When I first started out musky fishing I went out and bought myself a Gander Mountain Guide Series rod. It was fairly inexpensive and worked very well. The rod I bought was a little short compaired to what I use now, but it was a good starter rod and didn't put a hole in my wallet. As a matter of fact I still have that rod and I still use it on occassion. Otherwise I let me friends and clients use it if they are new to musky fishing.