Thinking the rodtip is at water level before lifting, but it's 5 feet above.
Yeah its a really weird one. With a single hand rod its not too bad - "there's your fishing position so that's where you start the cast from". But I had a student a few years ago who started with his rod tip exactly like you said, every time. I explained and demonstrated in as many ways as I could, but it just wouldn't get through. His wife had bought him two 1 hour lessons and on the second lesson I waited to see what he'd do and yep, straight away 5 feet up with the rod tip. So I said "Every time I have to tell you to start with the rod tip touching the water its going to cost you $2......" At the end of the hour I took $30 off him, but he stopped. Learning is sometimes connected directly to your wallet.