Check out whether you have a tailing loop or a crossing loop in your normal cast.
Both will crash into the rod if the cast is perfectly vertical. Tilt the rod to the side to avoid the crash.
Try my tip in the forum " Learning Experience... Casting Tip. It will help most eliminate the tailing loop or the swaying loop.
Last edited by hairwing; 06-30-2010 at 06:48 PM.
Reason: sp
"As far down the river as he could see, the trout were rising, making circles on the surface of the water, as though it were starting to rain."- E.H., The Big Two Hearted River