I have a 5wt Reddington Classic Trout, 4 piece 8'6" with 5wf line. Think I said that somewhere above. Its not top of the line, but its not a bottom dweller either. I have been told it casts very good for a $150 rod by the guys at my LFS. It's what I can afford, and I like it.
Somewhere around 25' and the rod starts loading pretty good, when I make a decent cast, and continues to feel good out to 35 or so feet, about my current limit. Fishing where I do, mostly freestone streams and rivers, 30' is a long cast and it is more like 15 - 20', ala Oldfrat, and a lot of roll casting. Occasionally I will go to one of the local lake and do some still water and test my distance, but not often as I prefer working a stream or river.