Hi! Just to share my experience. I fish reservoirs, mostly Kensico and Cross River, from time to time to change pace. I use 9foot 6 wt rod, tip action (helps cast bigger flies and fight the wind) and normally catch SMBs. LMBs are quite rare. A lot of small panfish, it`s fun. In spring you can catch trout fishing along the shoreline. I think you can start trying with 5 wt., it doesn`t seem light to me. I would say the type of action is more important. Best flies were cone head Flash marabou minnows and suprisingly Black Ghosts, I also used woolly buggers of different colours. For surface - poppers, like Sneaky Pete, sometimes fished with a dropper nymph. I don`t like sinking lines but you have to use them , especially now, to reach the fish. Conditions may vary, so bring both floating and sinking lines. I use clear intermediate line. In shallow waters I often get snagged even with light weighted flies. The major problem is access to good spots. I don`t have a boat. Sight fishing though might be great. This time of year I see a lot of surface activity of both bass and trout early in the morning but it`s far from shore so I can`t reach them. I just wade along shoreline where it`s possible. My modest experience tells me that mornings are in general better time for fishing reservoirs. You can learn a lot about where the fish are reading the posts by distinguished fellow trout and bass fishermen at this forum. Good luck!!
