I am still looking, Redington, Orvis, Sharpes, Greys, and that is just the tip of the iceberg, Its apperent to me that fishing equipment is a very competitive affair.
Great for us/me.
A rod I looked at in a shop in Arbroath was Bromanodell, felt very light; was told that that rod was just as good as any of the other more familliar names out there.
In the past I always used Diawa rods if I could, but then I was catching large mouth bass and catfish, I also had a small Shakespear spinning rod I used for bank fishing, and I had plenty of fun with that!
I feel that if I go for a reputiable name, that I should be OK, I feel jsy like I should just go and pick up a rod and start fishing!