Pre-rig or Ride around first?

[JCfishing]

I do as much research as possible ahead of time when I'm going to a new lake, then when I get there I check the local weather and water clarity and I tend to have a mix of lures in my arsenal to cover all three layers of the water column ( top, middle and bottom ) and that usually works decent for me.

[JHoss]

Pre-rig for me. I fish the same 8-10 smaller lakes and rivers most of the time, so I know what to expect. Some rods never get changed, but I'll check knots and line the night before. Others I'll tweak colors or baits based on what I expect. Prep is half the fun for me.

 

I recently incorporated a "Day Box" of hard baits and terminal equipment and a "Day Bag" of soft plastics that I expect to use or think I may want to switch to during the day, which really helped make me more efficient on the water despite already having a pretty well organized boat. 

[papajoe222]

I always have a few rods pre-rigged and set up others as conditions warrant. 
If it’s a lake I frequent, I’ll scope to find out the depth of fish activity and base my other choices on my findings.  If it’s a new lake, or one I may not have fished in a while, I’ll cruise around looking for both a starting depth and potential spots to fish. After entering those waypoints, I’ll return to them with my rods rigged accordingly. .

[Motoboss]

I have three pre-rigged at go time;

a top water (ChopO/buzz/popper), a mid water column bait (spinner/chatter/swim) and a bottom dragger (usually a worm/jig) depending on where I’m fishing determines which specific bait to start with.

 

Two other rods in the boat waiting their turn to get rigged for a more narrow focus and always one drop shot spinner rod set up.

 

I like to have follow up baits ready to throw when I miss one, another reason for my “water column “ strategy. Lake depth, clarity and cover usually determines which are my starters, all season dependent. 

[Dan N]

I’ve never fished anywhere the Ned rig hasn’t worked. I know it’s not the favorite for many, but I will always have it ready. I’d prefer other methods, but dang, it always works. For me anyway.