[born2hunt]

My advice is to go with a 5 weight with a fairly soft action. I do not recommend buying a cheap rod as there is world of difference in the performance of a cheap Wal-Mart rod and a good Sage, or G Loomis, or Winston, or St. Croix etc. On the other hand, one doesn't have to buy a top-of-the-line rod in order to get good performance either. I suggest you buy an entry-level rod from a major manufacturer, like those I've mentioned. That will set you back about $200. As has already been mentioned, spend your money on the rod and not on the reel. A fly reel for most freshwater fishing is nothing more than a device for holding line. I also highly recommend you get some instruction from someone who really knows what he/she is doing. Fly casting isn't complicated or difficult, but unless you know and practice the basic casting techniques, you will be continuously frustrated. Good luck, it's a wonderful sport.