Recently, my brother, dad and I went fishing down at the local pier for the first time of the year. The previous night, I had spent 2 hours restoring his 70+ year old Montague rod and JC Higgins combo. It lasted 2 casts until it catastrophically backlashed and we retired it. However, my dad caught many fish on that rod and he wants to buy a brand new reel for it. Personally, I don't think it's worth it, and that we should just retire it and hang it up in the living room as a conversation piece. What would you recommend for it? It's a really old striper combo, which will be used probably for fishing off piers a few times a month for small to medium sized stripers. I'm trying to spend under $200. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Lots of great reels on the market, but if you are going to primarily use it for stripper fishing I would suggest an Ambassador either 5500C or 6500C.  I've used them for years.  You just can't wear them out and they hold up good for fresh or saltwater--just remember to hose the salt spray off them, nothing is as destructive as salt.  I'd also recommend putting the old rod on the wall before you break it--too many good memories to get careless with.  If you are going to stripper fish it would be hard to beat eight or nine foot Ugly Stick (for the money they are a value)--probably could pick both up at Bass Pro or Cabela's.  I would mount either 20 or 30 pound line.  Good luck and good fishing.  Take a kid with you!  Uncle Tom