Advice on equipment requested

Good morning all.

I am 65. I grew up fishing for panfish mainly from the banks of southern US creeks/rivers/lakes.
 
I have some old equipment, still works but thinking about getting me a new rod/reel.
 
Just  want something new.
 
Okay, for fishing for bluegill and the like...give me some recommendations please!
 
I have some budget, but don't want to spend money just to spend money. I can go north of $100 for something sweet in a rod and reel.
 
I prefer spinning.
 
What is a sweet must have spinning reel? What is a good matching rod?
 
As I said, don't want to spend money just to spend money, so if there are some cheap/budget reels/rods that you really like, what are they?

Thanks. 

I prefer longer rods when convenient. My main 2 panfish rods are a 7'6"ul and an 8'6" light action. I mainly use the light action one for heavier stuff, like slip bobbers, or spinners larger than the smallest size. I haven't shopped for reels in a few years, but likely anything above the $30 range will be great for panfish. If you haven't used braided line in the past, I suggest you look into it. Greatly increased sensitivity and casting distance. But does have it's drawbacks.

I ordered a rod and reel from a new to me site named Temu. Prices are very reasonable for panfish equipment. Got the set for under $60. and there were many more a little more. Got two units for bluegill fishing. Give them a look. You will be surprised. Good shipping time too.

 If I had to buy one rod to last me a lifetime it would be a 7' Ugly Stik Pro from WM. I can't seem to break them weather running over with the truck, closing the car door or window on them and even got one caught in a ceiling fan while a jig was imbedded in my hand and couldn't reach the pull chain to shut it off  
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQuJUbAQJ58
 
crappy

My “go to” panfish rod is a Shakespeare light action 7’ rod from Walmart. Basically a model or two below the ugly stick. When fishing bobbers, the sensitivity isn’t really all that important. I can whip a bobber and jig a good clip. It also gets beat up while making my way through the woods to get to wading spots. Even though it is my go to, I really wouldn’t recommend it. The reel seat nut loosens on its own, even wrapping with Teflon tape. The two piece tip twists on it and pretty sure the eyelets will eventually start fraying my line. The reel is an old Agility that I bought to match an Agility steelhead rod (from FishUSA) that someone on here recommended close to 20 years back. Like most cheap reels, it is very loose reeling and when I took it apart to grease, it is filled with plastic parts. It gets the job done, but plastic parts will most likely fail at some point, likely when I didn’t pack a backup! The past few new reels that I have bought are metal, to hopefully last. Also much more smooth reeling and not “loose”. Very likely not catch any more/less fish, but has a better feel to me.

If fishing deep water structure the sensitivity is more important. The more sensitive the rod and lighter (the higher carbon ton rating), the more prone to breaking. The Cadence that I bought is a M action do all type “bass rod”. Use as a second panfish rod, small mouth wading, wiper fishing, my attempts to pike fish and even goes to salt water as an inshore/pier lure rod. It is 30 ton carbon, so has nice sensitivity for drifting senkos or fishing deeper water and detecting lighter taps. It very likely would not take well to shutting in a car door. The reel seat seems to stay snug and the tip portion doesn’t twist. It isn’t nearly as old as my others, so could in the future. All really depends on what your use is going to be and if you are bothered by things.