I'll be the contrarian on this one. Don't go with a kit unless you just want to build one rod for the hell of it. If you take the time and choose the components you want and match them up with the blank, you will learn a lot more than just buying a kit. You can print out a checklist from several sources. I think Hook and Hackle has one on their site. Once you get everthing set up to order, call the order in and go over it with the supplier. All the ones I have delt with will keep you from making a major mistake. By foregoing the kit, you will greatly accelerate your learning curve.
You don't ever want a crisis to go to waste... - Rahm Emanuel
Who is John Galt?