Even a muskie rig that you'll use once a year is worth putting a couple hundred bucks into... 100-120 for a good 7 1/2 foot, heavy action rod, (many good brands out there, I'd pop for a St Croix Premier series) another 80-100 for a decent Abu 6500C, and 20 bucks for line, a leader etc.

This will be a rig that can toss everything from #5 Mepps to Mantas. Good all around rod/reel that can be adapted to many different fishing applications... catfishing, sturgeon, light salt water, great lakes trolling, etc.

That's my two cents on a first muskie rig... If you hate muskie fishing you can always sell it... to me.