Vertical vs. Horizontal Presentation

[papajoe222]

I'm curious as to when you use one rather than the other.  What I've found is that during tough conditions, When fish are in a neutral or negative mood, a vertical presentation produces more bites, While it (vertical presentation) may very well produce when fish are active, a horizontal presentation produces more bites.

The only horizontal presentation I've found that works under tough conditions is dragging a jig, tube, or worm along the bottom and this includes a C-rig, but is that a horizontal presentation?

 

 

[a1712]

I classify methods as moving or static. A topwater, jig, worm, Jerkbait(to an extent), can be fished moving or static depending on the fishes mood. Brian. 

[Reel]

There are exceptions.  A spybait is an horizontal presentation that works under tough conditions.  I also consider a weightless senko an horizontal presentation.

[WRB]

Vertical indicates a lure falling down through the water ROF. 
Out side of floating lures nearly every bass lures can sink vertically.

I like to think of horizontal as lures cast a distance away from you and vertical lures dropped straight down.

Drop shot and structure spoons are vertical presented lures. Lures cast a short distance like jigs or punch rigs also fall vertically.

Most bass lures fit into horizontal cast and sink or dive vertically before retrieving horizontally.

Tom

[Mike L]

@papajoe222 I see your point and understand what you’re asking.
To me if you want to get technical about it, almost every type of presentation has a horizontal aspect to it. 
At some point regardless of what you’re using you’re retrieving horizontally back to you. 
 

Flippin, punching and drop shotin can be the exceptions. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

[gim]

11 hours ago, papajoe222 said:

What I've found is that during tough conditions, When fish are in a neutral or negative mood, a vertical presentation produces more bites, While it (vertical presentation) may very well produce when fish are active, a horizontal presentation produces more bites.

Exactly what I've found too.  I generally try to go when I believe the fish will be in a more aggressive mood, so I can utilize a faster, horizontal presentation.  Unfortunately it doesn't always work out like that so the vertical, slower strategy has to come forth for neutral fish under tougher conditions.

[Columbia Craw]

I watched a documentary on Tom Brady and the concept of situational football.  I think the concept rolls over to situational fishing. Each situation should dictate the lure and how it is presented. The factors that establish the situation can be, depth, water color, weather pattern, type of cover or the absence of cover, structure, water temp, bait/forage, and the strike radius or fish activity level.  The fish can be really active but the cover may require a vertical presentation. On the other end, the fish can be inactive but a horizontal presentation is required to solicit a strike although painfully slow.  

[WRB]

My Horizontal Jigging In-Fisherman article I define the difference between horizontal and vertical casting jig fishing with a illustration. From the water surface down 45 degrees is the horizontal zone. 45 degrees down to 90 degrees (straight down) is the vertical zone.

This is my interpretation.

Tom

[papajoe222]

Valid points by all.  
My OP was a generality and I was inquiring as to whether it was what others experience.  Although a jig, drop shot and other presentations are brought back horizontally, they are chosen as a vertical presentation. Where as a spinnerbait, lipless crank, swimbaits, etc.,although they do initially fall vertically, are examples of horizontal presentations. 

[Jig Man]

17 hours ago, papajoe222 said:

I'm curious as to when you use one rather than the other.  What I've found is that during tough conditions, When fish are in a neutral or negative mood, a vertical presentation produces more bites, While it (vertical presentation) may very well produce when fish are active, a horizontal presentation produces more bites.

The only horizontal presentation I've found that works under tough conditions is dragging a jig, tube, or worm along the bottom and this includes a C-rig, but is that a horizontal presentation?

 

 

Not in my book.  Vertical is right over the side of the boat or close to it.  I do it a lot especially in the summer and winter months.  Anything else is a facet of horizontal.

[Captain Phil]

17 hours ago, WRB said:

Vertical indicates a lure falling down through the water ROF. 
Out side of floating lures nearly every bass lures can sink vertically.

I like to think of horizontal as lures cast a distance away from you and vertical lures dropped straight down.

Drop shot and structure spoons are vertical presented lures. Lures cast a short distance like jigs or punch rigs also fall vertically.

 

Yes. ^^^

 

If you cast and retrieve it, it's horizontal.  If you drop it, it's vertical.  When flipping and pitching, it's the drop that triggers the strike.

[Ktho]

53 minutes ago, Jig Man said:

Not in my book.  Vertical is right over the side of the boat or close to it.  I do it a lot especially in the summer and winter months.  Anything else is a facet of horizontal.

 

We read from the same book.

[KP Duty]

I  think inactive bass just don't want to chase anything and aren't searching.  A jig/worm dropped in front of them?  Sold!  A slider worm slowly drifting by?  Don't mind if I do!

[WRB]

2 hours ago, Jig Man said:

Not in my book.  Vertical is right over the side of the boat or close to it.  I do it a lot especially in the summer and winter months.  Anything else is a facet of horizontal.

Define close to the boat; 5’, 10’, 20, ?

Tom

[JediAmoeba]

I consider tightlining a vertical presentation and it surely isn't directly over the side of the boat...