Gerald D

With the right size hook and lead eyes and rabbit strip, you can make great smallie flies that work great with light spinning tackle.

White bellied Clouser with an olive back. At least that is the go to fly on the Kank.

I use the sharkskin for running lin es when using heads, which when smallie fishing isn't too often. I do cut my finger when stripping the line in the winter. Since my hands are normally numb from cold, I don't even notice until I'm halfway home. For all other fishing, I use a sa gpx line and go from there.

Any decent rod of modern vintage should be able to comfortably throw a line a weight above or below the rod's rating. Try it out and see how it feels. Just as important as the rod, is the flies you normally cast. If you tend to throw larger or weighted flies, the five weight line may give a bit of trouble. The weight of the line not only carries itself, but has to turn the fly over. I try to keep the line matched to the rod, simply because as stated by Tim A, best all around for diverse conditions.