If the knot is to the front of the eye, once the jig "planes out" on the retrieve, it will be swimming in a tail downward position. If vertical jigging, which I haven't really messed with yet, but I need to, you certainly need to adjust the knot so the jig is level in the water. This is one advantage to the loop knot, you don't have to adjust the knot. So even if a bluegill nips the lure when direct tied, and causes the knot to slide to the front, the rest of the retrieve it will not be level in the water