Pre-Rigging

[DSTN]

I prep my gear the night before an outing or right before I leave if it's impromptu. I always tie on lures before I leave though so whatever rod I grab is ready to cast. Lures I tie on are a hybrid of what I think will work that day and what I want to work. I don't preassemble things beyond that though. I change my mind too much on the water so I would probably not even end up using what I had assembled.

[Fishes in trees]

Like jbsoonerfan, I also carry a number of rigs, ready to go when I leave the dock.  To say that my boat looks like a Bass Pro tackle aisle would be incorrect.  Most of the tackle aisles in BPS that I've been in have been more or less organized.  In my situation,  the level of organization is extremely variable.  Many of the handles of my rods are wrapped with different colors of different brands of rod wraps, to make it a little easier when I'm looking down to guess which rig I need to grab next.

 

Also the BPS tackle aisle is full of new stuff - again not the case in my boat.  Very occasionally a new rod will make the starting team, but the vast majority of rods are 3 to 20 years old.  Same with the reels.   Not a fan of snaps or swivels, I have some and will use them if they are absolutely necessary, never found snaps to be necessary.  (With my stubby arthritic fingers, it is easier to tie a knot than it is to try to open & close that tiny little snap). Swivels sometimes help on rigs that tend to spin.  My opinion on swivels is that if you're going to use swivels, get good ball bearing ones and leave the cheaper barrels swivels on the shelf for other guys to buy.

*** Exception to the rule***   I have a couple of boxes on in-line spinners, lighter ones for times when I run into schooling white bass and a larger set of knock off Panther Martins 3/8 oz ( the ones where the blade isn't mounted on a clevis, instead its design lets is spin on the shaft) and some heavier Mepps.   I put an appropriate size ball bearing swivel on each one of these baits, a good split ring tool helps here, and I just tie to the split ring on the other end.

Tackle companies haven heard my earnest plea to include a ball bearing swivel in the in-line spinner packaging.

[Teal]

Yes, my rods, reels and line are done either the night before or right before I pull out.   But I do have several jigs, swim jigs, arigs, and things like that that I will put the trailers on ahead of time or the night before.  Alot comes when I'm in my shop making jigs, or just taking old trash skirts off of good heads and on-hand tying them.  I'll also pre rig double fluke RIGS and Carolina rigs so all i have to do is tie on the leader to a swivel.  

 

Not big into snaps or swivels at all other than swivel on those two

[gim]

3 hours ago, Dens228 said:

I use snaps for cranks and jerkbaits, everything else is direct tied.  

I think a snap at the nose of a jerk bait might alter its neutral buoyancy.

 

3 hours ago, garroyo130 said:

As far as pre-rigging trailers/soft plastics, I avoid it. All it takes is one bad experience with Zman elaztech

I don’t pre rig plastics or leave them on after use either. They tend to last longer when they’re placed back in the original bag anyways (or discarded if no good anymore).

[Dens228]

59 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I think a snap at the nose of a jerk bait might alter its neutral buoyancy.

 

I don’t pre rig plastics or leave them on after use either. They tend to last longer when they’re placed back in the original bag anyways (or discarded if no good anymore).

It hasn't for me.  I use tiny crankbait snaps. 

[Catt]

Palomar or loop knot ?

 

No swivel unless it's a Carolina Rig!

 

 

[Spankey]

I don’t pre-rig all my rods. My early morning options, or something I’m sure to be throwing I’ll have tied on. Beats messing around in the dark with them. I don’t hook plastics or have jigs on until I’m ready to throw them. I generally will have an XD, a trap or a DT of some type tied on to start out with. 

[Deephaven]

I change rods, not lures.  Everything is pre-rigged.  Doesn't mean that I won't change colors or re-tie once I am out.  

[jbsoonerfan]

11 hours ago, Luke Barnes said:

Your boat deck must look like an aisle of Bass Pro!! 

Not really, I keep most of them in the rod locker. I am OCD and if I have more than 5 out at a time I will have a breakdown. LOL

[Bluebasser86]

Prerigging a night or two before a trip is part of the excitement in going!

[Luke Barnes]

13 hours ago, jbsoonerfan said:

Not really, I keep most of them in the rod locker. I am OCD and if I have more than 5 out at a time I will have a breakdown. LOL

That would be nice! I have a small jon boat so if I brought all mine they would take up so much space! But I'm still working on getting it water ready. Until then I over burden myself bank fishing and carrying sometimes 6 combos!

[NorthernBasser]

On 1/17/2021 at 11:47 PM, Bluebasser86 said:

Prerigging a night or two before a trip is part of the excitement in going!

It really is. I love sitting in the boat the night before and getting everything rigged up.