Thanks to everyone who took the time to help us out. My son and I will
be taking a "road trip" to a fly shop first (probably a long trip but
sounds like it will be well worth it). We will stay away from Ebay and
buy new, but modestly priced equipment -- maybe at the fly shop we
visit or from another source.

I am curious. There are reasonably priced combination outfits targeted
at beginners like my son and I. The ones that I found online were in a
fairly consistent price range that we could afford. Are any of these
better than others? Or any that we should stay away from?

Redington Crosswater Series
Orvis Streamline Series
Cabella's Genesis
Bass Pro - Hobb's Creek
Temple Fork Outfitters (TFO) -- NXT outfit