Rod and reel choice

[Obsessed]

Looking to spend about $100 on a bait caster combo. Looking at either
a Bass Pro Shop Extreme ($69) with a ETX66MT graphite rod ($100) combo price $100, or a Pflueger Supreme ($99) with a Pflueger IM-6 graphite rod ($39) combo price of $100. Should I go with the one with the pricier rod or the one with the pricier reel. Don't know much about either one and have never fished with a bait caster but would like to give it a try. From what I seen if I got a combo I could save a little money from buying them separately. Also I was thinking about a 6 1/2' rod. Will be mostly walleye fishing with this rod 1/2 - 1 1/2 oz lures. Thanks in advance.

[SUPERTROLLER]

You have to look at the actual rod/reel combo to get that combo that best fits your planned method of use. Are you going to use it for casting and cranking or for trolling cranks and bouncers off boards? Is it for jigging heavier jigs and spoons/blade baits? Using it for walleye fishing doesn't tell us your preferred style or desired use. From my guess as to the weights listed for range of use it sounds to me like you are going to be casting cranks with this rod/reel combo. You probably are better off with a nicer reel in this case. The more expensive rod is not necessary when you are cranking. You want a longer softer rod in a Med. action to help take up the shock of the strike from the fish so it doesn't tear a big hole on the hookset. Getting a reel with more ball bearings will make it cast and reel smoother for your repeated casts. That being said, I'm not sure about the reels you listed so maybe someone else can help with their experience with those actual reels. If you are going to be jigging with this combo get the better rod for the feel.