New fly rod and reel?? Help!!?
I need a suggestion for a rod and reel that will really wow my boyfriend for Christmas that is in the $350 range. He is current using a redington red start..from what I have found this is a really inexpensive rod for beginners.
I have only been one time, and loved it! Needless to say, I still know nothing about the equipment, other than what I have read. He is very good and I want to get him something that will play to his abilities. He is comfortable with a 9′ rod and he really only has fished for rainbows, both small and large, and small mouth bass.
Please help! I’m running out of time and I don’t trust sales people 
The Red Start is a beginner rod, but it is also a very good rod. You can get him a nice new reel to with it like one of these: http://www.orvis.com/store/product.aspx?pf_id=72ER&dir_id=758&group_id=768&cat_id=7908&subcat_id=7909 in the $129 range. A rod is somewhat a personal matter depending on his casting style, likes and dislikes. You could end up buying him a rod that isn’t right for him and he ends up not using/liking it. I think you’re safer sticking to a nice reel and maybe adding in a gift card that he could use toward a rod that he really would want or has been dreaming about.
Thirty-five years ago my girlfriend at the time bought me a fly rod for Christmas. It was a rod she knew I wanted, but couldn’t afford. I still have the rod. And, I married the girl