I love using light tackle for smallies.
I use a cheaper shimano rod, medium action, medium speed so it has that parabolic bend. It is 6'0 as I travel a lot and fish out of a boat with a bunch of my family often and wanted a compact rod.
I have a shimano sahara reel, beauty reel for a good price.
I use either 6# test maxima mono, or a 15# brain with a mono leader.
Tubes are often attached to the end, or a worm....this year I will try figuring out the drop-shot rig