Clarification
To echo both Bob and Mike, you really do need to try the rods.
Problem is, guys can talk about how they think a rod is fast or slow or this or that, but feel is subjective and likely the single empirical element you cannot build into a rod. Take a rod and line it and give it to a half dozen casters who all have differing styles and backgrounds and there will be many varying descriptions of that rods action and desireabillity. I just did this a week back with a Meiser and a CND rod and each guy had a slightly different take on the rods. Their individual performances covered a range from not good to awesome, and all were good casters, some VERY good. Also, it isn't realistic to compare CND and Meiser rods as a whole since both make fast and slow rods, and specialized rods designed to do specific things. I've tried several rods by both makers and some CND rods I love, some I do not like at all. Same exact thing goes for the Meiser rods, or Scott, or Sage.
Map out the water you want to fish, the fish you want to target, whether you want to fish long light lines or throw heavy tips, and then contact these guys as well as some local fly shops and you'll find your answer.
