Bass Pro Shops needs no introduction as a national brand, but its presence in the FLX Finest awards speaks to something specific about the Finger Lakes outdoor culture: when locals need serious gear for serious pursuits, they still gravitate toward the big box with the taxidermy. The Auburn-area store earned Silver for Best Outdoors/Camping Store in 2024 and Silver for Best Sporting Good in 2022, competing directly against locally owned specialists — which says something about the breadth of inventory they maintain.

The appeal here is straightforward. Bass Pro stocks everything from fishing rods and tackle to camping tents, hunting gear, kayaks, and firearms under one roof. For a region where lake fishing, deer hunting, and backcountry camping are not hobbies but seasonal rituals, having a one-stop outfitter with deep inventory matters. The store also serves as a staging resource for visitors discovering the Finger Lakes outdoors for the first time — you can walk in knowing nothing about lake trout fishing and walk out with a complete setup and advice on where to launch.

It is not the intimate, curated experience you get at a local outfitter, and nobody pretends otherwise. But for sheer selection, competitive pricing, and the convenience of finding everything from waders to camp stoves in a single trip, Bass Pro has earned its spot in the Finger Lakes outdoor ecosystem.