new fly rod

If your looking for the same price range, st.cioux, diamondback, tfo. if your looking for the next range from there look at the sage rods. I tend to like the sages and go for the older models that are for sale at ebay. Rplx,rplxi,rpl+ are all good rods. G lloomis makes a g3 rod thats handles good. Winston has a ibis rod which I like and own a 5wt. There are so many good mid-ranged rods that the best thing to do is pick up a couple and get a feel for each and it abilities.

The G-Loomis Streamdance Metolius 5wt is what I use and I would definetly reccomend it.  This rod casts ridiculously well and its right around $375.  Im a fan of faster action rods because of the water I usually fish this on demands some tight line control.  Just some input.

I bought a 9'9" 5wt last summer.  I was looking into the midrange rods as it appears you are too.  I ended up buying a Cabelas LST.  They call it a fast action rod but seems to fall more on the line of moderate/fast.  I was looking for a little extra length to help nymph bigger water, also to upgrade my fenwick 9' 5wt.  The rod casts well and is very easy to load.  Nice rod for around 180, also has a 25 year warranty.
 
Chris

i have scott, avid, TFO orivs and lamiglass.  for all-around use i like the scot best.  i have an SAS 9' 5wt and love it for everything from dry to nymph to streamer use.  the new model is the A2.  what double taper said, i broke the tip off my rod ( it's a 3 piece) last spring and sent it back to scott. even though they discontinued the rod, they tracked down the serial number and looked at the old notes to manufacture an exact replica for me.  i can't feel the difference at all.  how many companies take the time to do that?  the avid is real nice too but i have that in a specialty size 6'6" 3wt, and it's great for small streams.