I have a Shimano 2500 w/Quickfire that I bought at a yard sale in 1986 for five bucks. It outlasted several rods. The last being a Berkley Lightnin' Rod 5' UL. The top blank came shooting out after a 30" Northern shredded my line at the boat, and I then frustratingly tried to whip him in his dumbass face!!! Serves me right I suppose..... Its at the bottom of Opasatika Lake in Northern Ontario.

That reel is now on a Medium 6.5' that I use for bass in the back yard pond. If it gets a lil noisy, I just dunk it in the water!!!! Shimano's older reels last and last and last, and the Lightnin Rods at about 30$ are hard to beat, and the two piece are great for trekking through trails.