I just spent my Christmas money and bot a 8 1/2 ft. five weight St Croix for about $100. and a Trion reel. I havn't fished it yet (Weather here has been in the teens for a week)I spent a lot of time casting it in the isles of the store. I took every fly rod of the rack and cast it until I found the one that felt just right for me. I bot cortland 333+ line and backer and its all set to go. This is what happens when you get locked in for the winter. At this spending rate I should be broke by spring.

TonyC.