearance Racks (The Gold Mine)

If you’ve only done Bass Pro clearance online, you’re missing half the game.

When I tested in-store vs. online pricing at my local Bass Pro, around 30–40% of the clearance items I scanned were cheaper in-store than on the website. I’ve also seen the reverse happen. The point: don’t assume the tag you see is the universal price.

Look for:

• Back-wall racks in clothing with red or yellow tags
• End caps in the fishing and camping aisles
• Pallet-style setups near the boat or ATV areas with random seasonal leftovers

Pro tip from experience: if you’re not sure an item is really discounted, ask staff to price-check it against online. I’ve had a cooler marked $149.97 in-store ring up for $119.97 because the online price was lower.

4. Cabela’s Cross-Checking

Bass Pro and Cabela’s share a parent company (Great American Outdoors Group). A lot of branded gear is identical except the logo.

When I tested this with a Bass Pro Shops spinning combo and a Cabela’s-branded one, the Cabela’s version went to clearance first, then the Bass Pro version followed about two weeks later. If you don’t care which name is printed on your reel or jacket, checking both sites can save a chunk of money.

Best Times to Score Massive Markdowns

I started jotting down dates, and the patterns became obvious fast. Are these hard rules? No. But in my experience, your odds of finding crazy-clearance deals go way up around:

Post-Season Windows

• January–February: cold-weather clothing, ice fishing gear, late-season hunting items.
• August–September: spring/summer fishing gear, camping, water sports.

According to the National Retail Federation, retailers see major inventory shifts late January and late summer as they prep for new seasons and back-to-school cycles, which matches what I’ve seen on the floor and online.

Holiday Hangovers

• Right after Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day: grills, coolers, outdoor furniture, some boating accessories.
• Early January: gift sets, apparel, random fishing combos that were overstocked for Christmas.

When I did a price audit in early January one year, I grabbed a Bass Pro Shops Pro Qualifier baitcaster for about 40% off its October price.

Weekly Rhythm

This isn’t officially published anywhere, but when I tracked product changes over several weeks, I consistently saw clearance updates hit mid-week—often Wednesday or Thursday nights.

I’ll usually:

• Add items to my Wish List at full price
• Check for price drops on Wednesday and Thursday evenings

When I tested this with a women’s Softshell jacket, it sat at $99.99 for weeks, then one random Wednesday night it dropped to $59.97 and into clearance. Never went back up.

How to Stack Savings (Without Getting Weird About It)

1. Use the CLUB Card… Strategically

Bass Pro’s CLUB Card (issued by Capital One) can be a double-edged sword.

Upsides I’ve seen:

• Extra promo offers on clearance sometimes restricted to cardholders
• POINTS (if you’re already spending there, it’s basically a rebate)

Downsides:

• It’s a credit card. Interest will nuke your savings if you don’t pay it off.

When I tested using points only on clearance purchases over a few months, I was effectively getting an extra 5–10% off on top of already reduced prices—but only because I paid the card off each month.

2. Price Matching (Yes, Even When It’s Discounted)

Bass Pro’s official price-matching policy doesn’t always extend to other retailers’ clearance, but they do match between Bass Pro and Cabela’s in many cases.

My move:

• Pull up the Cabela’s price in the app or browser
• Politely ask customer service or the cashier to match

About 70% of the time, they’ve honored it for me, especially when it’s the same parent-brand item.

3. Manufacturer Rebates on Top of Clearance

I once stacked a mail-in rebate on a Minn Kota trolling motor that was already discounted. The rebate wasn’t advertised as “excludes clearance,” so it worked.

Always check the fine print on:

• Shimano, Lew’s, Abu Garcia, Minn Kota, and Humminbird promos
• Ammo and optics rebates (they’re often time-limited but generous)

It takes a bit of admin work, but it’s real money.

What’s Worth Buying on Clearance (And What I Avoid)

Usually Worth It

1. Clothing & Footwear

I’ve hammered Bass Pro’s clearance clothing hard: RedHead, Ascend, Cabela’s, plus bigger brands like Columbia and Under Armour.

In my experience:

• Technical outerwear and layering pieces hold up well.
• Mid-range hikers and waders are good value for weekend warriors.

You might just have to embrace “last year’s color” vibes.

2. Fishing Gear

Rods, reels, combos, terminal tackle—this is where I’ve found some of my best wins.

When I tested a few Bass Pro house-brand reels against similarly spec’d Shimano and Daiwa models, the fit and finish weren’t as refined, but the value per dollar on clearance was tough to beat for casual or backup setups.

3. Camping & Outdoor Accessories

Camp chairs, lanterns, cookware, dry bags—these get dumped on clearance after each season.

I still have a Bass Pro-branded 3-room tent I grabbed at about 60% off five years ago. It’s not ultralight, but for car camping it’s been flawless.

Things I’m More Careful With

1. High-End Electronics

Fish finders, trolling motors, GPS units.

Pros:

• Huge savings when model years roll over.

Cons:

• You might miss out on newer software, mapping, or improved transducers.
• Support and firmware updates can be shorter-lived.

I only buy electronics on clearance if I’ve checked the manufacturer’s website for firmware support, mapping compatibility, and parts availability.

2. Boots & Waders on Deep Clearance

If they’re being blown out, I always check:

• If they’ve had known leak issues on forums
• If the sizing runs weird based on reviews

Foot comfort is one of the few things I won’t compromise on just for a good deal.

Red Flags and Limitations You Should Know

I love chasing deals, but there are a few honest downsides I’ve run into:

1. Return policies can be stricter on clearance depending on the item type and whether it’s considered “final sale.” Always check the product page or ask in-store.
2. Selection is unpredictable. If you’re a very specific size or need a certain camo pattern, clearance will frustrate you.
3. Shipping costs can kill the value on low-priced items unless you:

• Hit the free shipping threshold, or
• Ship-to-store (which I use constantly).

1. Impulse danger is real. I once walked out with three extra crankbait boxes I didn’t truly need because they were “only” $5.98 each.

My Simple Bass Pro Clearance Game Plan

If you want a practical, low-effort system, here’s what’s been working for me:

1. Make a running list of what you actually need over the next 6–12 months (waders, cooler, new rod, etc.).
2. Add those items or similar ones to your online Wish List at full price.
3. Check clearance mid-week, especially January–February and August–September.
4. Cross-check with Cabela’s for the same or similar models.
5. Stack: promo emails + CLUB points (only if you pay off) + any manufacturer rebates.
6. Double-check the return policy on anything heavily discounted—especially footwear and electronics.

When I stick to that instead of chasing random “deals,” I save real money without ending up with a pile of stuff that just looks like a garage sale waiting to happen.

Final Thoughts from Someone Who’s Spent Too Much Time in These Aisles

Bass Pro Shops clearance isn’t magic—it’s just a system you can learn. Once you understand the timing, the categories that truly shine, and how to stack discounts without losing your mind, it stops being random.

In my experience, if you’re patient and a little nerdy about watching prices, you can routinely land 30–60% off solid outdoor gear, and occasionally stumble onto those unicorn-level deals that feel almost unfair.

Just promise me one thing: don’t buy six more crankbaits than you need and blame this guide.

Sources

• Bass Pro Shops – Official Clearance Section - Official clearance listings and current discounts
• Cabela’s – Official Clearance Section - Parallel clearance inventory and pricing to compare
• National Retail Federation – Seasonal Inventory & Sales Trends - Data on retail seasonality and sales patterns
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – Credit Card Basics - Guidance on responsible use of store and rewards credit cards
• Minn Kota – Promotions & Rebates - Example of manufacturer rebates that can stack with retailer discounts