Long rambling post about travel rods.

I have spent the last week or so reading everything I could find on the net
about cheap travel rods (I must have read 2000 ROFF posts; I almost feel
like I know some of you guys).

Here's why: I recently started a long thread here about how I wanted to take
up trout fishing and whether or not I could use my old fibreglass Fenwick
rod from when I was a kid in England. The consensus opinion was that I
should get a matching reel and go for it. I planned on doing this but then I
started to think about what kind of fishing I am likely to do and where I
will do it. I live (no doubt for sins committed in another life) in Los
Angeles, and don't have vast amounts of disposable income. This means that
the most likely places I will fish will be right here in CA, probably up in
the Sierras, since I understand that that is where the best fishing is and
also because it's near enough to drive to. Well, if I want my significant
other to join me (and I do), I am going to have to combine the fishing that
I hope to get into, with a lot of hiking, something that we both enjoy
already. This would have the ancillary benefit of perhaps allowing me to
fish less popular spots.

So, I started thinking that maybe what I should do, instead of using the
Fenwick 7 weight would be to buy a cheap travel rod that can be broken down
into short enough pieces to backpack with comfortably. Now, I have read
enough ROFF posts to realise that buying tackle is addictive and becomes a
pleasure for its own sake. Maybe I am doing that, but anyway, I can always
sell it if it doesn't work out.

Okay, I guess this post got sort of long, but here's my point: Is there
currently any consensus on which are the best cheap but serviceable travel
rods? So far, I have been looking at and have read good things about the
Cabela stowaway, the Cortland CL and the ST Croix Avid. Also, how do these
stack up against the Temple Fork travel rods which are around $139? Would
anyone care to comment on any of the above or suggest any others? The max
price would have to be about $120 to $140 and that has to include a rod
case. Finally, I would like to hear what you think of my idea that I should
look for an 8' 6" or maybe 9' 5-weight rod. I plan to fish for trout.
Nothing against any other sort of fishing, but for now that's just what I
have in mind.

Cheers, and have a good Holiday weekend.

Dan Hugh-Jones