Pretty much what everyone else has said, but I will add that your cast is everything (more so than your equipment). A great rod will make a poor caster look OK. A great caster will make a poor rod look amazing. Like Golf, it's hard to unlearn bad technique, so go slowly and get the basics right so you don't have to rebuild anything later. 5 wt. 9' medium action, Cortland 444 WF. Yes, WF. I'd stay away from stiff, fast action rods while you are starting out. It's about line feedback when you are starting out and a medium rod flexes more to transmit said feeling. Also get yourself a metronome and some hula hoops. When practicing in the yard, tie or strap your wrist tight to your rod butt. Do not break your wrist!

Once you put the pieces together and start fishing...learn how to fish without a strike indicator.