[Patrick]

What weight rod are you looking for? If you are targeting big fish, you probably want something 7 to 10 weight. If you want shad and schoolies, try a 5/6. St. Croix makes some affordable rods in the $90-$150 range in Cabelas. I've never used a St. Croix Fly rod but if they make them with the same quality as they do their spinning rods, go for it.

When in doubt, go with Cortland. They are perhaps the biggest name in fly fishing perhaps falling only to Orvis. The Orvis company has been around forever. I actually knew a guy that was a field tester for Orvis. He got to go to South America and all over the world fishing for trout and other species. He quit that job. Who knows why.
Anytime someone wants to pay me to fish, I'm game.
Patrick