Steely Slayer, I got my first pin set up last year and you don't need to break the bank. I've got an Grice and Young Avon Supreme and it is perfect for fishing most lower mainland flows for Steel and Salmon. They are an old school reel, but they spin good, are very sturdy and you can pick one up for around $100, there are tons of good rods around that won't break the bank too, Shimano Convergence, Fewnwick HMX, Amundson and those Trophy XL pin rods are all great for the money. If you like it and I'm sure you will, you can retire that setup as a back up or just use it to hammer on the springs and chums and get something with a little more finesse for Coho and Steelhead when you get the money. Do I want a Sage, Loomis, Lamiglas and a Milner etc? Hell yes! Do I need them? Probably not.