Ended up with a Temple Forks "TFO TiCr-X" in the 4 piece 9f tfor 7wt, with probably a Lamson Litespeed 3 reel and the Rio Clouser line.
That should handle any thing I want to toss to Smallies, and, work just fine for smaller Stripers and Blues in some of the salt ponds.
Thanks for all of your input .. I listened to all of you ..... tried an Orvis 6wt "Long Belly" line that I already hand with a Bamboo rod, on my Winston BIIX 9ft 6wt and think that will also work fine, at least for the Smallies (but probably not for Saltwater ... I've used 6wt's there before and the Breeze is sometimes too much for a 6wt).
Thanks all,
Ken