What make of fly rod should I purchase?????

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  I read over all the older posts on the site about fly rods one should purchase.
While guns are my main dish, I like fly fishing. We just spent three weeks in Northern Wy. and Southern Mt. fly fishing. My problem is I only have older Fenglass fly rods in mostly 6 wt. That is the wt.  I will purchase. Over the years, I have had Powell, Fenwick, Loomis, Cabela's and some other fly rods made from newer materials. All of these have been handed down to kids around town who wanted to fish more than I did. Mostly I am content with my fly rods, but fishing the Madison, my pal said it would be much easier with a newer rod? He likes Sage and Winston. I looked up most of the rod makers, whooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Talk about confusion I was about to say heck with it, but decided to give this a try. From what I saw the Temple Fork rods seemed nice, Cortland produced a 9 foot 6 wt. glass that really caught my eye. I want a 9 foot 6 wt. rod, but can't see paying $500 for a rod if I can get good quality from one for $150. What gives. I guess I would want the model 700 of the fly fishing world. Who makes it in your opinion???

[ratgunner]

Best if you can go to a flyshop and test cast a few rods before buying one.

[Doug B.]

Take a REAL serious look at St. Croix's. A lot of rod for a LOT less $$$.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

 :DThanks Doug, Just this morning I walked down to the local fly shop, a small one, and they had the St. Croix's. I made a deal to try one behind the shop next week. They had several 9 foot 6 wt.s 

[Ahab]

It would seem a 8' 4 weight would suit you better. You do a lot of Alaska salmon fishing?

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

 ;)Ahab, The 9 foot 6 wt. seems to be recommened due to wind, distance, types of flies used in the country around here and southern Mt.

[weinperl]

you can't beat a sage, i own 5  i have a sage 2pc 6wt rpl in execelent cond i'll let go for $250    new there 4 to 5 hundred.

[torpedoman]

I got lucky found a fishing pole at a junk shop for 3.50 ti is a 9 foot fenwick

[pab1]

Temple Fork Outfitters (TFO) makes great, affordable rods. 

[rockymtn eagle]

My first fly rod was a prepackaged Cortland kit for $150. It was a nice set up that got me started. Most beginners start with an all around 2 pc, 8 foot, 5 wt rod. I've upgraded to Temple Fork Outfitters rod which has served me well.

[Arier Blut]

Take a REAL serious look at St. Croix's. A lot of rod for a LOT less $$$.

I second that, can't beat them for the price. I like Scott as well another that has good rods at reasonable prices for their low and medium lines. Personally I can't see the benefit over the old glass to much. My new rods will cast a hair farther. But the old rods are more fun because they bend more under a fish. It saps the big ones out quicker than my graphite rods. I've been running bamboo for a few years and it saps the fish even better than a glass rod.