Pre-rig or Ride around first?

[RHuff]

Do you seasoned guys go to the lake prerigged or do you ride around and look at the lake and your electronics before deciding what to tie on?

 

I’m thinking riding, visualizing, and studying your electronics would “force” you into making educated guesses?

[Susky River Rat]

I leave on what I had from last trip and pound it till it doesn’t work 

[crypt]

always have something prerigged.......then will make adjustments as the day goes on..

[softwateronly]

17 minutes ago, Susky River Rat said:

I leave on what I had from last trip and pound it till it doesn’t work 

Or I change everything that doesn't catch on the second cast.

 

scott

[gim]

3 minutes ago, crypt said:

always have something prerigged.......then will make adjustments as the day goes on..

same

[MN Fisher]

^ X3

[RHuff]

I’m thinking my rigs of choice in the garage is not it more than it and I force the issue too much before adjusting..

[Jig Man]

I never go without having at least half a dozen setups rigged with baits.  I am going Wednesday and have two different sizes of jigs, a spinnerbait, two shaky, a top water, two Carolina rigs, and 3 swim baits.  One of them is bound to work.

[J Francho]

I only fish like 5 baits and they cover most bases. 

[gulfcaptain]

30 rods in the lockers, I'm sure there is something they will eat or have. They are always rigged and ready, although some get pulled out at times of the year when I know they aren't going to play. We all have our confidence baits. You should have those rigged, then adjust as needed. 

[Bird]

Always know the lake I'm fishing and pre-rig the evening before.

[RHuff]

11 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I only fish like 5 baits and they cover most bases. 

 

 Whatcha usually start with?

[FryDog62]

Part of the fun is prepping the night before. If it’s a new body of water to me, I always have my core of 3-4 pre-rigged rods that work everywhere, I probably rig another 2-3 with what I think will work the next day, and then the rest are versatile rod/reels I can tie as the day goes on with whatever else I need..

[J Francho]

@RHuff Depends on the lake, but typically Popmax .

[Scott F]

The only time I have baits pre-rigged is if I’m fishing and staying at the same place.  I don’t keep rigged up rods in the boat’s rod box as they get tangled up. I have a rod holder mounted to the inside roof of the cap on my truck but I don’t like lures hanging down where they might get snagged on other gear. I seldom if ever fish with more than 4 rods so it doesn’t take long to string them up and tie on baits.

[Junk Fisherman]

I'm always prerigged with confidence baits that match the species, body of water, season, and expected water conditions.  The bodies of water I fish don't have a major fluctuation with water clarity so I usually don't mess around with colors too much.  Locally, I only fish 4 bodies of water and I know them quite well.  

[GreenPig]

I go with 12 - 15 rods prerigged based on last week and last year.

[WRB]

I pre rig my finesse drop shot and Slip shot rigs. Tie a weedless wacky hook on another spinning combo when I get to the lake, no soft plastics yet. Tie on a jig no trailer yet. Tie on a Hyper Weld clip on my M/F casting rod.

When I launch check out the water clarity, temps and survey the marina area for bait and fish depths. Now I am ready to make up my mind where to start and what soft plastics and colors to try 1st. 
Now based on the input from the marina survey I run to a starting location, sometimes it’s the marina!

Don’t like to run around to determine what to use or where to start like to be ready to fish. Adjust as needed

Tom

[MN Fisher]

11 minutes ago, WRB said:

no soft plastics yet.

Yep - plastics don't go on until I'm ready to toss the lure in the water.

[gim]

13 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Yep - plastics don't go on until I'm ready to toss the lure in the water.

Why is that?
 

Obviously some plastics like are better right out of the sealed bag but what about plastic trailers on a jig or chatterbait? You don’t rig those ahead of time?

[MN Fisher]

5 minutes ago, gimruis said:

You don’t rig those ahead of time?

Nope - it's just a thing with me...also while I might tend towards a certain color before I launch, on-the-water conditions might change what color/style I'd use. So then I'd have to take the pre-rigged plastic off, put it back in it's proper bag, then dig out the one I'm actually going to use.

[A-Jay]

Ride around ?

I know where and what I'm fishing before I get there.

So Pre-rig with plan A, B C & D for me.

Some days I fish one rod  all day.

Other days I fish every rod all day..

Those are usually tougher days.

A-Jay

 

[MediumMouthBass]

I fish about 6 lakes/ponds and 1 river regularly.

I pre rig the rod and reels before the trip, but have different tackle trays filled with a few lures, bags of soft plastics, along with terminal tackle for each place.

 

I know them well, and what works.

 

Even if i brought 10 rods and 100 lures, ill often only use 2 rods and 4 baits at most.

And bass are eating for survival, even if there are better baits for that time of year im sure a bass will bite my confidence baits.

[Catt]

Cocked, Locked, & Ready to Rock!

[MIbassyaker]

Pre-rig.

Why?

-I'm a compulsive planner

-Small waters; I know ahead of time I will be fishing a narrow range of presentations

-limited time; I always want to maximize the amount of time my line is in the water

-I paddle a kayak; riding around is for motors or even pedal drives, neither of which I have.