STH makes a good reel for 70 bucks its a cassette with spare or you can get the cayuga series starting at 99. as far as lines get a sink tip type 3or4 6 if your fishing deeper and faster water...i use cortland 444SL.
Yesterday I hooked 18 and land 13 Steelies and that line accompanied with a 8wt 9' cert pro Lami
one of with was about 17#'s
Unfortunartly my rod broke as i was about to land the last fish of the day.