Buy new reel or buy combo ?

[mad_skillz]

Mitchells are great reel at a very reasonable price.

[Capt. Lou]

Why not consider going to a sponsor shop & get reel advice from someone who actually fishes . Few extra bucks up front on the correct product is definitely money well spent. Like was said reel quality is first & foremost unless you just intend to fish once or twice a year!

[Lard Almighty]

Shimano has some of the best lower-end spinning reels; a $50 Shimano reel will likely last you several years. As far as rods go, Shakespeare makes some decent ones that are dirt cheap. Avoid their combos, though; I have never had a Shakespeare reel last more than a year. Ugly Stiks are unbreakable, but the action is horrible IMO. I prefer graphite over glass. I agree with previous posts that you should definitely put more money into the reel than the rod, and typically the more expensive stuff will perform better and last longer.