I like second hand expensive rods where you get some quality without the outrageous sticker shock. Once a person learns how to cast, some of the finer rods are shown to really be a pleasure to cast.
I find if you are trying to cast a 26ft leader that a higher quality rod is often a nicer tool to use. It doesn't mean you can't catch fish with a cheap rod, just that it can be more pleasurable with a better rod. After 12 hours of casting on the water, a lighter, more responsive rod really shows itself.
I didn't upgrade for a long time, but I am now happy to use someone else's hand-me-down quality rod that has some years on it.
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