Lucky duck,what both proceeding post is correct but can add that the rods are easier to read in horizontal position.The rod tips don't bounce as much and if got more than one rod out on that side can see the difference between the rod tips better also.If the dipsey mechanism releases and you don't see that rod tip move,the line on that rod will be angled back more and is easier to see on horizontal rod.With that being said we have fish on all the time that we didn't know were there.So if a rod is doing nothing for like 10min I will check it.I can pop dipsey bring up and down again in less than a minute.