I tie them on at ice out.... fortunately,  last winter was mild and I didn't even have to do it then

I've got this unique problem, I'm retired so I seldom schedule fish trips!

 

I'm subject to bail at anytime so my equipment stays chocked, locked, & ready to rock. 

Edited August 6, 20205 yr by Catt
Operator Error

 

My wife & I are rigged-up and ready to roll at all times.

We both keep our lures in Velcro lure wrappers, even trebled plugs (not a problem).

Before an outing, I just fetch my logbook, install the Lowrance and load the cargo. 

 

On the water, I’m 'forever' running my fingers along the line to detect any nicks or frays.

As a result, retying takes place mostly on the water.  

 

Roger

Usually when I get to the spot you m fishing. I’ll have a top water bait tied on already. Then adjust from there.

Rigged & ready

 

I have to agree with @ScottF. I don't want a tangled mess in my rod box. I have a couple of rods that stay rigged up with soft plastics. Anything else get tied on when I get on the water. There have been too many times when I thought I would be fishing certain lures or a certain way only to find out the conditions were not what I expected and had to change.

Braid rigs the night before. Mono/copoly/fluoro right before I leave.

So, there are a lot of differing opinions as to when anglers tie on rigs. But, if you do so 3-4 days in advance of a trip, do you think that has any affect on knot strength? Discounting any damage, of course. Just the length of time. 

3 minutes ago, BrianMDTX said:

So, there are a lot of differing opinions as to when anglers tie on rigs. But, if you do so 3-4 days in advance of a trip, do you think that has any affect on knot strength? Discounting any damage, of course. Just the length of time. 

I don't think there is

9 hours ago, BrianMDTX said:

So, there are a lot of differing opinions as to when anglers tie on rigs. But, if you do so 3-4 days in advance of a trip, do you think that has any affect on knot strength? Discounting any damage, of course. Just the length of time. 

Nope.

I tie on rigs to all the setups I am going to use on an outing the night before I intend to fish them. I want to waste no time tying stuff on when I hit the water.

 

Knot strength degrading over time is something to be considered. I know a friend of mine in Florida fished for months with the same palomar knot I tied for him when I was down there last year.

In my case I’m going Sunday am. A couple of things will be tied on prior for Topwater, they are on now actually. A lite t-rig for worm is rigged and ready to go now. Conditions and feelings at the time will dictate others. 

Doesn't matter when you retie, as long as you do.

11 hours ago, BrianMDTX said:

So, there are a lot of differing opinions as to when anglers tie on rigs. But, if you do so 3-4 days in advance of a trip, do you think that has any affect on knot strength? Discounting any damage, of course. Just the length of time. 

I sometimes do it a couple days in advance when I have the time to and have not found an issue.  I think the conditions that the line is stored in may play a bigger role in strength weakening and deterioration.  Leaving rods and reels in the hot sun or outside exposed to the elements presents a greater risk than re-tying it a few days in advance when stored properly.

I try to retie the night before, but I learned the hard way it’s not a good idea to start tying late night when tired. Now if I have something going on the night before a trip I retie earlier in the week. 

I retie everything the day after fishing, change some baits, clean the Potomac gunk out of the line guides, hose down the spools with KVD and everything sits until I get back out, be it a week, or a month, then it is pack up and go.  

Check line for nicks and abrasion and retie as needed