What to buy !!

Tiger lites casting with an old school penn reel.  Casting reels are the real deal signifies pro status.

Can you post details of the rod/reel ?

Not casting, conventional.  Casting reels are for ... well, casting.  You don't normally "cast" for salmon from a yak (or boat generally).  I have an Ugly Stick & Daiwa conventional reel with line counter that was used 1x for a salmon trip in Monterey (yak).  Thinking about selling it since I just didn't fall in love with the need for a line counter for my style of fishing.

I'll be in San Jose Sunday if you want to take a look at it.

For what your criteria is look at the Ugly sticks, weather a tiger, tiger lite or the newer models that came out this year, price ot performance you can't go wrong.  I think come with a 5 or 7 year warranty. Most of us have had one at one time or another, if it goes to the bottom it is not the end of the universe.  The battle is a no nonsense reel without extra frills, the two should go well together.