There are books written on this topic. But it's a lot of personal preference when it comes to selecting a rod.

I think you learn more and it is easier to understand how different action rods actually cast, by going out and comparing different rods for yourself. Then pick what you personally like.

Looks like we live in the same place, so, we could easily meet in a park and you can try casting several different rods sometime if you want to.

Rex

And when we go fishing I'll bring lots of different types of rods for us to play with.

I have a moderate-fast action 6wt, but I'd like to try some other actions. I want to get a lighters set up particularly for sunfish.

The past is good and the tip of hireing a pro mto tesch youis well worth the time you save by understanding what it take to cast and not get tired after a couple of hours. I recomend you look for a Certified Casting instructor on the Federation of Fly fishers web site. Or contact the Mertoplesflyfisher.com

This website has information about uocpmming Clinics.

It is not necessary to get instructions but if you get tired after 3-4 hours and you cant cast all day I sugest you have someone who is an instructor help you. You can get enough instruction at the fly shops and Bass Pro or Cabela's to fish but will you get enought to help you cast 90' if you need to. I do recomend that you contact the FFF for a certified Instructor if you are wanting to fish for all types of fish in fresh or salt water. Green Horne.

Your Post about learning from a CCI is some of the best information you can give the group. Green Horn

This is a good explanation of Fly Fishing I am a CCI and have a website if you are intrested Jin Bass

To get the fish on your reel you can use your line hand to move the line to the fingers of your rod hand. Clanp the line to the cork and use your line hand to reel the slack in.
Jim Bass

If your roll cast is painful you might like the Belgoncast when you use hesvy flys or a brace and N indicator. I am in the metroplex and have a site called metroplexflyfisher.com you might find some help from there Best Jim

Total novice here. I was just wondering if the reel wt. rating had to match the rods wt. rating. Like say I have a St.Croix 5/6 rod...can my reel be a 9/10 large arbor with lighter 5/6 line? What i'm wanting to do is use the same reel with both a salt water & trout rod. I'd hate to go out and spend a bunch of money on another smaller lighter reel just to catch some stream trout. Is this a feasible option?

It's more a matter of balance. And the fact that you still need 2 lines for those 2 rods. The heavier reel on the smaller rod will make it butt heavy. It can get tiring over a whole day of fishing. If you can live with it, go for it.
You can switch out the lines on the reel, it's just a pain. Unless you might be catching really large trout, any $25 reel will work for the 5/6. The saltwater reel is the one you need to spend more for. A good drag is a must there.

Kirk

Thanks for the help Kirk, I have a pretty good idea how to get the show on the road now.

ok so, barbed hooks or barbless? ive been fishing the local ponds and rivers, and cant decide.

If you ever hook yourself, barbless is less painful to remove...

well, i kinda have first hand experience on that one. Hooked my self through the center of the nose with a spinner bait when i was 10. OW.