I'm not going to tell you to rush out and buy a rod that costs 300 tomorrow. I agree with what Topwater said to an extent. I will give you my history and let you decide what you will.
I started out with a couple bait casters. One for cranking and one for jigs. The jig pole was a 40 or 50 dollar Shimano which I spooled with spider wire. After using it for almost a year I set the hook on a stump with my drag too tight and broke a couple guides. I then upgraded to an 80 All-Star rod. At the time I didn't think there was a better rod made. I felt things that I never had felt before and set the hook too often when nothing was there. From there I found a guy needing some money so I bought a Loomis from him that should have cost in the 300 neighborhood for 100. It has all went down hill from there. The 80 dollar All-star sits in the garage 99% of the time. There is a huge difference between a 40-50 dollar rod and one that costs 100-200. Learn to fish with what you have and grow as you get to be a better angler. Oh and by the way, I still use the same crankbait pole that cost 40 when I started.
Eric H.