I agree with most of what's been said. 9'6" to 10'6", med light to medium. 2500 series reel. There are really good rods available in the sub-$100 range. Shimano, Okuma, Berkley, etc. I have a few Cabela's Fish Eagle rods that have worked well for me. They're low priced anyway, but go on sale quite often.
I have a variety of more expensive rods from Lamiglas, Sage, and St. Croix. For most fishing, my cheaper shimano and cabela's rods work just as well.