Is there any particular advantage or reason to having the tail siwash pointing down or up? Are there particular lures you would point it in a specific direction?

I was thinking that for a surface lure you would always want it down. But for something you might bounce off the bottom like a sinking needle you would want it pointing up to reduce the chance of snagging.

For a middle water column swimmer would it matter?

Is there a better hookup percentage with it down verses up?

Personal preference. I do not think it matters myself.....the fish is going to take the head of the plug most times and get the forward treble......I would guess 95% of the time. At least by what I have seen!:kewl:

Like Larry said, they're usually going to hit the front treble. But, if you're afraid you might catch a fish with poor vision that misses the front hook, you probably want to have the siwash point facing towards the body of the plug (down). My reasoning is that fish usually hit from below the plug and heading towards it.

If you're bouncing a plug on or close to the bottom, wouldn't the belly treble have more of a chance to snag than the tail siwash?

I always have them pointing down, but I guess its really just personal preference. I would assume always having it down would generally have a better chance of hooking the fish through the bottom lip instead of through the top.

i put'em down on the pencils and up on the tins

my .02, with all the current, bouncin', banging and the like, i think you'll get'em if you are meant to either way your hook is, up or down. (BTW mine go either way, some up, some down)

most fish will hit from below with the hook up it wont catch the courners of the mouth.... the shaft will.... point down its the point that will hit