All of my fly rods seem to have one bad characteristic that I have not been able to eliminate. The line always hits the rod between the top and the first guide. I have pretty much been able to eliminate line to rod contact up until the last guide from the top, but when the line bends through the top it hits the blank. I know this is not a huge problem, but still have to ask: is this just a flyrod characteristic or does someone have a way to reduce this effect. I do have a tendency to put my first guide back a little farther from the tip than reccomended. Is that the problem? I have tried moving the up pretty close (4" ) from the tip and it still seemed to happen. I am using SIC single foots mostly with wire single foots on some rods.

The problem is with the standard fly rod tops either ceramic or pear. The opening sits far too low.

On saltwater fly rods we rectify this by using a casting or spinning style top ring that sits higher off the blank. PST tops are good ones.

I agree with Mr. Bullard above. I am sure that the problem lies with the tip. Using a style of tip that holds the flyline away from the blank should solve this. If I am using SIC single foot guides on a flyrod I always use a raised type tip and have never had the problem that you do. A tiptop to match your guides should be readily available. Eliminating "line slap" is one of the primary reasons for using single foot SIC's on a flyrod.

If you are using a wire pear top you might bend the loop closer to 90 degress to the tube. Some are laid out sort of flat and will pinch the line between top and bottom of the ring. They also bring the line down close to the blank.

Fly lines, even the more supple ones, are much stiffer than mono. Thus, when the line is extended past the tip and allowed to drop down past the tip, the part just behind the tip is "bent" upwards and usually contacts the blank between the tip and first guide. During casting, this does not take place. Nor is it a problem when you are stripping with a low rod tip (usually the best way).

Higher framed tops may help, but much of what you are seeing is not really the problem you might imagine it to be.

............................