Tom is pretty much right about the price range. You can get some really nice fishing rods in the under $400 range but the rods in the $400 to $600 aren’t quite worth it in my opinion. For the money the Sage Flight is a really nice rod and it is basically the Z-Axis blank except not finished as nicely.
If you want high-end and want to stay below $400 possibly consider buying a used high-end rod. If you look around you can probably pick up a high-end Sage, Winston, Scott, Loomis, etc., in the $250 - $350 range. I know used rods don’t come with a warranty but I picked up a used Winston WT 8’, 4 wt rod for $250 (new is around $650). In 35 years of fishing I’ve never broken a rod so my rationale when buying it was even if I do break this rod a new section will cost me $200 - $250 and even after that I’m still $150- $200 ahead of buying it new. You can also find some good deals on eBay for new rods from non-authorized dealers (i.e., no warranty) in the $350-$450 range. Again, break a section you will pay for a replacement but you’ll probably be no worse off than buying it new at full retail.
Not knowing what action rod you prefer, on the Winston forum the 8’-6”, 4 wt Winston Biit is referred to all as, the “Staff of Moses.” I do not own this but I have cast it several times and it is one really SWEET 4 weight rod.
Also, you seem to be favoring a light rod – why?
Overall, try as many rods as you can. What feels good to me may feel like crap to you.
