>>2597517most people say a 9' 5 weight is the do-all trout rod and if you only fish for trout that's fine but i personally recommend picking between a 4 weight and a 6 weight. i cant really tell you which one fits you better but i can outline what each one does better
>6 wtthis is the single most versatile rod you can own. i've used a 6 for everything from sunfish, to trout, to bass, and i've even thrown a 6 for carp. dry flies, streamers, nymph rigs, go for it all. a 6 inch trout will still bend it but a 20 incher will still be managable
>4 wtthis rod is a little more specialised but if you ever plan on getting a second rod, get a 4 weight. That was my first fly rod, and then supplement it with an 8 weight when you're ready, which is also what i did. those two rods are the most possible ground you can cover with two rods, you'll basically be set for anything. the 4 weight will do smaller stuff like trout, panfish, and similar. the 8 weight will do everything else. carp, bass, pike, bulltrout.
back to only a 4 weight, though, you will have great dry fly and dry/dropper presentations, you can still nymph with it just fine, and you can even throw smaller streamers on it (last time i was fishing my 4 weight i had a 3 inch streamer tied on 12 pound tippet, about 1x)
>>2597492fair though an echo base does everything a freshwater reel needs to for $40
