Once again! If you are talkin' under 4 bills for the whole rig including line and some flies
then I'd recommend something like a Sage DS2 9ft 9wt w/ a Tioga 10 or 10LA and a 444 intermediate WF
line in white or clear. This rig would ring in at around $400 at our shop in Ayer. Directions are
at http://www.bluenorthern.com
If you fish fast and deep on the North shore, a 325 grain descent or Teeny might be more your style.
If you fish flats down the cape, the intermediate clear. In most cases the int WF in white is the best
starter line.
The exposed braid like the XRL shoots nice (although noisy) but it can really cut you up if you get into
a solid pack of fish. A compressed floater head is a nice luxury for poppers and sliders but most of us
just strip the intermediate faster and benefit from the ability to get under surface chop or wait for the
fly to sink (eventually).
My recommendation is a nice all-around outfit like the one mentioned at the very top.
Hope this helps,
Juro