Being a hunter all of my life I accumulated rifle calibers from .22LR to .375 H&H. I can tell you what bullet works best in each and what it should be used for. Of course there is over lap between several. When I look at my fishing rods I find that most of them are 6 - 6.5', medium or medium light power. How did that happen? I think the answer is I wasn't serious about fishing until recently and being cheap wanted a rod that I thought could do multiple jobs. I guess I could get by with a 6' medium for trout, bass, crappie and float fishing, the little bit of each that I did. Now I am serious about putting crappie in the boat and find I need/want (I tell the wife I Need) some different weapons. Since finding the forum I have been trying to learn to cast jigs and my old rods are not cutting it. Some do ok with a 1/16 oz. but not great. I have come down in line weight from 6 to 4 which helped. I use Pflueger Presidents 25. I am wanting to throw the !/16s better and also use 1/32. I "need" a new rod. I searched on the forum and found tons of threads on ultra light rods. It was pretty confusing but I am starting to narrow it down. I think I want a 6' - 7", ultra lite, fast action, rated for 2lb line and 1/32oz lures. I would prefer a two piece but not all of the ones I like come that way. I think I have it narrowed down to a St. Croix pan fish series, a Bass Pro panfish elite, and TCP. I have been reading about a lot of tip breakage. I don't abuse my equipment but I use it pretty hard. That is one reason I wanted a two piece. I thought it would be easier to replace the tip than try to salvage the remains. I read you don't even want to lift a panfish into the boat with the ultra lights? I probably have a lot to learn about this kind of tool. I go back and forth on picking a favorite but have pretty much decided I am going to buy the TCP for sure and one of the others. I am leaning toward the St. Croix. One problem is I would like to lay hands on all of them before buying. There is a fishing show in Richmond next weekend and I am hoping it is big enough to attract some rod makers. There is also a BPS and Cabela close to Richmond. Only Walmart where I live. Reading the threads, I never imagined there were so many rod makers out there. I am going to try to keep cost to no higher than the St. Croix level, $135.

I am probably making this harder than it needs to be, I usually do before spending money. Just seeing all of this in print clears my head a little.