I am going to map out my lake and learn to be a better offshore fisherman.  AS far as fishing ledges and humps with a t-rig/jig is it preferable to fish the structure from shallow to deep, deep to shallow, or  across the incline?

I prefer to fish uphill  

I prefer to cast into the shallow and come across the ledge into deeper water. I think the bass are looking for prey to come from this direction and ambush them from deeper water. However, I have caught them from both directions

It is easier to keep your bait in contact with the bottom fishing deep to shallow.

I perfer to fish from deep to shallow, Like jivey said it is easier to keep your bait in contact with the bottom this way. Everything I have always read tells me to fish this way and for me it has proven productive. another thing to try is throwing a deep crank and let it bounce off the ledge, this will help you out alot if you have a hard bottom but if it is a grass bottom it will just give you a headache LOL

-Nitroman

If you are in 25' of water and casting to 8' of water by the time your lure is less than half way back to the boat your lure is no longer in contact with the bottom. If I'm in 8'of water and casting towards 25' of water my lure is in constant contact with the bottom all the way up the hill back to the boat.

My lure is in the strike zone longer thus it is more productive  

Good topic, I have always worked across, thinking it would stay in the strike zone longer.

Do what Catt says.

Also, don't forget your crankbaits.

A deep diver can get strikes when fishing deep ledges, drop-offs and humps.

The secret is to keep the bait either bouncing on the bottom or in the strike zone for a long as possible.

What pound flouro line test will you be using? This will make a difference in getting the baits to the target and keeping them in the strike zone.

Be sure to look for those drop-offs and ledges on your map. They are easy to find.  

I fish diagonally, in smaller depth increments until I find a depth pattern - if one exists.  Wind, weeds, and shape of the structure determine uphill or down.  Then I fish parallel.  If I fish from shore where there is access to deeper water, I choose areas where I can fish diagonally or parallel.  Wading might be required.

It really depends on the type of lure you are using and the position the bass in related to the structure. If the bass are in deep water and moving up to feed, then up hill is usually better, ie; during spring or pre spawn.

It is very difficult to work jigs uphill on rocky, snagging type structure, so slightly up hill or parallel is a good alternate method with jigs.

Spoons are worked verticle. Swimbaits are usually best worked up hill or accross the structure. Cranks work best down hill or parallel.

The bottom line is try the method you are most confident with first, then change directions to determine what the bass prefer at that time.

WRB

It really depends on the type of lure you are using and the position the bass in related to the structure.

That's it right there. Why limit yourself?