I have had fly fishing setups for years but they were cheap combo types and were not fun to use, so I did not use them much. Last year spin fishing was terrible for me, I think mostly weather related so I researched fly fishing, went to the one more cast, and got some casting insturction and a better quality rod (and then a few more when I found out how fun fishing with good gear was).
While I rarely see anyone fly fish around here I almost always use the fly rod. As for Bass Pro the people in the fly shop seem nice and helpful when someone is there but the selection is lacking there is always something missing when I have a tying project.
As for cheap rods TFO is a happy medium good rod for $150 with lifetime guarantee that fish like high dollar rods.
I will never but a rod in a big box store or pretty much any store. Order on the internet free shipping and lower taxes. The internet places are never out of anything if they are they get it in and ship it to you. Not like making multiple trips to a shop.
As for bass pro the people who work there are not that bright. A guy at the rod counter was showing me a G Loomis and wacking it on the concrete floor to show how tough it is. Why would I want to pay $400 for the rod you just beat several times off the floor? A few months ago another clerk did the same thing with a Boyd Duckett rod.
Some of the fishing shows are a bit much I do agree. Helicopter trips to the chilean mountains with base camp on a ship $11,000 for a that trip. The flyrod chronicles does a good job using TFO rods and has a tying demo. It would be nice to see some warm water shows.