How important is it that the jig head and artificial bait hang horizontal?

[NIMROD]

I use clinch type knot so it will hang horizontail.

[RMGeorge]

I use clinch type knot so it will hang horizontail.

What he said.

[skeetbum]

I appease my OCD and pull the knot toward the hook point, one less excuse I have.

[Mean Green 2]

I use a loop knot so my jig rides level. I look at it this way, have you ever seen a minnow/shad swim up and down?

[Cane Pole]

How come I catch fish if it so important? I do purty good justa hangin'.

[CrappiePappy]

I use a loop knot so my jig rides level. I look at it this way, have you ever seen a minnow/shad swim up and down?

Actually, yes ... I have.

Dying shad, surfacing shad from a school just below the surface, minnows in brush, shad around algae coated concrete structures, all do a "up/down" swimming movement at times. Fleeing shad or minnows don't always swim in a straight, horizontal line through the water, either. They will dart & dive and swerve to avoid whatever is chasing them. I even mention some of this behavior in my article on Vertical Casting ( Crappie Pappy Article ) ... after having used XT line for some time, and noticing that the coils in the stiffer line would make the jig circle somewhat as it rose up through the water column. And at times the jig would get hit as it was falling or rising (head first) faster than my normal retrieve speed, which was meant to keep the jig more or less "level" on the rise.

... cp

[Crestliner08]

I believe it is very important to have the jig free to move with the currents and motion of the rod. I do not however, use or advocate the use of a loop knot to achieve that. Reason being is friction. With a steel eye free to rub on any size line you choose, is bound to cause a wear point. So, I take no chances and use a "snap hook". These are a very light wire snap that fly fishermen use. I get mine from Netcraft; size #2 seems to be just about perfect for handling 1/32 - 1/18 oz. jig heads. I tie direct to the hook which secures the line and the hook allows free movement of the jig.

Here's a link to what I am talking about: Mustad Snap Hooks. Easily change flies without tying

[Slabs4Dinner]

I appease my OCD and pull the knot toward the hook point, one less excuse I have.

^
the longer I fish the more I feel these fine details appeal more to the fisherman than the fish.
of course there are those rare times when angler A is doing something slightly different than angler B while shoulder to shoulder and it does makes a difference. but imo putting a lure in front of a fishes face is most important the majority of the time and everything is to please obsessive compulsive disorder

[philmacMS]

Learn how to tie a loop knot. Tie on a 1/32 jig head. Add a finesse type jig tail such as a Bobby garland baby shad could be another brand I'm not pushing any brand. I don't have time or money to tournament fish and I sure don't have a sponsor. Find someone with an aquarium or buy some minnows and put in a clear container. put the jig in and see how it sits in the water compared to a real fish when tied with a loop knot then a traditional knot hanging vertical. You can argue this point till your blue in the face but it makes a difference.

[arkansasbowhunter]

I use whatever I feel like tying at the time lol. Usually a uni knot or loop knot