Found a cheap $70 Maxcatch complete set-up - two choices, 6' 2wt or 7'-6" 3wt. Price point fits my skill. Fishing neighborhood ponds. Leaning towards the 3wt.

Maximumcatch 3WT

I have this rod in a 7' 3WT. It is definitely a fast action rod, and pretty stiff for a 3WT. The rod honestly doesn't load very well when casting light weight flies. It will cast them, but it feels like you are swinging your truck antenna. As it happens, I chunk a lot of big bass bugs and game changers into neighborhood ponds. The extra stiffness works very well flinging these overweight flies. And the rod can handle a 5# bass with no issues.

If I had it to do over again, I would have bought the 2WT rod and used a 3WT line. They also have an option on these rods that comes with a spare tip. Not a bad idea for a guy like me with a long history of broken tips because I am casting while standing under trees.

If looking for a slower rod, look for a fiberglass rod. A Cabela's CGR could be a good choice. I have several 2 and 3 weight rods, some pretty expensive, but the CGR holds up well in that company. I prefer the 2 weight to the 3 weight, as I consider the 3 weight too short unless you are fishing under heavy overhead cover. Another inexpensive glass rod that some people really like is the Aventik in 3 weight, available on Amazon. It will probably take you a little time initially getting used to the slower action, but once you get used to it I believe you will like it. There are quite a few 2 and 3 weight glass rods available, but most are significantly more expensive than the ones I mentioned.

Larry