Pre-rig or Ride around first?

[Zcoker]

I have everything setup with rod selection, reel, line, and lure, my confidence baits, the ones that always produce the bigger fish. Then comes the riding around, moving around, which I do a lot of. I really can’t say that I’m tying other baits on, other than changing out plastic worms if I’m throwing those in the daytime. Most of my fishing is done in the darkness, so having everything ready to go just makes sense because I want as little light as possible. Turning on the light to tie on a lure will skunk-out a large area that might’ve produced a giant. 

[DogBone_384]

I'll pre-rig if I'm going to one of my 'regular' ponds.  If I'm going to a new pond, or one I've only fished a couple times I'll wait until I get there and look around.

[Functional]

I pre rig. There is enough information on the internet to be somewhat prepared even if I've never been to the lake before. Also, at this point I have about 4 rods dedicated to confidence baits that are always rigged up. The only thing I'll change is color/pattern and maybe size/weight based on wind/clouds and expected water clarity. The rest of the rods get strung up with a little bit of everything...like A-jay I plan for if they are tight to shore, offshore but shallow and then "deep". Once I start hitting I may rig some other rods to favor those conditions/areas but its not super often that I need to. 

[gim]

9 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Ride around ?

 

We've all seen your videos cruising around in the Lund. 

9 hours ago, MIbassyaker said:

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

 

This part came to mind in my initial post too.  Not that I'm adversed to re-tying or re-rigging but the less amount of time I can do that, the more time I can fish.

 

You might say that a certain electronics technology has changed the way some anglers go about their fishing though.  Clearly some don't even make a cast until they spot fish on their graphs now.  Which, to me, is mind boggling.  Especially in a tournament.

[Tennessee Boy]

All of the above.  😆

[Texas Flood]

Pre-rig because its part of the fun in fishing for me.

[BrianMDTX]

No electronics so always pre-rigged lol. I can only bring five rigs. Normally 4 baitcasters and one spinning. The spinning is either a wacky rig or a jerkbait. The baitcasters are a topwater, a jig, a squarebill and a Texas rig. If no topwater bite, I’ll change that to a chatterbait or something else. I like to hit the water ready to go. 
 

Lately though, I’ve had a jig and that A-Jay Special rigged and ready to go. It’s starting to become a go-to every trip. It’s a jig, a swim jig and a Texas rig depending on how it’s fished. With that skirt and a Rage Craw it’s got serious action and it’s as snag-free can be. That is one great bait. 

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

 

We've all seen your videos cruising around in the Lund. 

While the clips may give the appearance that I'm riding around,

the reality is I always going someplace.

It's just that there is often a bit of a cruise involved.

But I am usually heading directly to trophy town.

I don't pass go and never collect $200,

A-Jay

 

[gim]

Just now, A-Jay said:

While the clips may give the appearance that I'm riding around,

the reality is I always going someplace.

It's just that there is often a bit of a cruise involved.

 

Honestly, part of the allure of owning a boat, at least for me, is throttling down and heading to the first spot out of the access with the wind in my face.

 

But ya, just cruising around isn't how I roll either.  Always heading somewhere with a purpose.

[MN Fisher]

4 minutes ago, gimruis said:

But ya, just cruising around isn't how I roll either.  Always heading somewhere with a purpose.

Why would you do it any other way?  Bass Trek may not be as fast as your rigs (25mph is the most I've been able to coax out of her), but I'm heading with purpose not 'cruising around'.

[gim]

23 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Why would you do it any other way?

 

Because the OP asked.  haha

[F14A-B]

14 hours ago, WRB said:

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

What’s a hyper weld clip?

[Mike L]

17 hours ago, crypt said:

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

Ditto

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[LrgmouthShad]

15 hours ago, J Francho said:

@RHuff Depends on the lake, but typically Popmax .

Tried those this year. Absolutely fantastic bait. It is very versatile

[Pat Brown]

I'm gonna say for me it depends but basically some times of year it's a 2-3 rod deal and sometimes I bring 8-9 rods and tie different things on all day - usually the toughest times.

 

A LOT of the time I carry one rod and fish one bait - primarily when I'm bank fishing.

[Catt]

@A-Jay Long ways to go & short time to get there!

 

Once my transom hits water I start the outboard & turn the console electronics on. They stay on until I pull up back up to the launch. 

[Functional]

2 hours ago, A-Jay said:

I don't pass go and never collect $200,

A-Jay

 

Fishing and especially owning a boat is nothing but driving on a bunch of toll roads...hand always has money out for something. 

[Rockhopper]

I am always pre-rigged with the following:

 

white spinnerbait

black/blue jig

3/0 weightless hook

 

I used to "pre-func" in college.  Is that still a thing?

[Spankey]

17 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

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.

I’ll be out at first light tomorrow. I have rods set up for drop shot, split shot, shakey head, T-rig and jig head. No soft plastics on them. I have a good idea what I want to throw but will let the morning tell me. 

23 minutes ago, Rockhopper said:

I am always pre-rigged with the following:

 

white spinnerbait

black/blue jig

3/0 weightless hook

 

I used to "pre-func" in college.  Is that still a thing?

I generally will always have a DT and a Shad Rap rigged up ready to throw in a gizzard Shad or herring pattern. But never soft plastics. 

[gim]

14 minutes ago, Spankey said:

I have rods set up for drop shot, split shot, shakey head, T-rig and jig head.

 

I think its safe to say that you and I would not fish very well together in a boat.  Nothing but soft plastic finesse setups?  Kill me

[MN Fisher]

12 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

I think its safe to say that you and I would not fish very well together in a boat.  Nothing but soft plastic finesse setups?  Kill me

I went shore fishing today - one rig was jig and bobber for panfish, other three rigs were Shakey, Ned and Drop-Shot.

[Spankey]

On 10/22/2024 at 11:34 AM, gimruis said:

 

I think its safe to say that you and I would not fish very well together in a boat.  Nothing but soft plastic finesse setups?  Kill me

That’s not all I throw. I’m a crankbait guy at heart and throw a few jig types but soft plastics are my bites as of lately. I can’t crank 20-25 feet of water. Not setup for that and I wouldn’t know how. 

 

[Spankey]

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

 

I think it’s safe to say that you and I would not fish very well together in a boat.  Nothing but soft plastic finesse setups?  Kill me

 I think we could fish well together. I’m pretty likable and easy going. But I am pretty serious about getting bass when I’m out there. 

[RHuff]

Right now my 5 are 

Wacky/Neko

Dropshot

Jig/Minnow

Ned Rig

Finesse Crankbait 

[Bankbeater]

I'm rigged up whether I know the lake or not.