The Daiwa Tatula 1000 spinning reel is a bit pricey but it's superb. I have one on a St. Croix Eyecon 6'3" MLXF, and a 2000 on a Daiwa 6'10" medium Tatula rod. The only difference between the 1000 and 2000 is line capacity. Both are nice for vertical jigging and casting up to 3/8oz jigs and small to medium lures. I'm beginning to like the Daiwa rod a bit better though.
I impulse bought a Piscifun Carbon X 2000 spinning and mounted it to a St.Croix Eyecon 6'6" MF and it's been a decent reel for the money but took half a season to smooth out.
I have a couple of casting set ups but am not experienced enough to make a recommendation. I've been pleased with the 7.3 Tatula CT paired with a St. Croix Bass-X 7'2" MHM I use for vertical jigging blade baits and jigging raps, and casting cranks.
Edit to add: just saw your target species, I target walleye so the reel sizes and rod powers are under gunned for you.
All I can say is I've been please with Daiwa reels and St. Croix rods. I used to run Shimano but quite buying their spinning reels when they eliminated the reverse option.
all of the largely available reel manufactures will have a reel that fits your need and budget. Shimano or Daiwa probably have the largest range of available reels... that being said for the casting rod i like the Daiwa Lexa with the 7:1 gear ratio. If you are throwing spinner baits and other baits you want to retrieve fast you will like that fast rate.
Shimano and Diawa reels, but I’ve been impressed with Penn spinning reels as well. Rods I don’t think brand makes as big of a difference, I fish mostly Gloomis rods and shimano. I look for something with a decent warranty because I’m good at breaking rods.
I’m mostly a fly guy, so I’m used to longer rods, but I don’t go under 7’ for anything. I would do a 7’-7’4” MH with a shimano Curado or an SLX. And then a 7’ ML spinning rod with a Diawa or shimano spinner of your choice.
Musky is a completely different game. I run Tranx 400 on Swimbait or musky rods from 8’ to 9’.
I don't have any bait casters beyond Abu Garcia 5500-6500 sizes and use em for pitching large live baits.
For spinning reel - I'd go with a 4000 series Shimano. Been using the Sedona version for about 15 years now - same 2 reels is what i mean. I did get another one - 5000 series and sling cork & jig combinations with it - has a tad bit more beef to it than the 4000, barely.
They are what i use inshore saltwater fishing down here. 7 ft Ugly Stik, 4000 series Shimano, 30# braid, 25# leader. We get stuff ranging from 10 inch whiting to 100# tarpon on em.
Also have 2500 series and use 20# braid w 25# mono leader. These are on 7 ft lighter action rods for freelining shrimp and tossing 3 or 4 inch swimbaits. This size is not for torqueing big fish - they will fail after a while. These 2 reels are also about 15 yrs old.
Cabelas had a sale on rod combos and I got both the 2500 and the 4000 reels w rods for less than the reels would have been. They came in and I switched the reels from one rod to another, and started fishing. Used to love cabelas end of the seasons close outs. All good things come to an end. Turn out the lights!
I like the Abu garcia baitcasters like the 5500 mentioned above. They havent really changed the design since the 50's. Nice and open to get those rats nests out. For baitcasters like that I run 20-30lb sometimes up to 50 lb, since its easier to untangle, braided for my main line and tie on a flourocarbon leader for the business end. usually 12 or 15lb on the leader. If you tie a blood knot you can still reeel up past the line guides and make casts without it getting caught up too much. I use this mostly for casting my larger spoons and rapalas, not quite musky size lures. I use mine out of my kayak as well.
Spinning reels best bang for the buck IMO is the pleuger president.
I love my Shimano Sahara 2500 spinning reels. I've had probably 4 or 5 over the years, and they seem to be a pretty good all-round reel from bass, to pike, to walleye, to crappie.