Do you guys fish worms, lizards, etc. mainly with your rod tip up or down or both?  I've always fished with mine up but have started having a problem setting the hook this way.  If a bass hits it while I'm pulling the worm off the bottom and I am at the top of my pull I have no way of jerking up any farther to set the hook, or If I do it will be to late.  I normally wait until the second hit or after the first hit when he starts running with it.  I was thinking though that if I fished with my rod tip down I could set the hook easier and on the first hit but wasn't sure if it would still give a good lure presentation.

Depends on the type of structure I'm fishing:

Scattered grass, brush, etc: Rod tip 10:00-12:00. If a fish hits at the top of the lift I reel down to about 9:00(Pointed at the fish) and set the hook. I always feel for the fish after I return my rod to the 10:00 position and then start another lift.

Verticle in the grass: Just drop the rod and reel a couple of times and hit the fish without reeling all the slack. Since I'm fishing braid and have very little line out to begin with I don't worry about line strech.

Carolina Rig: Usually out in the more open areas. I will drag the rod to the side at different angles. Rod position will vary from 9:00-12:00 on a horizontal plane, or possibly a 45* angle depending on the bottom structure. I generally will take up enough slack to get the rod pointed in the direction of the fish, then set the hook with a sweeping motion(Not necessaryly the point the lure entered the water), due to the fact the fish will pick up the lure and move either right or left(Or toward you if fishing a drop).

The purpose of the rod movement is to move the lure. It will be hard to do that if you are fishing the rod down. I will never, ever use the reel to move a plastic. It leaves me no room for error.

I never wait on the second tap.  He either ate it or not. To many times it is the fish exhaling the lure. JMO.

Welcome to the forum.

I think Fishfordollars about covered it...

I think Fishfordollars about covered it...

Yes he did.