Five adjustments carry the cast from near vertical — almost 12 o’clock — down to horizontal:

1. Keep the 180-degree principle in the new plane. Back cast and forward cast must still be directly opposed, laterally and vertically, or the loop goes out of plane. Keeping the reel in one plane, pointing at the target, is a useful check.
2. Move the rod flat. A down-and-up tip path at horizontal gives scooped, underslung loops; tracking errors show up here first.
3. Change planes deliberately. Work through at least three rod planes, with at least two false casts at each, so the change in plane is visible.
4. Mind the ground. Keep the rod plane quite high above the ground as it approaches horizontal — one of the guide’s two ways to avoid ticking.
5. Match arc to bend. The task no longer requires more line speed, but you may speed up to avoid ticking. If you do, rod bend increases, so widen the casting arc — best done with a longer stroke.

Source

From the CI Study Guide (2025) (PDF), Task 7 (rod planes) and the Five Essentials; terms from the FFI Fly Casting Definitions (Casting Arc, Rod Plane).